re: Looking to build an Acadian style home up here in Okie Land. LA architect recommendations?

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A front porch is like owning another car or a boat. It has to be maintained properly. It has to be cleaned regularly. Do you really want to spend a Saturday morning cleaning your front porch?

Would you get more use from a rear porch? or an outdoor kitchen pavilion?

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Agreed. I love the look and nostalgic down home feeling I get when I see a front porch. But the truth is, they rarely go used. Back porches where you can add grills and a tv are sooo much more used and practical.


Now, if you have the money, I would do both

No go on stucco. Painted brick or stone.

Ken Tate from Jackson, MS does some great plans. This is my sister in laws place.

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This is my sister in laws place.

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Noice!

The carriage house/slave quarters is an outstanding touch. Love the side hall gallery design from the approach.

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Now back porch is a different story

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Back porches get dirty too and require weekly maintenance to keep them in tip top shape. IMO, front porches are for other people to look at...when the last time you saw someone actually relaxing on a front porch? However, it you got the extra cash they are pretty! Great thread

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Back porches get dirty too and require weekly maintenance to keep them in tip top shape.

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This is situational. Its usually true because the backyard is where most of the trees are because people want privacy in the back and the backyard also has the space to make more plantings and also because the adjacent properties come together and create a dead zone for pollen, grass clippings and other debris to settle out. Out front the street can create a wind tunnel effect that keeps the front porch cleaner. Back porches are also more likely to be open and front porches are usually covered. This is to save money in the rear and to improve the curb appeal in the front. Front porches are usually incorporated into the design of the house and are part of the original roof structure. Rears are usually added on after the fact precluding their inclusion under the existing roof at least not without spending an assload of $$.

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IMO, front porches are for other people to look at...when the last time you saw someone actually relaxing on a front porch?

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It depends on the layout of your house but in a traditional front porch/back porch layout I would agree with you for the most part. The exceptions are, for example, people who have really long front yards and/or short backyards, people who live close to the sidewalk like the shotguns of NOLA and actually want to wave to their neighbors and socialize(thats part of the culture of NOLA. No one hangs on their back porch, its all out on the front stoop).

At our house we hang out exclusively on our front porch.
1. We dont have a back porch.
2. We live in a rural area so we have privacy on our front porch.
3. Large setback. My front property line is about 75' from front porch. The back of my house is 6' from the back property line.

Really some great insight in this thread.

Really appreciate all of it.