These Ann Arbor homeowners were looking to expand their new home with a screened-in porch addition so they could have a wonderful space that could be used throughout three seasons. While some folks may prefer an open patio, an elevated deck, or a year-round sunroom, there was an allure to a screened-in porch. It's a place that's great for seasonal dining and entertaining or simply relaxing and enjoying the view. And in this case, there was a beautiful yard and landscape that faced west, providing amazing sunset views. With the homeowners' goals defined and the design challenges discussed, the perfect solution was an unattached screened-in porch with a raised deck that could be used for dining, relaxing, or gathering which overlooked their beautiful backyard. The thoughtful design keeps it visually appealing while blending seamlessly with the existing home. Being detached from the house doesn't block light into the basement windows nor does it shade the family room or obstruct any other windows of the home. It does, however, help shade — in a good way! — the part of the paver patio that was not replaced with decking and minimizes the heat during Michigan summers.