In more than 250 stunning photographs of forty homes, Perfect Porches illustrates how varied these iconic American spaces can be. A wealth of structural appointments are presented, such as the extended eaves of a rain porch along the Gulf Coast, the shimmering copper flooring of a converted Amish cattle barn in Bluegrass country, and Outback-inspired painted thresholds in California’s wine region. Unexpected ornaments, including Moroccan pendant lamps, a vintage watering can collection, or a majolica menagerie can transform even the most modest porch into an oasis. This book also reveals a host of practical ways to bring privacy to urban porches, chic accents to old-fashioned verandas, and coziness to modern environments. Home owners share colorful stories about using their porches as communal stages for magical and sometimes mythological events, telling of ghosts encountered, arias sung, and families reunited.
Whether you seek to reawaken a cherished memory of a childhood porch, create an adorned haven of your own, or take an enlightening journey across the nation, this volume is certain to become a treasured companion as well as a source of fresh inspiration.
PAULA S. WALLACE is president and cofounder of the Savannah College of Art and Design. Under her leadership, SCAD has received awards for architecture, design, and sustainability from the American Institute of Architects, the Art Deco Societies of America, Fashion Group International, and the National Trust for Hispanic Preservation, and she is the recipient of Elle Décor’s Vision Award for her work fostering emerging design talent. Wallace is the coauthor of A House in the South.
CHIA CHONG’s fine art, portraiture, and lifestyle work has been shown internationally and has appeared in numerous publications, including Cosmopolitan, Elle Décor, and Vogue. Since earning her BFA degree in photography from SCAD, she has traveled worldwide on photography assignments. A native of Penang, Malaysia, she now lives in Savannah, Georgia.
ADAM KUEHL’s atmospheric landscape work has been exhibited widely and is featured in both private and corporate collections. His fashion and interiors work has appeared in numerous publications, including Metropolitan Home, the New York Times Style Magazine, and Vogue. He is a graduate of SCAD’s BFA program in photography and has been recognized in 25 Under 25: Up-and-Coming American Photographers, Volume II.
Reviews (20)
wonderful book.
wonderful book...colorful, enlightening, and full of ideas that you can adapt for your own porch or patio! Would order it again!
I'm SO ready to re-do my 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.
Perfect Porches (enough said)
I'm a southern girl, what's not to like about a book on porches. lol
I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR IDEAS
I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR IDEAS: Used 2 ideas and enjoyed browsing through book; now it becomes a coffee table book. Already had enough lighting with canned & fan lights, but decided to use lamps for soft lighting on our screened porch.
unpretensious
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.
Rustic/country, not sophisticated and elegant
Not thrilled at all with this book. Illustrates what is wrong with Amazon--you are browsing books, they recommend one (like this), there are minimal photos and you buy it and wish you never did. If I had the opportunity to page through it at a store I would have pout it right back on that shelf. DO NOT judge this book by its cover, as I did. The cover implies this was going to be filled with photos and ideas/suggestions for gracious and elegant porches. Nope. Aside from this one photo, it is FILLED with very rustic, country pictures. Not at all what I had expected, nor wanted :(
book review
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.
Its ok
I do think the material seemed a little dated and too much country. I like more traditional and tuscan, but it does have some interesting settings.
One Star
Not to my taste
Perfect Porch Ideas
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.
wonderful book.
wonderful book...colorful, enlightening, and full of ideas that you can adapt for your own porch or patio! Would order it again!
I'm SO ready to re-do my 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.
Perfect Porches (enough said)
I'm a southern girl, what's not to like about a book on porches. lol
I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR IDEAS
I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR IDEAS: Used 2 ideas and enjoyed browsing through book; now it becomes a coffee table book. Already had enough lighting with canned & fan lights, but decided to use lamps for soft lighting on our screened porch.
unpretensious
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.
Rustic/country, not sophisticated and elegant
Not thrilled at all with this book. Illustrates what is wrong with Amazon--you are browsing books, they recommend one (like this), there are minimal photos and you buy it and wish you never did. If I had the opportunity to page through it at a store I would have pout it right back on that shelf. DO NOT judge this book by its cover, as I did. The cover implies this was going to be filled with photos and ideas/suggestions for gracious and elegant porches. Nope. Aside from this one photo, it is FILLED with very rustic, country pictures. Not at all what I had expected, nor wanted :(
book review
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.
Its ok
I do think the material seemed a little dated and too much country. I like more traditional and tuscan, but it does have some interesting settings.
One Star
Not to my taste
Perfect Porch Ideas
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.
