In addition to controlling the climate on the porch, the homeowners needed to control the bugs. During mosquito season, screens are a must. The screens on either side of the fireplace are fixed, but the screens on the other two sides of the porch are retractable. On the widest side of the porch, these screens are installed on the columns on either side and pull out to meet in the middle. One screen covers the right side of the porch.

“These pleated screens are a really cool product,” Trakas says. “They are on a track, and they fold up into themselves like an accordion.” The screens are opened and closed manually, and when the homeowners aren’t using them, they tuck right up next to the columns.

Retractable screens: ZigZag2, Genius

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