Irvington Porch Project
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Location: Irvington
Working with two architects who own a 1912 home with an unsightly, barely used and hard to access back porch provided us with a great opportunity. This all came about a few months before the Covid-19 lockdown which made it an even more interesting and necessary project. The clients had existing French doors and sidelites off of the dining room to the porch and had envisioned having them retrofitted to become accordion style sliding doors so that they could fully open the dining to the back porch. While they put those wheels in motion,our team was brought into the space plan and decorate the porch. The brief was to create a flexible entertaining, dining and lounging space that could also just as easily be a quiet space to sip coffee on. We love a good challenge. We had our workroom create window treatments to provide privacy when desired as well as a way to hold in the heat of the new infrared ceiling heaters. We brought in a local decorative painter to add color and pattern to the porch floor that will look even better as the scuffs and nicks of life start showing up in it’s fresh color and pattern.
The space planning thoughtfully incorporated a built in bench and a round table so they could squeeze in as many friends and family as they want. A retro, outdoor chandelier anchors the space that also has a cozy sitting area with places to put your feet up and set your drink down. The clients and their two kids and bunny all now enjoy a space that is there for them when they need it and how they need it. As we have all learned over the last two years, having an outdoor space to escape too as well as entertain in is more valuable than we ever knew.
Photo Credit: Blackstone Edge Studios
Special thanks: One Horse Studio-floor paint, Alex Cary-window treatments
Han-Mei Chaing and Joe Swank-for being awesome clients and for making a commitment to work with as many local craftspeople as possible and to keep the project going through the uncertainty we all experienced in the very early days of a global pandemic. We work with the best people! XO
“We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Arlene and her team.”
This was our second project working together. They listened to our intended uses, and created a multi-functional space that greatly increased the usable square footage of our home. We went from a barely used, painted plywood sunporch to one that we can now entertain and enjoy year round.