How does Ceci Bates treat the design of a covered porch?

Ceci Bates Custom Homes designs covered porches as integral architectural elements, considering factors like depth, sun exposure, and material integration to ensure they are functional and well-utilized spaces.

What role does Roberth Jordan play in covered porch design at Ceci Bates?

Roberth Jordan, as the architect, asks specific questions about positioning, access, and material integration for a covered porch to enhance its functionality and connection with the home.

Why do some covered porches in custom homes go unused?

Covered porches often go unused due to generic design decisions like size and access. Ceci Bates customizes these elements to create inviting, functional outdoor spaces.

Notes From Our Journey

From twenty-six years of building custom homes on Lake Texoma, here we share about our process and what we've learned about design, materials, engineering, and the decisions that shape a home built to last for generations — the questions clients ask us most often, and the answers we give around the table in our design center.

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Designing the Covered Porch: A Deliberate Approach by Ceci Bates

Designing the Covered Porch: A Deliberate Approach by Ceci Bates

Ceci Bates

November 5, 2026

Most covered porches follow a familiar formula: eight feet deep, aligned with the room behind them, sharing the same ceiling height as their adjacent interiors. They appear functional at first glance, but often, they fall short of their intended use due to their generic design.

At Ceci Bates Custom Homes, a covered porch is not an afterthought but an integral part of the home’s design conversation. Our approach considers how the porch interacts with both its natural environment and indoor spaces. Roberth Jordan, our architect, explores the nuances that influence a porch’s functionality and comfort.

When planning a porch, we assess its depth to ensure it remains shaded during the hours it is most likely to be used. Its position is carefully chosen in relation to the prevailing wind and the sun’s trajectory. The porch’s connection to the home is just as crucial. Is it accessed through a simple single door, or does a glass wall system invite the outdoors in, extending living spaces outward during favorable weather? Decisions about ceiling heights and materials are made with a view toward integration—should the porch feel like an extension of the interior or a distinct outdoor area?

These considerations transform a porch from a seldom-used exterior space into one of the home’s most cherished areas. The placement, access, and materials create a continuum between indoor life and the natural setting, enhancing how owners live in and use their home.

The difference between a porch that gets daily use and one that sits empty can often be traced back to thoughtful design choices. We invite you to explore how Ceci Bates approaches these decisions in custom home architecture at cecibates.com.