The Washington times., 1924-05-24
SUMMER ROOM
OPENSFR0N
PORCH
Its Real Purpose Is Unitarian,
Yet Often IS Permitted to
Become Mere Ornament

The real purpose of porcheS is
unitarian. We build them with
the expectation that we will use
them. Yet how often do we per-
nit them to become but orna-
n1ents, and scarcely creditable
ones at that! And when we do
actually make use of the porch
which we have gone to the work
and expense of building, how
prone, usually, are we to let it
serve its purpose only indiffer-
emily!
The porch should, of course, az
ford pleasure, enjoyment. It should
constitute a retreat, moreover, that
will potently entice, allure to fire.
quent use. It ought to comprise,
in short, real summer living
room living room of the semi
outdoors, permeated by healthful
breezes and perfumed from adjacent
gardens. Quite naturally, there
fore, 1t should be furnished both
for comfort and for attractiveness.
The matter Of furniture is par
tcularly important; but the porch
that is to be a true, all.round de.
light must also, 1t is equally ap.
parent, receive thoughtful considera-
ton from various other angles.
In making the porch into a gen.
timely inviting summer living room,
there are innumerable interesting
and charming possibilities.
A porch of a charming home,
in Southern California, is that Of
Julian Eltinge. The house is of
old Italian architecture, and the
porch is naturally designed to con-
form to this style. It possesses
an arch and column treatment
which. in conjunction with the en-
closing iron railing, gives it, struc-
turally, an especially attractive ap-
pearance. 1t is floored with cement
and carpeted with great oval
shaped, weather-proof rug. Its
furniture consists of comfortable
hickory chairs and an Italian style
iron table. The house is situated
on a commanding eminence over
looking a lake, and the outlook is
particularly interesting.
An inclosed porch has this dis.
tinct advantage, that all the glass
doors and windows may be thrown
open, with true porch-like results,
or any or all Of them may be
closed, as desired.
A Well-planned porch comfortably
and attractiVely furnished is un-
Questionably capable Of affordlng
much real pleasure.
Whether it is to be protected
from the elements by permanent
windows, or left open to the winds
and weather, the porch deserves at
tention on its own account as an
individual part Of the house. The
floor may be Of cement, tile, or
brick, in preference to wood, If
desired. Weather-proof fibre rugs
are always preferable to other rugs,
since if wet they dry out more
easily, to say nothing Of remaining
unchanged. Reed furniture, to
gether with child's swing and ham
mock, capable Of beng used as q
bed on occasion, give all the: re.
quired furniture. Tubs and hang
ing baskets Of ferns, flowers aor
decorative palms lend a charming
touch Of greenery to the porch
retreat.
Properly furnished. the porch
makes delightful summer room In
every way-comfortable and invit.
ingly furnished for the retreat and
the meeting place Of all the mem.
berS of the family. -....
There is another reason for the
popularity of the porch, not often
kept sight of in The midst of plan.
ming. but present nevertheless. In
the past ten years human society as
we know it has changed its habits
and its methods of living. There
was a time when the porch was a
point of vantage, wherefrom to view
the passersby and draw conclusions
flattering or otherwise, about their
general appearance and what might
be the business which drew them
forth.
A nice touch for the porch is the
presence Of a bowl Of goldfish, with
an electric light, conveniently placed
1t can turn into a great fascinating
globe of light in the evenings. Care
should be taken that the water in
the. bowl is not changed too fire.
quently and that the bowl is brought
inside on chilly NIGHTS.