I love porches. I love rustic screened-in porches like my mother in law's in Maine. I like open porches, both formal and casual. I like 3-season porches that can be used in all but the coldest weather. Porches evoke, in me, a sense of romantic calm and tranquility. I like to sit down and relax with a nice book and a cold glass of iced tea sheltered from a hot summer sun. Or else I like to sit and rock, next to a good friend, and watch the people and cars and world pass by. Or I like to snuggle up with a warm blanket beneath the cool September sky and enjoy a lovely evening with close friends.
I've only had a porch once in my life and it was my favorite room in the house. When I was first married and living in Greenwich our rental house had a wonderful 3 season porch. It was all white. In it we had a small green and white love seat, a small white set of drawers and a small white side table. We hung a couple of paintings on one of the walls, one was a picture of a great sailboat -- a print from The Newport Redwood Library. The porch had a nautical feel to it -- very apropos since we were only a mile or so away from the beach. On weekend mornings we enjoyed our coffee and the New York Times on the porch. In the evenings we often relaxed with a book and a nice glass of wine. The porch was too cold to use in the wintertime unless we were entertaining. If we had a large party enough heat was generated in our house to warm the porch. The only thing I miss about that house was a porch.
A porch was on my Must Have list when we went looking for our first home. Along with a fireplace and a deck. Two out of three wasn't so bad. Again when we outgrew our first home I put the porch on my Must Have list. The house had 2 acres, a large deck, a laundry room off of the mudroom, a huge playroom over a 3 car garage, and two working fire places. I could live without the porch, I guessed. I still long for a porch. Perhaps we'll build one on to this house. Perhaps one day when we downsize we will find that perfect porch. I'll sit on it at night and watch the stars and moon light up the sky and the fireflies light up the lawn. I'll hear the crickets and peepers in the background. I'll be older and wrapped in a warm blanket truly appreciative of the porch I have been dreaming of for so long...
Each of the following porches has struck me in its own way. Each one is wonderful and glorious. Each one evokes a feeling that is pleasurable and relaxing. (Images from Country Living)
There is nothing like the feeling of eating en plein air. Nothing at all.
A little bit of heaven on earth... notice the ice bucket? Perfection!
Won't you come over and have a light lunch with me?
Naptime...
This porch reminds me of the porch in Greenwich on a slightly more elaborate scale. I just adore that painted floor!
A perfect afternoon... I'll have my lunch of fresh fruit, salad, cheese and fine bread, followed by a siesta on the hammock on the other end...
A little celebration is in order...
I love the black and white... the art on the walls really gives this porch the air of an outdoor living room. If I had a porch I certainly would live on it.
Different angle of the above porch... it has what I would describe as a rustic elegance.
While this is not a porch per se, I love how the owners have tented the terrace by the pool house. This reminds me so much of something La Jolie Grandmere would have done!
A close up, more detailed view of the tented terrace... I just love it!
I hope you, as I do right now, feel a bit more relaxed after having perused these wonderful porches!
I've only had a porch once in my life and it was my favorite room in the house. When I was first married and living in Greenwich our rental house had a wonderful 3 season porch. It was all white. In it we had a small green and white love seat, a small white set of drawers and a small white side table. We hung a couple of paintings on one of the walls, one was a picture of a great sailboat -- a print from The Newport Redwood Library. The porch had a nautical feel to it -- very apropos since we were only a mile or so away from the beach. On weekend mornings we enjoyed our coffee and the New York Times on the porch. In the evenings we often relaxed with a book and a nice glass of wine. The porch was too cold to use in the wintertime unless we were entertaining. If we had a large party enough heat was generated in our house to warm the porch. The only thing I miss about that house was a porch.
A porch was on my Must Have list when we went looking for our first home. Along with a fireplace and a deck. Two out of three wasn't so bad. Again when we outgrew our first home I put the porch on my Must Have list. The house had 2 acres, a large deck, a laundry room off of the mudroom, a huge playroom over a 3 car garage, and two working fire places. I could live without the porch, I guessed. I still long for a porch. Perhaps we'll build one on to this house. Perhaps one day when we downsize we will find that perfect porch. I'll sit on it at night and watch the stars and moon light up the sky and the fireflies light up the lawn. I'll hear the crickets and peepers in the background. I'll be older and wrapped in a warm blanket truly appreciative of the porch I have been dreaming of for so long...
Each of the following porches has struck me in its own way. Each one is wonderful and glorious. Each one evokes a feeling that is pleasurable and relaxing. (Images from Country Living)
There is nothing like the feeling of eating en plein air. Nothing at all.
A little bit of heaven on earth... notice the ice bucket? Perfection!
Won't you come over and have a light lunch with me?
Naptime...
This porch reminds me of the porch in Greenwich on a slightly more elaborate scale. I just adore that painted floor!
A perfect afternoon... I'll have my lunch of fresh fruit, salad, cheese and fine bread, followed by a siesta on the hammock on the other end...
A little celebration is in order...
I love the black and white... the art on the walls really gives this porch the air of an outdoor living room. If I had a porch I certainly would live on it.
Different angle of the above porch... it has what I would describe as a rustic elegance.
While this is not a porch per se, I love how the owners have tented the terrace by the pool house. This reminds me so much of something La Jolie Grandmere would have done!
A close up, more detailed view of the tented terrace... I just love it!
I hope you, as I do right now, feel a bit more relaxed after having perused these wonderful porches!