Outside
7. Front and Back in Florida This beach home on Amelia Island, just north of Jacksonville, Florida, has two porches for very different purposes. The front porch, shown here, is set up for easy conversation, with a bamboo love seat facing a pair of white-washed chairs. The space feels like an extension of the living room, thanks to indoor-style table lamps, a soft rug underfoot and a potted fiddleleaf fig (Ficus lyrata) moved outside. Beach Style Porch by Nathaniel Ebert Nathaniel Ebert SaveEmail The back screened porch of the same home is set up as a summer sleeping spot. A set of two twin beds done up with light linens and cushy pillows looks like the ideal spot for dozing on a breezy summer evening. Try at home: Designing and installing the beds like porch swings makes them more versatile than, say, a pair of cots moved out on the porch. During the day, pile them up with pillows and they’ll function as extra seating on the porch.
7. Front and Back in Florida This beach home on Amelia Island, just north of Jacksonville, Florida, has two porches for very different purposes. The front porch, shown here, is set up for easy conversation, with a bamboo love seat facing a pair of white-washed chairs. The space feels like an extension of the living room, thanks to indoor-style table lamps, a soft rug underfoot and a potted fiddleleaf fig (Ficus lyrata) moved outside. Beach Style Porch by Nathaniel Ebert Nathaniel Ebert SaveEmail The back screened porch of the same home is set up as a summer sleeping spot. A set of two twin beds done up with light linens and cushy pillows looks like the ideal spot for dozing on a breezy summer evening. Try at home: Designing and installing the beds like porch swings makes them more versatile than, say, a pair of cots moved out on the porch. During the day, pile them up with pillows and they’ll function as extra seating on the porch.
6. Elegant Lounge in South Carolina This restored 1770 South Carolina mansion with gorgeous historical details — check out the molding on the columns — oozes Southern charm. But perhaps the most enviable architectural feature is the double porch. Mirrored swinging daybeds, matching outdoor sofas and a pair of chairs frame both sides of the door, creating an outdoor gathering place made for a slow evening of sipping iced tea and catching the breeze.
6. Elegant Lounge in South Carolina This restored 1770 South Carolina mansion with gorgeous historical details — check out the molding on the columns — oozes Southern charm. But perhaps the most enviable architectural feature is the double porch. Mirrored swinging daybeds, matching outdoor sofas and a pair of chairs frame both sides of the door, creating an outdoor gathering place made for a slow evening of sipping iced tea and catching the breeze.
Try at home: Trade a porch swing for a daybed and take lounging to the next level. Porches lend themselves well to hanging furniture: the wide roof overhang both shades the seating area and provides a structure for mounting a swing. If space allows, add a daybed (typically about 2 feet deeper than a bench swing) to set the mood for ultimate relaxation.
Santa Cruz I “Periwinkle. Purple hues are rarer choices for front doors and make a home stand out on the block. In this home in Santa Cruz, California, a bright periwinkle door works well with a sage green and natural wood exterior. The vivid color makes the entryway stand out beneath the shade of an overhang.”
Color scheme
Q