Cozy Outdoor Room

A covered porch gives this family more ways to savor fall.

Moths may be better known for their irresistible attraction to flame, but human beings are just as susceptible to the power of a roaring fire. Put that fire on a hearth at the end of a porch, and it's sure to bring friends and family buzzing around.

"Snuggling in a cozy club chair and watching our family carve pumpkins or roast marshmallows to celebrate a birthday is such a joy," Margaret Mitchell says of her home's outdoor fireplace area. She and husband Rob entertain in the exterior family room year-round, but the long porch is especially appealing in the fall when crisp temperatures blow in and changing leaves color the scenery.

The Mitchells' porch is unique because of the way it angles out from the house with the fireplace standing tall at one end. This positioning lends the brick structure extra drama. "They wanted something that was still connected but had its own identity," residential designer Jennifer Pippin says. "The family has a beautiful backyard; they wanted to feel like they were out there."

The porch's long rectangular shape and row of Doric columns stay true to the home's style. Builder Brad Remmey says that first the brick fireplace structure was built, and then the roofline was built up to it. According to Brad, there's good news for homeowners considering a similar look: Building a fireplace at the end of a porch doesn't cost substantially more than building one up against the house. -AMY BICKERS MERCER

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Sources: southernliving.com/october2006

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Oct 2006
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