Milford chronicle., 1929-05-24
MAKING THE MOST
OF THE PORCH
Helen B. Ames.

Every house should have some
sort of place where the family car
sit out-of-doors in the summer
time. 1t need not be pretentious-
even the front steps will invite re-
taxation if there is a deep-seated
bench on either side and a latticed
archway for climbing vines. 1t may
be nothing more than a few painted
chairs and little table under a
shady tree or a big umbrella-but
whether it is improvised or attains
the dignity of a porch, this outdoor
retreat should be as attractive as
any room within the house.
ALI too often, however, a wide and
roomy porch does not live up to its
possibilities. 1t is shabby and run
down comfortable but nothing
more. Sometimes this neglect is the
result of indifference, but generally
it comes from a mistaken idea that
fitting up the porch is an expensive
proposition. 1t really doesn't cost
much to make the porch attractive
if you give the matter a little
thought. Old chairs and tables that
are dingy and worn may be easily
rejuvenated with coat of bright
paint. Choose a dominant color,
accent it with a harmonious trim
and carry out the same idea in the
chintz which is used for the cush-
ions.
Furniture that is easily moved
about is best for the porch. Wick
er, stick willow, reed and rattan
pieces belong in this class, and
wooden chairs with rush seats also
have a light and airy appearance.
All of these will lend themselves
to simple methods of decoration
with paint, enamel or lacquer.
Chairs of the wicker type may be
dressed up with such sprightly
combinations as jade green with
black stripping, corn yellow with
lines Of turquoise, or gray with old
blue. If left in its natural state,
except for a bright trim, wicker
should always be given coat of
varnish for protection. The wood
en- chairs may be decorated with
stencils or decalcomania transfers.
Stenciling is not difficult to do and
almost any art store can supply
you with pretty designs. The decal-
comanias, too, are quite simple to
apply and if they are vanished over
after they have been transferred,
will last Indefinitely. With a little
table to match, chairs decorated in
some such manner as this will form
delightful setting for the outdoor
meal.
The couch hammock, the bridge
table, the floor lamp and all other
contributions to porch comfort and
charm should fit into the landscape.
Flower or fern stands of wrought
iron or bent wire, painted in har-
mony with the general color scheme,
will add to the tranquility of this
summer retreat. The pots may be
painted solid color, or made still
more ornamental with a stencil de-
sign. A final coat of spar varnish
will give them greater durability.
But all these gay furnishings will
not show up to the best advantage
if the background is worn and
dingy. 1t is more than likely that
the porch floor will need attention,
after it's long period of abandon
ment. When repainting the floor
good quality of floor enamel or deck
paint should be used. Color selec-
ton will be regulated in most cases
by the general tone of the exterior,
but sometimes the porch is so Sc
cluded that it's color scheme may be
Independent of the rest of the house.
Under these circumstances, the
floor may be painted bright color,
eliminating the necessity for decora-
tive rugs. A spot stenciled at the
corners will add another ornamen-
tai note to the outdoor living
room.
If the screens were put away last
winter in a rusty condition, they
should be repainted before they are
fastened in place for the season.
Both the wire and the frames should
have this protection. Last years
awnings may be brought back to
their first freshness by painting the
stripes in their original colors.
Nothing spoils the appearance of
house like a faded awning.
The small amount of time and
labor spent in making these simple
renovations is in inverse proportion
to the pleasure gained from the
results. With the new four-hour
enamels or quick-drying lacquers
the furniture may often be redecor-
ated in a single afternoon. And if
the work is done early in the sea-
son, you have the assurance of a
delightful spot in which to spend
your moments of relaxation during
the warm months that follow.