Porches originated in the Middle East and were adopted in various forms by many European cultures. In the early 18th Century, elaborate porch designs could be found in the Deep South, as Victorian-styled expressions of French descent. Porches were an important part of family life. The demand for porches continued, with the desire to have a transition between the home and yard, as well as the need to see and be seen. Even with today’s busy lifestyles, the front porch remains an important part of the social fabric that makes up a neighborhood. Patios are an evolution of the porch, evolving from a desire for comfortable outdoor living spaces. Patios first originated in Spanish and Italian villas functioning as open-air courtyards. Near the end of the 1940s, many homes were built without the traditional front porch and family activity began to take place in the backyard. The desire to utilize valuable outdoor space and the availability of economical and easier-to-maintain materials led to the creation of patios. Today, patios are attractive, multi-functional home extensions, which create backyard retreats for entertaining and relaxing.

---