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Expert Talk: Porch Swings Sway Into Sweet Life
Their lilting rhythms and tastes of the good life beckon. See how professional designers heeded the porch-swing call
Houzz Contributor. After graduating from UC Berkeley, I found myself utterly unprepared for the real world and at a loss as to what I should do next. Luckily, one day I stumbled through the doors of Architectural Digest and was taken under the wing of legendary editor Paige Rense. She had the vision to look past my uninspiring sociology degree and my general lack of experience—an unlikely journalism career was born. After AD, with my magazine karma still intact, I was hired by yet another publishing legend, the food critic and writer Ruth Reichl. I currently ply my trade as a freelance writer and editor and live in stylish Mid-Century-Modern comfort with my dog, Mike.
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Some summer days it's hard to imagine a more magical place from which to watch the world go by than a porch swing. Cozy and inviting, porch swings seem to quietly beckon you to slow down and relax for a while. And as seen here, this is a particularly strong tradition in the southern part of the United States. These ideas can you help you make the most of a swing.
Be inspired by historical properties. "Our inspiration was the Plum Orchard Mansion on Cumberland Island, Georgia," says Jane Frederick of Frederick + Frederick Architects. "They have huge swinging porch beds that are the perfect spot for napping on a hot, lazy summer afternoon."
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by MCM Design
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| Take advantage of the view. "This hanging bed is located in the tower of a villa at Jumby Bay in Antigua, West Indies," says Robert Moreland of MCM Architects. "Jumby Bay is a flat island, so the tower provides a great vantage point to overlook the island and the sea. There's also more of a breeze the higher up you are, so the idea of putting a hanging bed here seemed perfect for enjoying the cool breeze while being gently rocked as you nap or read a book." |
by Wright Design
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Blend in with your surroundings. "This home is situated in a cove on Lake Keowee, South Carolina," says architect Brad Wright of Wright Design. "The porch pavilion was extended out from the house in order to capture a mountain view visible through the mouth of cove. The clients and I agreed that this was the ideal location for a bed swing. The finish and cushions were selected to blend seamlessly with the forest setting and other natural materials used on the porch. From the swing, the homeowners can enjoy views of the lake as well as the distant mountains."
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| Take a tip from the South. What does every Southern porch need? "A swing, a glass of sweet tea and a dog," declares Rick Clanton of Group 3, in South Carolina. "If that's not the answer to almost any question, it should be." |
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Make it as big as a bed. "Our clients wanted a porch swing outside of their master bedroom that was the size of a twin mattress," says Rhonda Vandiver-White of RSVP Design Services. "We designed it to their size specifications and had it locally constructed, and used outdoor fabric on the cushion and pillows. It looks out over a beautiful English garden, and the owners love relaxing here after a hectic day."
Create a Zen retreat. "The inspiration for this design actually flows from the architecture itself," says landscape architect Richard Risner of Grounded. "The residence was designed by architect S. Scott Emsley, and I wanted the outdoor living spaces to blend seamlessly with the home’s interior and overall architectural feel."
The house is in Southern California, so "we have the opportunity to expand our livable area beyond the walls of the house," he adds. "And for this project I created spaces for my clients to entertain, play, relax, and self-reflect. The end result was a modern-style landscape with a slight Japanese influence."
The house is in Southern California, so "we have the opportunity to expand our livable area beyond the walls of the house," he adds. "And for this project I created spaces for my clients to entertain, play, relax, and self-reflect. The end result was a modern-style landscape with a slight Japanese influence."
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| Build your own little perch. "In the temperate climate of Atlanta you can use a screened porch almost year-round," says Karen Soorikian of Soorikian Architecture. "This porch was built off of the home’s large kitchen/dining space and sits a level above the backyard." Soorikian was inspired "by the beauty of the deep woodland-like property," she says. "I hoped to give the porch the feel of a perch surrounded by lush trees. It's ideal for lazily lounging in a porch swing, especially in the summertime." |
Enhance what you're already got. "When we bought the house the swing was there, and we just repainted the porch floor and ceiling," says Annie Coggan of Coggan + Crawford Architecture + Design. Both colors are standard Southern porch colors. The blue for the ceiling is traditional and functional since blue repels wasps, or so the lore goes. The gray floor is porch gray, which hides dirt and pollen in the spring."
Coggan's favorite color is orange, "so bits of it are always placed about the house we live in, and this chair was a gift from a friend," she says. "This photo was taken in the early fall during harvest season in a rural Southern community, hence the bucket of gourds."
Coggan's favorite color is orange, "so bits of it are always placed about the house we live in, and this chair was a gift from a friend," she says. "This photo was taken in the early fall during harvest season in a rural Southern community, hence the bucket of gourds."
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by HBF plus Design
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| Make it sunset ready. "What could be more satisfying and romantic than looking out to the sun setting on a water view from an expansive porch?" asks Bruce Finkelstein of HBF plus Architects. "Maybe only doing it while sitting on a porch swing. It harkens back to more gracious and relaxing eras." More great ideas for your porch |
Ideabook updated on June 1, 2012.
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