Dear Homework,
When I was growing up, the adults in my neighborhood would drag their lawn chairs out onto their front porches on warm summer evenings to socialize while their kids ran wild outdoors. It made for a very close-knit community. I would like to resurrect that by creating an outdoor living space in front of my home. I have always admired the wrap-around porches of Victorian homes, however my English Tudor does not lend itself to that —what would you recommend?
—Craving Conviviality in Clayton
Dear Craving Conviviality,
I sympathize with your desire to live in a more interactive neighborhood. I’m going to make some suggestions that can both foster that and protect you a bit if we actually achieve it. As you suggest, your Tudor style does not immediately lend itself to a wrap-around porch. For me, the problem is not stylistic, but that it would entail blocking the extra-tall window in the living room, which would both darken the room and hide a dominant part of the façade’s composition. As an alternative, I suggest adding a smaller porch off what I assume is a sunroom (and therefore has two other walls of windows). This maintains the balance of the existing composition and could, if desired, be made deeper than I show. Most house facades sit at, or near, the neighborhood ‘building line’, and construction beyond this line would require obtaining a variance.
I also show adding a low stone garden wall, which has several functions. First, it provides the new terrace with enough privacy that you can choose which passers-by you interact with. It also helps tidy-up the look of lawn chairs, tables, etc., which could be distracting in the front yard. Finally, with its tapering light pier, it reinforces the composition back toward the main entry feature.
You ask an interesting and insightful question and I hope these suggestions inspire you to bring some new energy to your neighborhood.
Thanks for asking,
—Homework
[Homework is penned by Paul Doerner, president, The Lawrence Group.If you would like your home critiqued, contact us at homework@townandstyle.com.]
