| There's something magical about sleeping | | | | touch with one's surroundings in the |
| outside, drinking in the night sounds of | | | | neighborhood when sleeping outside. |
| crickets, frogs and wind chimes, watching | | | | |
| fireflies and stars, and feeling the cool | | | | Happily, it's relatively easy to create a |
| night breeze. You'll find children giggling | | | | secure, comfortable place that makes outdoor |
| long past their bedtime from sheer | | | | sleeping a real joy again. If you can, choose |
| excitement. | | | | a porch or balcony on a side of your house |
| | | | that is protected from the weather, or add a |
| A treat for adults and children alike, | | | | simple framework on a deck. A leak-proof roof |
| sleeping outdoors has long been a part of | | | | with extended eaves is critical and helps |
| camping tradition, but many adults also have | | | | keep inclement weather from blowing in |
| fond memories of childhood nights in their | | | | directly onto the occupants. |
| parents' or grandparents' sleeping porch. | | | | |
| | | | If security is an issue, you'll feel safer in |
| The cover story of Architectural Digest's | | | | a second storey room. Privacy is easier to |
| October 2003 issue featured a visit to the | | | | achieve on the side or back of a house, but |
| Montana ranch of Dennis Quaid where he has | | | | even a room on the front of your house can be |
| built a magnificent home that includes a | | | | hidden from view of passers-by with the |
| wraparound Pennsylvania bluestone porch and a | | | | installation of matchstick roll-up blinds or |
| tree house for his son Jack. In addition, the | | | | fabric drapes. |
| actor "requested specially" a sleeping porch | | | | |
| adjacent to the veranda. | | | | The room should be screened in to protect |
| | | | sleepers from mosquitoes and other night-time |
| In doing so, he joins the ranks of such | | | | insects. You can install window-height |
| luminaries as former U.S. first lady Eleanor | | | | screens, or make entire screened walls of |
| Roosevelt, author Jack London and baseball | | | | floor to ceiling panels. If you'd like to |
| legend Babe Ruth, all of whom enjoyed | | | | extend the use of the area beyond the warmest |
| slumbering in screened-in rooms. | | | | months, you'll want to install moveable |
| | | | windows or walls. These will also allow the |
| A sleeping porch has been defined as a | | | | room's occupants to better control the amount |
| well-ventilated, usually screened, porch used | | | | of outdoors that comes in -- a desirable |
| as occasional sleeping quarters. Before the | | | | feature during inclement weather. |
| advent of air-conditioning, families often | | | | |
| created an area on outdoor porches where | | | | You can furnish a sleeping porch with as many |
| children would sleep during the hot summer | | | | creature comforts as you desire, keeping in |
| nights. Sleeping porches were, more often | | | | mind whatever exposure to the elements the |
| than not, on a home's second storey, | | | | pieces will have. Ceiling or floor fans will |
| frequently above a ground-level porch. | | | | aid the night breezes. Bedside tables will |
| | | | provide a place for a book and reading |
| It was during the Arts and Crafts movement of | | | | glasses, or a cold drink. If you want to use |
| the early twentieth century that sleeping | | | | the room during the day as a living area, use |
| porches really gained public favor. Arts and | | | | day beds, couches or chaises that serve the |
| Crafts architects often designed homes | | | | dual purpose of seating by day and sleeping |
| without abrupt divisions between inside and | | | | space by night. Or use fold-up cots or |
| out, and sleeping porches provided an ideal | | | | roll-away beds. Kids will even enjoy sleeping |
| transition space. | | | | bags on the floor. |
| | | | |
| Unfortunately, modern houses don't often | | | | Whether used for daytime catnapping or a full |
| sport open-air sleeping quarters and our | | | | night's rest, sleeping porches can give you a |
| culture is poorer for it. Few of life's | | | | chance to enjoy summer weather to the |
| experiences speak of summery comfort as a | | | | fullest, and experience some of life's |
| sleeping porch does, and one is never out of | | | | pleasant, peaceful moments. |