Relish Warm Summer Days on These Decks and Porches

Architect: Lisa K. Tharp, K. Tharp Design / General Contractor: Richard Arnone, Sterling Construction / Photo by Eric Roth for Boston Home Fall 2014

New England may be known for its unpredictable (read: terrible) weather, but there aren’t many things quite as nice as a summer evening in Massachusetts.

Rain or shine, covered decks and porches are the only way to relish the season’s fleeting temperatures. Some days, they’re a front-row seat to thunderstorms, while others, they’re an open-air reading nook after a day at the beach. Get inspired to get outside and enjoy the weather with these decks and porches across the region.

Leafy Greens

A Cambridge fashion enthusiast and interior designer infused her terrace with nods to her home’s Colonial Revival architectural style.Photo by Eric Roth for Boston Home Fall 2015

Photo by Eric Roth for Boston Home Fall 2015

Old School Cool

A Victorian conservatory-turned-screen-porch overlooks the street and serves as an airy entertainment space for an empty-nester Brookline couple.Photo by Eric Roth for Boston Home Fall 2014

Photo by Eric Roth for Boston Home Fall 2014

Raise the Roof

A rooftop deck adds a touch of chic to a Beacon Hill brownstone decorated by interior designer Lisa Davis.Photo by Jonathan Kozowyk for Boston Home Winter 2015

Photo by Jonathan Kozowyk for Boston Home Winter 2015

Knock on Wood

A South End roof deck was designed and installed with Japanese-inspired woodlocking joints, meaning the homeowner could pack the deck up and take it to a new residence.Photo by Chuck Choi for Boston Home Spring 2017

Photo by Chuck Choi for Boston Home Spring 2017

California Dreamin'

A modern, West Coast-inspired Cambridge terrace connects to the dining room with a nearly invisible glass door.Photo by Jane Messinger for Boston Home Summer 2015

Photo by Jane Messinger for Boston Home Summer 2015

Green View

Cambridge-based Hammer Architects used oak flooring and fir ceiling beams in an eco-friendly Truro home.Photo by Chuck Choi for Boston Home Fall 2014

Photo by Chuck Choi for Boston Home Fall 2014

The Great Outdoors

A Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Martha’s Vineyard porch uses natural, outdoorsy materials to blur the line between interior and exterior.Photo by Chuck Choi for Boston Home Spring 2013

Photo by Chuck Choi for Boston Home Spring 2013