Motorized Porch Shade, Corona Del Mar CA: How I Finally Started Using My Porch

I Actually Use My Porch Now

So we live in Corona Del Mar, and our porch was basically useless. Too hot. Too bright. I kept thinking we'd use it more, but we never did.

What Changed

We installed this Apollo motorized shade—Granite color with some dimout backing. I wasn't expecting much, to be honest. But the first time I hit the button and it came down, I was like... oh. This is actually nice.

The porch cooled down right away. The light got softer. It just felt better out there.

Weird How Much Difference It Makes

Now I drink my coffee out there most mornings. My wife reads on the porch. The kids hang out there with their friends.

With this warm January we're having, I'm glad we got it installed before summer hits. And during those New Year storms last week, I didn't have to drag everything inside. The shade kept most of the rain off.

It's one of those things where you don't realize what you're missing until you have it.

The Real Deal

Look, it's just a shade. But it made a space I never used into a space I use every day. No drama, no hassle—just press a button and it works.

The Granite color looks fine. Not too dark, not too light. It matches our house.

If you've got a porch you avoid because of the sun, this helps. That's really all I can say. It worked for us.