Bungalow Basics: Porches

Set almost invariably in a lush garden, the early-twentieth-century bungalow allowed countless suburbanites to get "back to nature" without leaving the cozy confines of their own property. The bungalow front porch epitomized the indoor-outdoor lifestyle associated with this popular new form of housing. Furnished as an extension of the adjoining living room, it offered a comfortable spot from which to enjoy unimpeded views of the surrounding landscape. Because the front porch typically defined a home's street presenceproviding what realtors refer to as "curb appeal"it also represented one of the most distinctive features of bungalow architecture.