Home accessories: Porch Talk: Screened, Open, or Glassed-In?

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Imagine that you've arrived at a garden party, and all of the guests--yourself included--are Totally House Obsessed.

Eventually you will start talking about porches.

Glassed-in advocates will add the word "sun" to "porch," elevating it to a light-filled space that can be used 365 days a year--and the homeowner never has to sweep pollen.

image via Houzz.com Traditional Pool design by San Francisco Landscape Architect Kikuchi & Associates

Open porch enthusiasts will sing the praises of curb appeal and year-round charm. These spaces are sunnier. Doric columns add timeless elegance. No windows to wash. No screens to replace.

THouzz raditional Porch design by Philadelphia Interior Designer Dennison and Dampier Interior Design

Screened porch aficionados love simple pleasures: a billowing curtain; the smell of grass; the tinkle of windchimes. These porches have built-in charm. They're close to nature, yet they're protected from mosquitoes. Best of all, the owners don't have to wash windows.

Houzz Traditional Exterior design by Chicago Architect Culligan Abraham Architecture

We can't decide what to do with our back porch (except we want to add skylights, so the interior spaces will be brighter).

It's a narrow porch, with a pea-gravel floor.

The first time I saw the porch, I imagined it with arched, floor-to-ceiling windows.

I imagined an outdoor living space beside the pool.

Houzz Traditional Pool design by San Francisco Architect DANIEL HUNTER AIA Hunter architecture ltd.

When the remodeling began in other areas, I began to mentally carve up the porch. My mind's eye saw French doors in the dark breakfast room. They'd open onto the old porch, and we could enjoy red velvet pancakes in a sunny, roomier spot.

houzz Traditional Dining Room design by Charleston Interior Designer Alix Bragg Interior Design

I wouldn't have to enclose the whole porch; we'd still have room at the other end for a small porch of some type, open or screened.
But this would chip away at square footage.

houzz Traditional Porch design by San Francisco Architect FGY Architects

houzz Traditional Porch design by Charleston Architect Group 3

During the last year, I've imagined the space in many ways.

Do I really want to carve up this small space? Would a wide open sunroom feel too wide? Would it be too hard to decorate? Long and narrow rooms are a challenge.

I've also considered leaving the porch alone or adding screens.

Back and forth I go, making countless lists. Studying the pros and cons of open vs. screened vs. glassed-in. All have virtures; all have drawbacks.

One minute I'm headed in this direction:

THouzz raditional Entry design by Dc Metro Architect KohlMark Architects

And the next I'm dreaming in yellow.

Houzz Contemporary Family Room design by Charlotte Interior Designer Lucy and Company

An enclosed porch could be a multi-purpose area. Now that Bandwidth is living with us, we need a bit more elbow room.

My mother has struggled with arthritis and illness; she has advised me to think about the future. Maybe Will and I need a porch that won't require constant cleaning.

houzz Traditional Living Room design by Atlanta Architect Soorikian Architecture

Traditional Living Room design by Atlanta Architect Soorikian Architecture via Houzz

Yes, a glassed-in porch is a strong contender.

Traditional Exterior design by Chicago Photographer Cynthia Lynn Photography via Houzz

Traditional Porch design by Minneapolis Design-build Conservatory Craftsmen via houzz

But I cannot ignore the virtues of an open porch.

Traditional Porch design by Los Angeles Architect Tim Barber LTD Architecture & Interior Design via houzz

My previous home was a turn-of-the-century "Four-Square," and it had porches galore. I would flop on the wicker sofa and read. But I also spent a lot of time cleaning these spaces.

Traditional Porch design by Bridgeport Interior Designer Sara Hopkins via houzz

Traditional Exterior design by New York Architect Crisp Architects via houzz

Mediterranean Porch design by Austin Architect Cornerstone Architects via houzz

Traditional Porch design by Atlanta General Contractor Dresser Homes via houzz

Traditional Entry design by Charleston General Contractor Structures Building Company via houzz

I love this space, but it's a good bit wider than my porch.

Traditional Porch design by Dallas Architect Symmetry Architects via houzz

Traditional Porch design by Charleston Interior Designer LORRAINE G VALE, Allied ASID via houzz

I can't overlook the charm of a screened porch. They are a part of my Southern upbringing, a place where memories converge. You don't have to drink lemonade and sit in a rocking chair to sense the romance on a screened porch. These cozy spots are the best transitional living places--you're inside and outside, all at once. The mesh protects against bugs and nesting birds.