Front Porch the
autumn 2015
wichita
The Art of Cultivating Simple Pleasures and Living Well
America’s Front Porch: Wichita Style
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Joining the ranks of apple pie, baseball, and the Hollywood Sign, the front porch enjoys a prominent place in American iconography. Its location is unique, architecturally speaking. It is an extension of the home that provides overhead shelter, and yet it remains accessible to the outdoors and the community. At once private and hospitable, it is a place where you can just as well read a book or chat with a neighbor. In celebration of our twenty-fifth issue, we offer a new perspective on this piece of Americana as well as an illustrated look back at some of our favorite front porches. Like many things in America, the concept of the front porch came to our shores from abroad. It was co-opted Continued on page 10.
Today’s front porches often reflect the changing seasons. During the fall, homeowners may furnish them with décor that catches the fiery hues of the foliage and the rich wood tones of emerging tree bark. Clockwise from upper left: 1] The red-painted deck chair on this porch adds a burst of autumnal color. It also provides a place to sit down and take in the open air and outdoor environment. In the background, a set of four chairs and a table favor casual conversation over drinks or a small meal. The absence of balusters makes the porch appear even more welcoming from the street. 2] The builders of this new Arts and Crafts home took the timeless bungalow design and kicked it up a notch. The low-pitched roofline, stained glass transom windows, and limestone columns frame an impressive, yet intimate, porch entry. 3] The quiet beauty of this Wichita home is largely due to its front porch, imbued with Southwest chic and complementary notes of Prairie Style. The grand redbrick walkway beckons you onto the covered porch, or portales, which is symmetrically flanked by wide-plank shutters, classic rough-hewn supports, low decorative native limestone banisters, a partial limestone façade, and indigenous grasses. Some lesser-used nuts shine in hearty and delicious dishes you’ll want to prepare many times during this upcoming holiday season. See page 14 for recipes.
25th Anniversary Issue
number 25
2 Peaceable Kingdom: bird feeding is a fun way to preserve the species 2 Shades of Green: private efforts strive to restore and protect city’s trees 12 Noteworthy: organization uses effective methods to teach children to read