In the wildly unpredictable Midwest climate, transitional spaces that blur the line between indoors and out are an enviable lifestyle upgrade. At Susan Yeley Homes, we treat porches, screened rooms, and seasonal spaces not as add-ons, but as integral parts of your home’s design story—places that expand your living area while keeping mosquitoes, rain, and humidity in their place.

A screened porch? It’s not just a box enclosed with mesh. It’s a sensory experience. We consider the view from every seat (and every height), the angle of the sun at 3 p.m., the way summer breezes flow across the room, and how sound travels during a slow Sunday chat. We choose furniture that feels as if it belongs indoors but can handle the rhythms of outdoor life, because why compromise comfort just because you’re technically outside?

Three-season rooms offer a different kind of magic—more shelter, more flexibility, and often, a deeper connection to your landscape through expansive windows and doors. These spaces can morph from your quiet morning coffee spot to your lively Friday night overflow zone. With thoughtful heating options and well-placed glass, we extend their use into those glorious shoulder seasons when the air is crisp and the light is golden.

In our Gentleman’s Kitchen project, the addition of a screened porch changed everything. By orienting the new kitchen toward this outdoor room and adding wide-opening double doors, we created a true Midwestern version of indoor-outdoor living. As the homeowner said, “When the weather is anything above, say, 45°, you can open the double doors wide and achieve the Midwestern version of indoor/outdoor living, safe from mosquitoes and rain.” That’s what we call designing for real life.

Across Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Central Indiana, we approach transitional spaces with equal parts creativity and practicality. Because when the weather cooperates—and even when it doesn't—a well-designed porch or seasonal room makes you feel as if you're living both in and out.

Photography by Sarah Shields. Construction by Rusty Peterson Construction.