New-York tribune., 1917-07-08
outdoor Living Rooms Dining Rooms; Sleeping Rooms
Have almost Replaced the Old
Fashioned Piazza
Fashioned Piazza

signs Of spring. These piazza chairs and the
hammock made up the entire furnishings Of
the piazza
The old-time piazza, too, was never closed
IN. 1t had railing around it with wooden
posts at intervals, and it was built straight out
IN the front of the house in the face and eyes
OF everybody. There was no seclusion, no pri-
vacy. This probably accounted for the fact
that it was rarely used in the daytime, except
by the children of the family; only in the even
ing did the grown-ups enjoy its cool drafts.
But all that is changed. The piazza has
become a porch and it no longer protrudes
like an appendage on the front of the house; it
is incorporated in the house itself. 1t is usual
ly so arranged that it can be closed in with
window sashes in the winter and with netting
in the summer 1t is furnished like room,
albeit in a simple, summery way; no uphol-
stored furniture, but wicker or painted wooden
pieces, and it is used as the general living room
Of the house. It often contains chimney with
a big open fireplace which can be used on chilly
evenings or when the air is damp with rain.
SOME PICTURESQUE PORCHEs
"The porches are constructed in different
ways. The most common has low wall Of
the material of which the house is built, shin
giles or plaster or brick, as the case may be-
with wide uprights Of the same material at in
tervalS forming long-shaped openings into
which Sashes or wire screens may be fitted.
Another idea is a series Of long French win
dows with panels at the bottom and window
sashes at the top. When closed these have the
appearance of a panelled wall with series OF
easement windows. and when open the porch
becomes an open veranda.
If one has an old-fashioned open piazza
this can be screened from public view by row
Of boxes filed with vines and plants along the
TOP of the rail. This reminds me that stum-
bled, when least expected it, upon charm
ing little veranda right here in New York.
Il was looking for an apartment which girl
from Des Moines could sublet for the summer,
and stumbled on Mr. and Mrs. Newlywed
having breakfast on their rear porch. They
had remodelled the floor of an old house and
converted the old wooden porch on the rear into
a charming breakfast room.
at was covered with green and white
striped awning and screened at the end with
plain green shade There was row of wooden
boxes filed with thick foliage on the top of the
piazza rail and on both of the window sills, and
in the corner was the dainty breakfast table
set for two, as cool and comfy and cosey as you
please. And when the little bride came forth,
all in pale pink with an adorable little Dutch
cap. the picture was complete.
"The main thing to consider in furnishing
porch" continued Letitia, "to my mind, Is TO
make it consistent with the rest Of the house.
For instance, an Italian house should have
porch with stone floor and stone furniture,
and be more or less formal in character. 1t
needn't be bare or cold in feeling, however; in
fact. it can be exceedingly attractive and still
be in keeping.
Il know such porch which has besides the
stone pieces. plain willow chairs and willow
table. and which is dressed up with wrought
iron stands and vases and wall pockets filled
with Ivy. giving it a really festive appearance.
"And now," said Letitia, Il have finished my
lecture, and we will 60 on pilgrimage IN
search Of the perfect porch
After a short train ride we alighted at
little station which bore the familiar legend
"Blaine's Point" I looked at Letitia. Her
face wore knowing smile.
You are right" she said. Il am taking you
% Pamela's peasant cottage again. She has
added a porch on the rear Of the house and fur
nished it in keeping with the interior"
Pamela net US at the door.
'.You two are much improved in looks" she
said "since yo1 have been working out Of
doors. There is nothing like fresh air to blow
away the wrinkles"
Ietitia laughed. "Be careful" she warned.
"You are treading on dangerous ground. We
object 10 the wrinkles They place US IN the
E.ar1,, Nic+orian erai"
PORCH OF THE PEASANT COTTAGE
Pamela paid no attention TO this remark but
led the wav 10 a door which had been cut in the
wall on the further side Of the living room and
which opened on the closed-in porch. This
porch had floor Of concrete marked on IN
SQUARES and vanished and rubbed down ike
that in the living room. This was partly COW
cred with a porch rug made Of twelve-incn
squares Of rush with tiny border Of black.
The walls were Of plaster in the natural
cement color and the woodwork was stained
like black oak cement wall three feet hlgh
went around the three open sides Of the porch,
and above this was a series Of long openings
in which easement windows were fitted. These
windows were hung with straight, full cur
tains Of green and white striped linen, and the
saebes were outlined like those inside the house
with line of orange vermilion. Later these
caseroent windows would be removed and re-
g. 1afp l9