Evening star., 1933-08-12
means SUGGESTED
TO 0|MPROVEPORCH
RemodeIing of 0Id-Fashioned
Veranda Proposed in
Ren0Vize Drive.

Oftentimes major operation on the
porch is all that is needed to modernize
the exterior of home. In the days
when the home was house and moth
ing else the porch was probably the
most typical element of it; certainly it
often appeared to be the largest part
of the house. 1t always occupied a
large portion of the main facade, was
usually carried around one side, and
in many cases was omitted only at the
rear.
Light and air reached the interior
in meager quantities, SO that the liv-
ing room, dining room and stairway
always seemed to be in perpetual twi-
light. The vast area and often peculiar
shape also made the porch expensive
and difficult to furnish appropriately.
Its size and design lent themselves bad
1y to advantages of modern screening.
The remodeling of an old-fashioned
porch is one of the suggested projects
for the Renovize Washington campaign.
General Specifications.
While the porch is not always an easy
design problem. there are certain gen.
eral specifications. gathered from count
less thousands OF successful examples,
which if followed, will insure a veranda
both attractive and enjoyable to use.
In altering the porch, it is of course
more important than ever that faults
of both old and new types be avoided.
To remodel the porch. use simple
posts instead of the usual ugly corner
columns. Add a railing. so placed that
the porch can be easily screened.
Equally important for this type of porch
is the development of the surround
ings. Further privacy may be obtained
by producing the effect of greater dis
tances from the sidewalk. This is ac-
complished by a heavy planting of
however, blanket the porch and retard
the circulation of air. A small area of
the terrace thus protected might even
be fenced to form an intimate en-
closed garden.
Another common hold-over from the
Victorian era is the square, we'll built
home with a large, open porch deco
rating the front. This porch also
serves as stoop to the front door
Just as the living room is seldom en-
tirely successful if it be also the front
hall, so, to a great extent. the porch suf-
fers if used as an approach to the
home.
Instead of celebrating on the porch
with screens, awnings, rugs and furni-
ture as it stands. such a home and
grounds both warrant a completely new
setting
If the garden extends from the living
room side the side window may be
transformed into a door and modern
veranda constructed there The huge
porch at the front can be completely
removed and replaced with a portico
OF latticed sides and shingle roof with
Wrought-iron railing.
The Old Wooden Porch.
For the old wooden porch of the
later days of the nineteenth century.
which extended around three sides of
the house, often projecting itself over
the drive to become a porte-cochere,
the only thing to do is to discard the
porch entirely. Then, on part of the
original site. erect new porch, placed
; SO that it will overlook the most at
tractive part of the grounds: Lower
the porch floor if possible and con-
struct the railings so that the problem
pf screening is simplified.
A porte-cochere is regarded today as
completely out of date, although as a
matter of fact it can provide great
deal of comfort. 1t offers a splendid
temporary shelter for the car of the
owner or guest and is without doubt
welcome means of leaving or returning
by motor on stormy days. Thus, it is
better, in some instances where the
grounds permit, to retai2 the porte
cochere
In developing the porch into true
Summer living room, furnishings and
accessories play very important part.
Often additional shade is desirable
other than that supplied by the roof
Awnings have justified their popularity.
They will frequently add to the ap-
pearance of the porch and to the home.
The true porch is an outdoor lounge,
and. while it may be converted to use
as second living room or sun parlor
for Winter, too often that is accom-
panied by loss of its original purpose.
The porch should blossom out with
the early Spring flowers, be made to
serve continuously throughout the care
free Summer months, allowed to linger
on for the bracing days of Fall and be
dismantled of its furnishings with the
retreat indoors.