Pleasures of the Porch : Ideas for Gracious Outdoor Living

For every type of house and for every family's style, there is a perfect porch. Whether you want a quiet outdoor niche where family members can lounge with a good summer read, or a casual front porch that encourages passing neighbors to stop and chat, over the years porch styles have developed that foster these very activities.

This beautifully photographed volume details the porch's illustrious past, from its origins as the portico, or covered entryway, of ancient Greece to its glory days as the elaborate outdoor sitting room of Victorian times. A discussion of different types of porches follows, with notes on the particular character of each.

Suggestions for creating an area for solitude and respite as well as ideas for converting the space into an elegant room for a party include tips on planning for alfresco meals, decorating for festive occasions, and providing the essentials for relaxation.

Pleasures of the Porch also introduces you to the furnishings and accesories of this most romantic of rooms. Bentwood rockers and white wicker settees, string hammocks and wide-striped awnings, floral-washed pillows and heavy Mexican glassware--these are the things that provide comfort and luxury, making the porch a favorite retreat. These chapters reveal which pieces are appropriately sturdy and weather resistant, as well as which are best suited to the ambience of the porch.

Because the beauty of nature is often what draws us to the porch, Pleasures of the Porch devotes a special chapter to potted flowers, window boxes, and other plantings that bring color, scent, and pattern to the porch and surrounding areas.

Filled with vibrant color photographs that capture the enchantment of porch living, this extravagant volume presents hundreds of ways to truly take pleasure in porches.