SPACES
STORY Lisa Lukecart PHOTOGRAPHY Sarah Lemke DESIGN Nickie Robinson
The Cats Approve
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A Screened-in Porch Worthy of an Oscar and an Emmy
scar, a Maine Coon cat, growls at rabbits and squirrels from the safety of his screened-in porch. Emmy, a Tortoiseshell feline, helps him while enjoying the feeling of “outside” living on the Trex decking. The composite material of wood and resin avoids rot but looks like real walnut wood from a distance.
Just like their cats, owners Aaron Persen and Eric Yarwood spend time communing with nature behind a screen while sitting on comfortable cushions. “I grew up in Minnesota and it’s the land of mosquitoes. I can experience the outdoors without any bugs,” Persen said. A traditional fiberglass screen encloses the 12 by 20 foot addition on the backside of the residence that overlooks the backyard.
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OMAHAHOME
The gabled porch with an eight-foot ceiling fits in seamlessly with the house. Stained cedar supports the structure, matching the roof line, about four feet above ground level. Persen, the director of facilities, planning, and construction for Metropolitan Community College, felt family furniture would add a warm, intimate ambiance to the room. A 1909 Minnesota cabin couch, re-upholstered in chenille vertical strips, feels like it could fit indoors. The faded yellow pine needed re-finishing until it glowed a satiny chocolate brown. The solid structure of its bones made it possible to bring it into this century with a durable water-resistant fabric with its brick red, cream, straw, and blue-gray colors creating a cool vibe. Two lounge chairs, part of the original set, match the couch while adding extra seating for gatherings.
The couple likes to host parties, even holding their wedding on the screened-in porch two years ago. Persen wanted to follow in his family’s footsteps of exchanging vows at home, and the 10-person event ensured coziness, less stress, and fewer décor decisions. “We let nature be the decoration,” Persen said. The wicker loveseat, painted the same color as the house in a tranquil gray-blue, belonged to Yarwood’s mother after she bought it at a garage sale as one of her first furniture purchases. The original cushion most likely came from the seat of a 1953 Chevrolet pickup truck, but the couple switched it for a coordinating durable fabric with an oatmeal background and multi-colored striped f lecks.