Bringing the Outdoors In: A New Deck and Screen Room in Cape Elizabeth ME
Anyone who's spent a Maine summer evening slapping at mosquitoes on the deck knows the trade-off: the season is short, and the bugs show up right when the weather finally cooperates. That's exactly the problem this project solves — and now it's done.
We built a brand-new elevated deck and screen room for this Cape Elizabeth, ME home, right off the living room, to give the clients more of the outdoors without giving up any comfort. Here's how it turned out.
Why a screen room instead of just a deck
A deck is nice. A screened room is a deck you can actually use every day of the summer — rain or shine, bugs or no bugs. We used Amazing EZ-Screen Porch Windows, a vertical four-track system that gives up to 75% screen exposure when open and folds down into full protection from rain, wind, and dust when closed. It turns what would be an open-air deck into a true three-season room, with the flexibility to open it up on a perfect Maine evening or seal it off when the weather turns.
It's the same philosophy we bring to every room we design: the finishes and products you choose should work as hard as you do. A screen room only earns its keep if you actually use it — which means it needs to handle real Maine weather, not just look good in July.
The finishing touches
Ceiling: Warm tongue-and-groove wood paneling overhead, paired with recessed lighting and a bronze ceiling fan to keep the air moving on still summer nights
Walls & trim: Soft sage-green siding with crisp white trim, plus a wall sconce for evening ambiance
Flooring: Durable gray composite decking, low-maintenance and built for Maine weather
Furniture: A wicker sectional with plush tan cushions and green palm-print accent pillows, anchored by a glass-top wicker coffee table
Finishing touch: A potted fern brings in a little extra green
The result is a space that feels like an extension of the living room, not a separate structure — somewhere the clients can actually spend every evening of the season, screens open to the breeze or closed against the weather.
Dreaming about a space like this for your own home? We'd love to talk through what's possible — reach out or stop by our Scarborough showroom.