An Indoor-Outdoor Addition That Does It All

With two teenage sons and an 85-pound yellow Lab, Jay and Barbin Graham were craving more space in their 2,600-square-foot home of 15 years. But when they got an estimate for an addition — $350,000 — they had sticker shock. "You could build a new house for that!" says Barbin, who owns a sign-manufacturing company with Jay.

Instead, they found a way to add room for a lot less money: Replace the back deck with a 500-square-foot screened-in porch designed as an outdoor living room, kitchen and dining area. Total cost? $65,000. Plenty of prime features — pine floors, vaulted ceilings, a brick fireplace, a built-in gas grill and weather-resistant furniture — have made it the family’s favorite spot.

Aluminum screening keeps bugs out and fresh air in. During the coldest winter months, the Grahams add heavy plastic roll-down sheeting panels from enclosureguy.com.

Barbin knew she wanted a coffee table big enough for a crowd. A local metalsmith built the base (painted Intellectual Gray by Sherwin-Williams) and added a 4-foot-by-5-foot reclaimed-pine top.