Home & Design

Expansive Outdoor Living

Sun Design received a COTY Grand award for Residential Exterior $100,000 and Over for this deck and screen porch renovation

Expansive Outdoor Living


The homeowners were particular about including a grill/cooking area, but wanted nothing blocking the view down to the pool.

When Sun Design Remodeling Specialists of Burke, Virginia, was brought in to add a high-end screen porch and deck addition to this Vienna home, there was already quite a bustle going on. Multiple contractors were working simultaneously on a large pool and patio installation, which also required a new retaining wall, plus a covered porch that was going on the ground level of the house and a two-story addition abutting where the back deck would go was just being completed.

All this activity proved a challenge for Sun Design, but they rose to the occasion, working closely with many of the other professionals. “Usually we’re the only ones out there on a job,” says Sun Design owner Bob Gallagher, who worked with senior designer Darren Smith on the project. “But it all worked out pretty well.” They collaborated with the designers of the other porch, making sure the trim details on the two were the same to give the finished home a cohesive look. Where previously there was no porch at all (inset), Sun Design created a spacious deck and screen porch eating area (above). Wrought-iron railings keep the view clear along the deck, and PVC board and TimberTech decking keep the area virtually maintenance free. Molding and a coffered ceiling help create an indoor feel on the screen porch, and tie it into the home’s interior (opposite).

Inside-Out Dining
The first challenge they faced on the job was that the screen porch design had to create good flow from the indoor kitchen and eating area, while keeping the area as bright as possible. They took advantage of the current windows by locating the porch in front of the casement windows in the kitchen, which can be used as a pass-through for food and beverages into the eating area on the new porch.

Gallagher considers the overall interior of the porch “by far the coolest part of the job.” The room was designed to feel like an interior room of the house, with exquisite millwork, such as knee walls with raised panel details, crown molding and a fully coffered ceiling. The finished room is an outdoor oasis that is as elegant as any indoor sunroom. Custom screen panels in the window openings are completely removable, and the decking is sleek tongue and groove design.

The coffered ceiling is inset with a series of glass panels that provide sunlight throughout the day. Inset

in the panels are four skylights, and the whole thing is lined with dimmer lighting. At night the space is subtly lit to maintain the bright glow without any harsh lighting fixtures.

Custom Deck Plan
Adjoining the screen porch is a wide deck that overlooks the new pool, situated against a row of existing double-hung windows. Of key importance was the ability of the homeowners to see down to the pool where their children would be playing. Even placed against the windows, the deck offers a clear view from the inside dining room straight to the pool so the homeowners can keep an eye on their children while they’re swimming. The black wrought-iron railing was chosen to allow an unobstructed view. Its design complements the existing aluminum landscape rail, tying the porch into the landscape.

The cooking area was placed to the left side of the deck and a step down from the rest of the porch. Below a stainless- steel grill and granite counter is a custom outdoor storage cabinet, wrapped in PVC board designed to match the trim inside the porch. Decorative carriage lamps light the grill area, and offer additional light to the stairs leading to the patio; the stairs also feature low-voltage lamps on the risers.

The deck itself was built of TimberTech decking, a low-maintenance composite made from reclaimed wood fibers and pure plastic resins. More custom PVC by Azek wraps the posts of the railing; carved to look like wood, they are as maintenance-free as the decking. Thick, sturdy Azek PVC lattice wraps the area below the porch and deck to create a hidden storage area for all of the miscellany that goes with the swimming pool.

The finished deck and porch by Sun Design allow the family to really enjoy the out of doors in high style. With an enclosed but airy eating area and full views of the lawn, they can take in the landscape, keep a close eye on playing children and while away the hours, day and night, on their spacious deck.


Sun Design created a spacious deck and screen porch eating area. Wrought-iron railings keep the view clear along the deck, and PVC board and TimberTech decking keep the area virtually maintenance free.

BEFORE.

Molding and a coffered ceiling create an indoor feel on the screen porch, and tie it into the home's interior.

The screen porch gives out a homey glow at night through lighting around the glass ceiling panels.

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