Issue 02 – From Frustration to Flow: Designing a Porch That Brought Summer Back
Location: 89 Leighton Ave, Winnipeg
Architecture: Dark Horse Architecture Inc.
Structure: Wolfrom Engineering
Builder: Anvil Tree
Landscape: BRocke Landscaping
1. Why This Porch?
I used to avoid spending time outside of our house.
First of all, having grass and pollen allergies made mowing a miserable task. And don’t get me started on the bugs, ticks, mosquitoes, wasps, hornets, horseflies…the usual suspects. I hated them all, and they made being outdoors a battle for me, inducing constant stress and anxiety anytime I am outside of our house.
But Winnipeg summers are too short and beautiful to waste indoors. I dreamed of lounging outside, morning coffee in hand, breeze on my face. I imagined having breakfast with family on weekends, or of eating supper outdoors every evening, waving at neighbours passing by, sipping a sweet glass of wine on a warm evening.
So, I sketched a screened porch. That was five years ago. Today, it’s finally real.
2. The First Sketch & The Long Wait
The initial concept I had in mind was simple: a rectangle off the front of the house, with shade, bugscreen, and a clean frame. I wanted it to feel like modest attachment to the building, not a slapped-on deck with a roof on it. Its form had to be meaningful, its concept had to represent what Dark Horse Architecture represented. That vision stuck with me for months.
It was early Covid times, so the work was slower than typical. Which meant I had plenty of time to focus on this porch addition. I would sketch ideas, quickly 3D model them, create some simple architectural renderings to share with my family to get their feedback. It wasn’t going to just for my pleasure after all!
It took me about roughly a year to settle on a concept that made everyone happy.
Permitting was another story. Slow, tedious, sometimes contradictory, the approval process took real persistence. But that sketch I did eventually became a permit set… and then a reality.
This quick 3D model shows an early concept that helped shape the final design. I was experimenting with materiality and really liked the contrast between wood and metal. Since we knew this would be a screened porch, I started playing with the idea of screening as more than just bug protection, a design language. Almost every element became part of that layered, semi-transparent approach: a structure that offers privacy and protection, while still feeling fully open to the environment.
A rendering from 2021, the concept my family finally agreed on after much debate :). It continued to evolve through the permit process and construction phase, but I think we stayed true to its original spirit.
3. Design Decisions: Simplicity, Rhythm, Honesty
At its heart, this porch is a study in structural rhythm and material honesty:
Four galvanized steel columns, 10 feet from the house, span 25 feet in total.
The eastern 8-foot bay accommodates the custom steel staircase to the front yard.
The remaining two bays form the screened-in outdoor room — about 160 sq. ft. in total.
4. Material Choices: Cost vs Performance
I considered three cladding and finish options:
Accoya: Accoya is created through a process called acetylation. The Monterey Pine wood is treated with a vinegar-based solution under high heat. This transforms its internal chemistry by reducing its water-loving components and increasing water-resistant components. The result? A wood that doesn’t swell, warp, or attract rot. Fantastic material for outdoor applications. 50-year warranty. But the price was out of reach, especially during Covid, so we decided to opt out of this one.
Western red cedar from BC: Beautiful, durable, rot-resistant, Canadian, but still too costly.
Pressure-treated brown lumber from good old local suppliers: Affordable, readily available, and familiar. We went with the pressure-treated brown. It gave us more budget for landscaping, backyard upgrades, porch furniture and lighting. With no need for staining or painting, it matched our low-maintenance goals.
5. Structure & Detailing: A Dance of Wood and Metal
Foundation:
We opted for screw piles — quick install, minimal disruption, long-term stability through Winnipeg’s freeze-thaw cycles.
Framing:
Floor: 2×10 pressure-treated joists with 1×6 PT decking
Roof: 2×10 PT joists with PT plywood sheathing
Bug screens: Installed under both the decking and roof to seal out unwanted visitors
Guardrail & Privacy Screen:
Formed from back-to-back 2×2 steel angles spanning between steel columns
2×2 nailer boards attached on each side
2×2 vertical slats on the outside, spaced 3″ apart for visual rhythm and privacy
The design acts as both fall protection and a visual filter from the street, without closing the space off completely.
Ceiling:
A bug screen covers the joists
2×2 slats are applied underneath, visually continuing the rhythm of the facade up into the soffit
This conceals the roof framing and gives a clean, finished look — even though only half the roof is covered.
6. Structural Engineering Collaboration
My brother, a structural engineer at Wolfrom Engineering, helped bring technical clarity to the concept.
He optimized the framing and helped us confidently integrate custom elements like the +–shaped steel columns and perforated steel stair stringers with 3×3 steel tread brackets. These aren’t off-the-shelf components — they were drawn, spec’d, and fabricated to fit both form and function.
7. Details that Elevate Everyday Life
- Custom 8-foot-high door matches the porch materiality, the bottom half finished with matching 2×2 slats, protects the screen from kicks.
Ceiling height is a comfortable 8 feet: not too low, not too high, just right for proportion and comfort.
Lighting is soft and subtle, with warm dimmable string lights hung across the ceiling slats; inviting for evening meals and late-night chats.
Furnishings are simple and modern, outdoor friendly, matching the porch’s relaxed spirit.
8. Landscape: Quiet, Native, No Lawn
We didn’t want grass. We wanted peace. The yard was fully xeriscaped, including:
Crushed granite mulch
Native tall prairie grasses
Russian sage
Staggered 12″x24″ Barkman concrete pavers
Boulders handpicked from Reimer
The result is a landscape that feels calm, intentional, and grounded — with zero mowing and no irrigation system needed.
9. What It Means Now
This porch has changed the way we live at home.
It’s where we start the day. It’s where we end the day. It connects us to the seasons, the street, and the neighbors. It keeps the bugs out, the light in, and the effort minimal.
It’s not flashy. It’s not luxurious.
But it’s thoughtful, functional, and joyful — and to me, that’s perfect design.