Encompass Design/Build took home the "Best Whole House Remodel in the $250,000 to $500,000 range" for this project in Vienna.

To transform the outdated split-level above into the Craftsman-Style home below, Encompass created a multi-level roof with gables and dormers and built a new wrap-around porch with trim details. On the inside, the contractor opened everything up—raised the ceiling on the main floor, expanded the dining room, and added another level with a master suite—without going beyond the home's original footprint. 

Front porches always seem to make a house feel more friendly and inviting. I love that they have experienced a surge in popularity in recent years. NPR's All Things Considered did a cool series on the front porch's role in American history, architecture, community, literature, and culture last year called Summer on the Porch—you can read some of the stories here.