From House To Home

In Grandma’s day, front porches with rocking chairs and an open feel were popular gathering places when friends dropped in.

Porches have made a comeback in the Lowell area. But these modern additions are often three- or four-season rooms attached to the back of the house, overlooking lush landscapes and tree-lined woods.

They incorporate the airy feel of a traditional porch. But since they’re enclosed, area homeowners love using their rooms year-round.

Cindi and Dennis Page’s four-season porch is a stunning example. An integral part of their 11-room Tyngsboro home, the porch’s 24 floor-to-ceiling windows bring the outside in. The hardwood floors, white walls, and cathedral ceiling add to the ambiance.

“This is my favorite room in the house--we live out here. It’s bright and sunny with a relaxing feel. I have my coffee here every morning, even in winter. When the sun comes in, we don’t need heat, although it is heated,” says Cindi, an interior designer.
Less than a mile away, Wendy and Steve Gilchrist built an intimate three-season porch on the rear of their lovely Colonial.

“It definitely helps us get through the winter,” says Wendy. “It’s my place to escape. We have breakfast and dinner out here in summer--without the bugs.”

Porch rooms can increase a home’s value, says Mike Hendricks, design specialist for P&R Boucher Builders of Dracut.

“A lot of people convert their screened porches into three- and four-season rooms. It’s a great addition that increases living space without going to a McMansion,” says Hendricks.

They hold particular appeal for New Englanders, who crave more light, he notes.

He advises finding a reputable contractor to make sure the addition is energy-compliant and up to current building codes.

“The most important thing is planning it well before construction starts,” he says.

Once the room is finished, decorating begins. And that’s when the fun starts.

Cindi incorporated a plush, white slip-covered sofa, sage-green upholstered dining chairs, and a glass table in her spacious room.

“I wanted a shabby chic feel, and the slip cover achieves that,” she says.

She used real tree branches in an oversized urn in the corner as a dramatic decorating accent.

“It’s an easy way to bring the outside in,” she says.

Wendy achieved the same effect in her cozy room, decorated with a pretty, upholstered, floral-print chair, green wrought-iron dining table and chairs, comfy couch, and floral prints on the wall.

“My goal was to make it feel like we’re outside on the inside. It’s my favorite room--the cheeriest in our house,” she says.

There’s not a rocker in sight. But Grandma would surely approve--then she’d curl up on the sofa to enjoy a good book.