HOUSE AND GARDEN 
July, 1911 
the English house of the Eliza¬ 
bethan or Stuart periods, that is, 
the longer it becomes, the easier 
it is to harmonize this porch ex¬ 
tension with the balance of the 
structure. The entrance porch, 
found so largely in Kent—open 
porch below with an alcove filled 
with mullion windows above—- 
offers many suggestions whenever 
it is possible to include both 
porches in one wing subordinated 
to the main structure. 
The comfort of the occupant 
being the first requisite of a sleep¬ 
ing-porch, the question of protec¬ 
tion from the elements must re¬ 
ceive early consideration. Where, 
the sleeping-porch is situated in 
internal angles, it is sufficient to 
provide against draughts by simply placing sliding or folding sash 
in one end of the porch. If the porches form part of a project¬ 
ing wing, then this matter is disposed of by placing sash in both 
ends. The writer does not regard it as necessary to provide fur¬ 
ther protection in the way of sash on the front of the sleeping- 
porch. If it is to be used as such 
alone, it should be left quite open, 
for, if the plate (the horizontal 
timber supporting the rafters 
above) be of moderate height, six 
feet eight inches or seven feet, it 
is only on rare occasions that 
snow or rain will beat in, and, in 
such cases, a folding screen or 
canvas will be sufficient to protect 
the bed. Should the use of the 
sleeping-porch be extended to 
those of an outdoor living-room 
or playroom, then there seems to 
be greater need of enclosing all 
sides with movable sash. But 
this is largely a question of indi¬ 
vidual notions as to comfort. The 
best results are obtained at the 
least expense, by the use of hori¬ 
zontal sliding sash; these should be provided at the top with 
dowels running in grooves, to reduce the friction, and with brass 
sheaves and track at the bottom. The meeting stiles should be 
weather-lipped. 
(Continued on page 60) 
Where the exterior walls are of stucco, the inside of the 
sleeping-porch is usually finished in the same material, 
though it is cheaper to sheathe it with wood 
Achieving Character in Remodeling 
WHAT MAY BE DONE WITH THE AID OF NEW WOODWORK AND BUILT-IN FURNITURE, 
GOOD HANGINGS AND WALL COVERINGS, IN PLACE OF COSTLY STRUCTURAL CHANGES 
by Katharine Lord 
S OME years ago, the rush from the country to the cities left 
many empty farmhouses, and comfortable homes in towns 
and villages. Now the reactionary wave, which is taking place 
especially among the professional classes, who are on all sides go¬ 
ing back to countrv 
life, is again filling 
these same houses 
and restoring them 
to their former 
condition. 
Writers, paint¬ 
ers, sculptors, all 
kinds of workers 
who can do their 
work where they 
will, are extending 
the term of their 
country residence 
until it covers all 
but a few months 
of the year. Many 
who have been for¬ 
tunate enough to 
inherit or acquire 
places near enough 
to the city for com¬ 
muting or weekly 
visits, make the 
country their per¬ 
manent residence. 
In every town 
and village we see the neglected houses of the last generation 
rejuvenated and adapted to modern needs. Some of these dwell¬ 
ings have long stood empty, more have descended in the social 
scale, and have been loaned or let for a nominal sum and allowed 
to go unrepaired 
and unpainted. 
Visit any country 
district now and 
you will see these 
long neglected 
places taking on 
new life with a 
fresh coat of paint, 
thrusting forth a 
veranda here, 
breaking out a 
door or window 
there, or adding a 
chimney else¬ 
where, all giving 
token of enlarged 
life and comfort 
within. 
In the city, too, 
old houses which 
had perhaps sunk¬ 
en into slovenli¬ 
ness are constantly 
being converted 
into apartments 
and the simpler 
% 
The removal of a loaded plate-rail and substitution of a soft-toned paper and frieze of 
Dutch blue worked wonders in this room 
