Increased Appeal

Built in 1920, the Little Rock home of Megan and Lucas Hargraves originally had a screened-in porch that the previous owners closed in, leaving the home with a very flat façade with five concrete stairs leading straight to the door. When Lucas and Megan decided to buy the home, they knew they wanted to add a front porch with all the trappings of a Craftsman-style home. “We wanted the porch and columns to be true to the style of the home and to look like they had always been there,” she says. “The columns, railings and finished stairs really add to the overall feel and depth of the home.”

The Hargraves' first step was to find antique brick that closely matched the original foundation of the home. “The brick is a great match,” Megan says. “You can even see a little of the original paint on a few of the pieces. It's wonderful that we were able to use antique materials on our historic home.”

The details, both old and new, blend together for a complete Craftsman-style abode. The original windows and light fixture stand next to the second-generation door and antique crystal door handle, while the new ceiling fan, furniture and porch swing afford comfortable enjoyment throughout the seasons. “The porch has really increased the beauty of our home and, once we added the landscaping and fence, it became the house we had envisioned,” Megan says.

Before the Renovation: