Decorating & Design
May 2, 2023
These Pretty Porches Are Ready For Spring & Summer
This year, Pinterest predicted that the front porch would get the spotlight treatment, with the search term “front door transformation” increasing by over 85%. With the spring season upon us, we decided to round up some of our favorite curb appeal ideas from recent H&H issues, including beautiful front doors, modern lanterns and statement planters. From urban porticos to country verandas, here are some of our best front porch ideas that will inspire your next outdoor makeover. Scroll down!
Montreal designer Luke Havekes used enveloping hues and rich texture in this Eastern Townships country house. “A splash of color brightens up the space under the portico,” he says of the front door. Modern black accents including a pair of mailboxes and a porch pendant blend in with the exterior.
Fashion designer Tu Ly’s circa-1885 Montreal rowhouse is set on a double lot near the Lachine Canal in Montreal’s Little Burgundy area. The Victorian grande dame, with spiky wrought- iron balustrades, a mansard roof, stained glass windows and gingerbread detailing, hadn’t been overly modernized and still has a lot of its original character. On the front porch, a pair of trimmed hedges soften the concrete and steel.
“It resembles an old romantic Tuscan villa,” says designer Halina Catherine of this stone farmhouse in Mono, Ontario. An unobstructed vista makes relaxing on the wraparound porch extra special. A pair of outdoor rocking chairs add to the overall vibe, while an amber-hued porch light adds interest.
Vancouver’s lush greenery takes the stage in this front garden which has an old European cottage feel. “The clients love sitting out here with lemonade or tea,” says designer Jamie Deck of Shift Interiors. A mix of short and tall planters flank the front door.
Designer Kyle Timothy Blood (right) and husband Dean Perry stand in the Victorian umbrage of their farmhouse in P.E.I. “I tried to stay true to the project — to the architecture, the location and my vision — and steer away from artifice,” says Kyle of the overall design.
“We rebuilt the front porch in the original style of the house and painted it to complement the shingles,” says H&H Deputy Editor Emma Reddington of her former Toronto Victorian.
The homeowners of this 3,265-square-foot historical red brick charmer in downtown Guelph stand proudly in front of their circa-1907 front porch. Modern black exterior accents including a pair of outdoor sconces and a slim profile mailbox complement the Modern Farmhouse-style front door.
In this Toronto home, Saara Mortson of Mortson Interior Design Inc. and Deborah Mesher of Drole House Inc. came together to blend interior with architectural design. They updated and expanded the front porch, replacing old stucco with a red brick-like tile facade and a modern black railing for contrast. Watch the full transformation here and don’t miss the built-in porch bench!
Fashion Stylist Erica Wark and her husband Corey Laurysen stand outside their restored rowhouse located in Toronto’s Fashion District. To update the exterior of the 1880s house, new doors and windows worked beautifully with the 19th-century chunky trim that had been spared the pry bar. “One of the reasons why we fell in love with this house was its potential for character,” says Erica. The petite front porch is the perfect spot for a vintage chair and a little people watching.