A client recently found us on a Facebook group of East Cobb moms. They were looking for a new addition to their home that would open up their entertainment space. The results are simply fantastic, and we have lots of photos to share! Originally, the exterior was just a painted open deck with plain wooden railings and a backyard that was not very functional for the family.
Atlanta Curb Appeal, of course, was able to take it to whole new level!
What made this new screened porch addition interesting is the grand entrance to it. Instead of typical sliding doors, adding a folding glass door wall made it feel like one great big room. They now have twelve feet of open space when the doors are fully open. The porch stays cool with industrial strength ceiling fans for the summer and a new fireplace to warm everyone up in the winter.
The fireplace is a custom gas log unit with a faux stone exterior. The amazing cedar mantelpiece works to blend in but also stand out from the overall design. The walls of the screened porch are a different shade and are also made from a beautiful cedar. Two coats of a gorgeous Sherwin Williams stain will keep it fresh for years to come. Extra electrical outlets were added to compensate for the television in the corner. It is now a fantastic space to enjoy a meal or play games as a family.
The client already enjoyed outdoor living and cooking, but a new, functional outdoor kitchen made it so much more accessible! Talk about convenience! No more trips from the grill in the middle of cooking. This modern outdoor kitchen includes a built-in stainless steel grill and a Big Green Egg stand. To keep the meat and drinks cold, a small refrigerator was installed under the wet bar. Now it’s time to party!
Moving from the wooden deck are a set of steps to the new backyard! The client had significant draining issues and was not able to grow a lawn back there, so it had to be completely redone. Atlanta Curb Appeal had some substantial hardscaping to do. To start with, a bobcat was brought in to level everything. Leveling allowed for drainage improvement and a new retaining wall installation. These two items redirected the path of the previously pooling water. French drains were also installed to pipe out the additional water flow and all the backyard downspouts. The most significant benefit to this new backyard is the increased safe space for the parents to watch the small children as they play and new fencing to keep the dog protected and contained.
The biggest surprise for the family was the timeframe that the project was completed in. They were pleasantly surprised that we were able to be flexible and make changes to the original schedule, yet still only finish one week longer than the original promised completion date.
Items Added to Schedule of Original Timeline
-New cedar fence to enclose the backyard and make it safe and private
-Drainage problems sorted out and backyard graded
-Retaining wall built
-Additional concrete pad and wood burning fireplace.
-New 12×10 dry storage under the deck with an electrical charging station
-Cedar ceiling and wall inside of screened porch instead of beadboard and old yellow stucco
-Concrete walkway from the front yard to backyard
-Relocated the HVAC condensing units to create easily-hidden storage space for trash bins
The children love their new space and the family as a whole are thrilled that they can get the full benefit of their new dry backyard. The kids can play on the lawn or in their new sandbox or even ride toys on the concrete pad all while Mom and Dad sit on their beautiful porch to keep an eye on them.
Atlanta Curb Appeal 