Customer Reviews

Perfect Porches: Designing Welcoming Spaces for Outdoor Living

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're looking for abundant ideas on creating a porch that's perfect for you, this book is a great introduction to porch styles and decor throughout the United States. Featuring 40 porches, the porches are organized in the book as coastal, farm, urban, waterfront and country porches. Accompanying each porch is descriptive information including the background of the porches' owner, their inspiration, the materials they used, the home's history, the architect involved, the furnishings they chose, how the porch is used etc. There's 250 photos of the porches, the homes, the surroundings and the views.

The porches featured tend not to look "decorated"--many use vintage furnishings, family heirlooms, and items purchased at flea markets. They clearly reflect the owners' individual style. This book is ideal for inspiring ideas on the assortment of interesting pieces you can use on a porch such as daybeds, hammocks, swings, an easel for painting and a bathtub adapted from an aluminum horse watering trough. One innovative owner used a wooden carved gondola boat from an English amusement park hanging from their porch ceiling that's overflowing with pillows and quilts for happy reading.

The author, president and co-founder of the Savannah College of Art and Design, is clearly passionate about the promise of porches (her own is featured). The book reminded me of the many happy hours I spent playing cards, reading and chatting with my cousin, on the porch of my great-grandmother's 1800's Victorian home on Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. After reading it you'll be itching to start decorating your own porch. The author includes a helpful design directory on porch furniture and textile companies that cater to outdoor furnishings and fabrics as well as architects, designers and shops which were involved in creating the porches featured. This is a lovely and lush book on creating, furnishing and accessorizing a porch that perfectly suits your personality and priorities. It's a great book for a coffee or side table that you have on your porch.

This book is everything I hoped it would be.
Inspiring, colorful and detailed. But just the right detail.
There is every kind of porch style in a variety of settings.
If you just want to read a book and daydream - buy it.
If you want inspiration for your own porch - buy it.
If you want a lovely book for your table or shelf - buy it.

Made a nice gift. Expected it to be a bit larger,i.e. more of a coffee table book and hardback but it was still very nice. Great pictures and ideas. It arrived just in time.

I found this book to be helpfull, unpretensious, and simple. It is definitely NOT a coffee table book, but a reference book, full of interesting ideas. I am glad i bought it.