Best of Private Quarters: Atlanta porches that scream ‘wow’

1. A Candler Park Craftsman remodeled after clearing out the critters 2. New Decatur home, historic neighborhood style 3. Renovated Candler Park bungalow for a family of four 4. A neo-classical Victorian in Grant Park

A front porch doesn’t need to be just a place passed through to enter a home. With some work and design flair, it can become just as much a gathering area as a family room.

The AJC spotlights beautiful Atlanta homes every week with the Private Quarters series. All the homes featured have great qualities. When it comes to porches, however, we have a few favorites.

These are four of our favorite porches, selected from homes featured on Private Quarters in the last year.

1. A Candler Park Craftsman remodeled after clearing out the critters

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Chris Erickson and Kristin Tench Erickson, his wife, bought their Candler Park home in 2016. After three months of renovations, they had a home closer to their taste.

The porch was also renovated before the neighborhood's fall Tour of Homes. During this renovation, Chris Erickson removed the screen and added white furniture from Hayneedle.com. The exterior is painted Benjamin Moore Newburg Green.

2. New Decatur home, historic neighborhood style

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Kate and Dave Breslin built their Decatur bungalow in 2015. The bungalow, however, was designed to blend in with the other homes in the historic district. Kate said she enjoys when people ask about their "renovation."

The construction included a brick porch and white columns. The same brick is used in the path leading to the house.

3. Renovated Candler Park bungalow for a family of four

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Chris and Brian Fitzgerald bought a 1920 bungalow in Candler Park in 2007. They renovated it from a triplex to a family home. They told the AJC for their Private Quarters spotlight that they loved the location in their dream neighborhood.

Their home includes a large front porch using stone. The wall has the Candler Park sign.

4. A neo-classical Victorian in Grant Park

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The porches (plural) on this 135-year-old Grant Park home were so striking that owners Philippe and Amanda Pellerin said they often drove by the house and fantasized about living there.

After five months of renovations, the house and its spectacular porches were ready. Their home includes two large, column-lined side porches with seating on each.