These Lebanon, TN, homeowners were thinking outside the box when they decided where they wanted their new covered porch. The result is a glorious freestanding covered porch and outdoor fireplace just steps away from their back door. It’s an intimate setting where they can escape and relax, a welcoming retreat any day or night of the week. With a large TV and a wood-burning fireplace, there is more than one way to be transported beyond time and space out here. Meanwhile, with a new outdoor kitchen installed on the patio nearby, cooking and eating outdoors will be a pleasure.
Freestanding Covered Porch – An Outdoor Room for Leisure Time
Our clients wanted a comfortable outdoor room that would serve as an escape. Some homeowners would have attached the porch to the back of the home, a conventional choice. These homeowners didn't want to lose the essence and "step-down appeal” of their existing back patio by attaching a roof off the home. So, they decided on a freestanding covered porch. Archadeck of Nashville created this custom porch design to meet their needs.
Some folks will say if your porch is not attached to the home, you won’t use it as often as you would an attached porch. For some folks, this may be true. But including an outdoor fireplace in this Lebanon TN porch design ensures this outdoor room will see plenty of use.
Also unconventional was the homeowners’ decision to add an outdoor kitchen to the existing patio rather than locating it within the freestanding covered porch. The outdoor kitchen is really in the perfect place for them. It’s convenient to all three dining areas: inside the home, on the patio, or on the covered porch. The family can enjoy meals hot from the grill no matter where they choose to dine.
Bringing Creature Comforts Outdoors
Having an outdoor escape doesn’t necessarily mean “roughing it.” Our clients have plenty of room within their covered porch for comfortable furniture for lounging and relaxing. Amenities here include a ceiling fan and recessed can lighting in the ceiling, too. Because the space is wired with electrical outlets, they can add lamps or other appliances as needed.
We created the floor of this freestanding covered porch with Belgard pavers, an attractive and durable low-maintenance surface requiring minimal upkeep. The porch roof design is a hip roof matched to the home’s existing roof. Exposed beams in the ceiling contribute a rustic aesthetic, and the stone fireplace extends the rustic feel of this room. The woodburning fireplace features a stainless-steel firebox.
Archadeck of Nashville created the path leading from the house to the freestanding porch using Crab Orchard Stone. This unique sandstone is native to Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau, and it’s durable as well as beautiful – with quite interesting patterns when examined closely.
Finally, we arrive at the outdoor kitchen. We added this structure at the edge of the home’s existing patio using the same stone to build the kitchen that we used for the fireplace. The overall effect of the new outdoor living structures is cohesiveness with the home. Not only do the outdoor kitchen and fireplace match each other, the new stone structures are harmonious with the shingles on the house and porch. This is most noticeable when you view the back of the fireplace against the porch roof, with the home’s roof nearby. In addition to being attractive and functional, the new outdoor living projects contribute an “always been there” appeal that is one of Archadeck’s hallmarks.
Do you dream of creating an outdoor escape at your home? Why wait? Contact Archadeck of Nashville today to schedule a design consultation for your new porch, patio or outdoor kitchen.
Archadeck of Nashville and Archadeck of Chattanooga are owned by Russell & Magan Henderson. After successfully building thousands of projects for Nashville homeowners, the homeowner-beloved outdoor building team is bringing the Archadeck magic to Chattanooga! For the best experience in outdoor building, choose Archadeck of Nashville and Chattanooga!
