Are you longing for chilly fall evenings, football season and enjoying time outside with friends and family? If so, this project just might provide a bit of inspiration as you bounce around ideas for your own outdoor renovation.

These homeowners wanted to expand their home by adding a screened porch off the exterior of their family room with improved access to the outdoors. Beyond that they also wanted to create a multi-level outdoor space for entertaining and family gatherings. The challenge was to preserve the abundant natural light and expansive woodland views in the existing space.

BOWA's design team developed the perfect solution. With an eye toward maximizing natural light and sightlines to the rear yard, the bottom set of family room windows were replaced with a quad sliding door, and the roofline of the addition was thoughtfully designed to not obstruct the existing top row of windows.

The result is seamless egress to the new space, plenty of light and maintained beautiful views.

The new screened porch features floor-to-ceiling screens and a contemporary custom cable-rail system.

The outdoor room also includes a dramatic gas fireplace and built-in electric heaters to allow for cool-weather enjoyment. The space is sizable enough to accommodate both a large sectional seating area and an outside dining set and provides access to a new deck with additional seating and a grilling station.

A lighted stairway with cable railing leads to a yard-level, stone patio with a cozy firepit and beautiful stone wall. The space under the deck was captured to create a finished storage room, and below the screened porch is additional seating and access to the lower level of the home.

These clients are thrilled with their new outdoor-living spaces and all the options they provide. If you'd like to see more photos, visit https://bowa.com/porch. So, did this beautiful project stir up any ideas for you? Of course, I'd welcome the opportunity to chat through them with you.

Tim Burch is a Vice President and Owner of BOWA, an award-winning design and construction firm specializing in renovations ranging from owners' suites and kitchens to whole-house remodels and equestrian facilities. For more information, visit bowa.com or call 540-687-6771.