Sunrooms

THERE are countless fascinating schemes forpretence at coolness, nothing is more satisfactory
arranging sunrooms. One, which we have recentlyor gay than scarlet geraniums; but if they are
seen near Philadelphia, was the result of enclosingused, care must be taken that they harmonize
a large piazza, projecting from an immense housewith the color of the awnings and the chintz on
situated in the midst of lawns and groves.Thethe porch.Speaking of rail-boxes reminds us that in
walls are painted orange and striped with palemaking over a small summer house and
yellow; the floors are covered with the newconverting a cheap affair into one of some
variety of matting, which imitates tiles, and showspretensions, remember that one of the most
large squares of color, blocked off by black. Thetelling points is the character of your porch railing.
chintzes used are in vivid orange, yellow andSo at once remove the cheap one with its small,
green, in a stunning design; the wicker chairs areupright slats and the insignificant and frail top rail,
painted orange and black, and from the immenseand have a solid porch railing (or porch fence) built
iridescent globes of electric light hang long, orangewith broad, top rail.Then place all around porch,
silk tassels.Iron fountains, wonderful designs inresting on iron brackets, rail-flower boxes, the
black and gold, throw water over gold and silvertops of these level with the top of the rail, and
fish, or gay water plants; while, in black and goldpaint the boxes the color of the house trimmings.
cages, vivid parrots and orange-colored canariesFilled with running vines and gay flowers, nothing
gleam through the bars. Iron vases of black andcould be more charming.Window boxes make any
gold on tall pedestals, are filled with trailing ivy andhouse lovely and are a large part of that charm
bright colored plants. Along the walls are wickerwhich appeals to us, whether the house is a
sofas, painted orange and black, luxuriouslymansion in Mayfair or a Bavarian farmhouse.
comfortable with down cushions covered, as areAmericans are learning this.The window and
some of the chair cushions, in soft lemon,rail-boxes of a house look best when all are
sun-proofed twills.Here one finds card-tables,planted with the same variety of flowers.Having
tea-tables and smoking-tables, a writing-desk fullygiven a certain air of distinction to your porch
equipped, and at one end, a wardrobe of blackrailing, add another touch to the appearance of
and gold, hung with an assortment of silk wrapsyour small, remodeled house by having the
and "wooleys"for an un-provided and chilly guest,shutters hung from the top of the windows,
in early spring, when the steam heat is off andinstead of from the sides.A charming variety of
the glass front open.awning or sun-shades, to keep the sun and glare
Even on a grey, winter day, this orange and goldout of rooms, is the old English idea of a
room seems flooded with sun, and gives one astraw-thatching, woven in and out until it makes a
distinctly cheerful sensation when entering it frombroad, long mat which is suspended from the top
the house.Of course, if your porch-room is mainlyof windows, on the outside of the house, being
for mid-summer use and your house in a warmheld out and permanently in place, at the
region, then we commend instead ofcustomary angle of awnings.We first saw this
sun-producing colors, cool tones of green, grey orpicturesque kind of rustic awnings used on little
blue. If your porch floor is bad, cover it withcottages of a large estate in Vermont, cottages
dark-red linoleum and wax it. The effect is like aonce owned and lived in by laborers, but bought
cool, tiled floor. On this you can use a few porchand put in comfortable condition to be used as
rugs.Black and white awnings or awnings in broad,overflow rooms for guests, in connection with the
green-and-white stripes, or plain green awnings,large family mansion (once the picturesque village
are deliciously cool-looking, and rail-boxes filled withinn).The art of making these straw awnings is not
green and white or blue and pale pink flowers aregenerally understood in America. In the case to
refreshing on a summer day.An Extension Roof inwhich we refer, one of the gardeners employed
New York Converted into a BalconyShows howon the estate, chanced to be an old Englishman
to utilize and make really very attractive anwho had woven the straw window awnings for
extension roof, by converting it into a balcony.Anfarmhouses in his own country.The straw
awning of broad green and white stripes protectawnings, with window boxes planted with bright
this one in winter as well as summer, and by usinggeraniums and vines, make an inland cottage
artificial ivy, made of tin and painted to exactlydelightfully picturesque and are practical, although
imitate nature, one gets, as you see, a charmingthe sea might destroy the straw awnings by high
effect.By the sea, where the air is bracing, and itwinds.Melani Widjaja dedicates her time to
is not necessary to trick the senses with amakeover her clients project.