A family of four loved spending time on the deck and lawn of their Chaska, Minnesota, home, which backs up to a beautiful stretch of woods. However, at certain times of day, mosquitoes often brought an abrupt end to outdoor time. When the homeowners decided to add a screened-in porch, they called husband-and-wife design-build team Mark and Mary Mackmiller, who already had completed two other large remodeling projects for them. The final design features a stacked vinyl window system that allows the family to enjoy the space well into the shoulder seasons.
Porch at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two elementary school-age children
Location: Chaska, Minnesota
Size: 214 square feet (19.9 square meters)
Design and build: mackmiller design+build
Finding the right spot for the porch was the first hurdle. The family loved their existing deck and wanted to ensure that the new addition wouldn’t rob the family room or kitchen of natural light. This left the area behind the dining room as the best location. To make up for any light lost, the firm placed a new window on the side of the house and designed the porch’s roofline to maintain a clear view from the second-story windows.