If the World Had a Front Porch

When I first arrived in Mississippi for college, I was immediately captivated by the grand houses along the sorority and fraternity rows on our campus. Not only was I struck by the beauty of their architecture, but I was charmed by the many with wide and expansive columned porches often dotted with white rocking chairs. Coming from the Midwest nothing could have seemed more quintessentially Southern to me, and I absolutely fell in love.

We have seen porches with curtains and those with screens so far in our look at these staples of summer living. Today, we'll finish with a look at spaces that perfectly characterize a traditional front porch-- those furnished with rocking chairs and swings.

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart

Evan Sklar

Country Living

Martha Stewart

While technically the following room should have been with the other screened porches, the rocking chairs reminded me so much of those from the houses on my college campus, I had to include them here.

House Beautiful

This Old Porch

The other day, we looked at screened porches as a part of summer living, and today, we'll look at some of the un-screened variety. Each of the spaces that follow have an element I absolutely love love love-- outdoor curtains! I adore the way they help make an outdoor space feel cozy and enclosed.

Domino

Last summer, I was excited when I finally hung porch curtains at our house, as I had wanted to do so for a while, but I quickly discovered, if you live in windy central Texas, every so often there are days when said curtains wind up on your roof.

Traditional Home

The curtains I used weren't the heaviest weight, and I never discovered anything that would keep them anchored to the ground on very windy days; I even tried fishing weights! I tied them back on days when they seemed destined to head upwards, but sometimes they even broke free of those ties.

Melanie Acevedo

It was my Porch Curtains vs. the Texas Wind, but it was a loosing fight for the curtains really; the Texas Wind certainly had the upper hand. Eventually, I simply resigned myself to pulling them down off the roof any day the wind blew strong.

Country Living

Still head, we have more outdoor summer living and more porches with a look at some traditional front porch fare.

Summer Living {Screened Porches}

As much as I love being outside when the weather is warm, there are certainly times when the bugs are a little too pesky, and in those moments, I long for a screened porch where I can retreat.

Coastal Living

Heather Garrett Design

Evan Sklar

House Beautiful

House Beautiful

I love the relaxed nature of these rooms; each of the spaces above seems to encourage taking a deep breath and following it with a contented sigh.