There is an ever increasing tendency to make of the porch an outdoor living-room rather than a mere convenience for occasional summer use. 
and to adorn it with hanging and potted plants as well as suitably designed furniture 
Making the Most of the Porch 
THE MODERN IDEA OF UTILIZING THE PIAZZA AS AN OUTDOOR LIVING ROOM AND HOW IT MAY 
BE SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT—THE REQUIREMENTS OF PORCH FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS 
BY Sarah Leyburn Coe 
Photographs by Mary H. Northend and Jessie T. Beals 
T LIANKS to the constantly in¬ 
creasing- aitpreciation of out¬ 
door life, aided and abetted by the 
designers and manufacturers of cer¬ 
tain kinds of furniture, the great 
American public has taken to spend¬ 
ing its summers on the porch. 
As a result the average i^orch is 
undergoing a complete transforma¬ 
tion. It has lost its resemblance to 
the summer hotel piazza as equipped 
for the annual campaign of the 
rocking-chair brigade, and the 
straight, prim looking row of 
chairs has given way to furnishings 
that make it an open air apartment 
of comfort and beauty. The joys of 
spending long summer days out-of- 
doors, protected at the same time 
from sun and wind, and among sur¬ 
roundings as comfortable ,and con¬ 
venient as when one is in the house 
cannot be over-estimated, and the 
porch itself has become a most important feature of the modern 
house, whether in town or country. 
So varied are the facilities for furnishing a porch that it can be 
done in almost .as many different styles as one of the indoor apart¬ 
ments, although of course there are two important things to be 
taken into consideration. One is 
that the furniture should harmonize 
with its outdoor surroundings, 
looking as if it belongs on the 
porch, and not as if it has been tem¬ 
porarily borrowed from the house. 
The other th,at it is substantial 
enough not to be injured by wind 
and weather. While not necessarily 
waterproof, as lawn furniture must 
be. there are times when a sudden 
rainstorm or an inadvertent leaving 
out over night will work havoc with 
furniture not especially constructed 
to meet such emergencies. 
The porch that is to serve the 
purpose of an outdoor living-room 
should be the most carefully 
planned part of the house that is to 
be used as a summer home. All of 
the characteristics that go to make 
up the charm of such a place ought 
to be considered first in relation to^ 
the porch. The most perfect view should be commanded by it, 
it should be so situated that the prevailing breeze cannot fail tO' 
keep it cool, and most important of all, it should be as private as 
circumstances can make it. 
Fortunately for the latter condition, fashions in porches as 
Porch furniture should be of such a style as will successfully 
withstand moisture and exposure 
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