Porches :: The Best of Southern Living

by vicki | Sep 13, 2015 | Ace Around Town, Architectural Detail, Showhouses | 1 comment

We are months away from actually building our new deck (“screened in” porch), and we still continue to gather mountains of inspiration. The latter of which stops us from moving forward with any plans because “the more we see, the more we want.” Screen vs. open, beams vs. beadboard, Ipe vs. cedar and the list goes on. Then we were in Cashiers, NC recently and all our past planning went out the proverbial window. Because what we saw wasn’t a porch, but a “Carolina Porch.” What is that you ask? I wasn’t entirely sure but knew I wanted one. I’m from New York where everything is called a patio, and here in the south everything is called a porch. So I asked an architect friend, and this is what I found out. A “Carolina Porch” is one whose roof extends far beyond the structure with supporting beams, also called a “rain porch.” Fancy. If I were to define the difference it would be as simple as “you have a party on the patio, or you sip sweet tea on the porch.”

Since I now live in the South, I sip a lot of tea.

Seeing the “Carolina Porch” certainly provided inspiration for our dream porch and, of course, a dream porch wouldn’t be complete without a well-known designer. Carole Weeks set the design stage for luxury living in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains (complete with a jaw-dropping view). It was open, airy with a color palette that paid homage to the landscape that surrounded this requisite structure.

So come on in, and enjoy the view.