Chappell Fowler was standing on her back porch when a storm hit her North Chattanooga neighborhood on April 27. She took cover in her basement and emerged minutes later to find a tree resting in the spot where she had been standing. Her back porch, backyard and roof all sustained damage.
But repairs have been made and Fowler can return to spending her free time on either of her porches, snug sanctuaries that double as outdoor living spaces.
Fowler is an interior designer and an owner of The Furniture Shoppe in Chattanooga. Her expertise in furnishings and design is evident in the comfortable setting she has created for her front porch,
"I like neutral fabrics, particularly black and white because everything looks good with it," she said. "And because the weather is practically good year-round here, you can add a pop of color with pillows and change them out from season to season."
Her spacious porch, roughly 8 feet wide by 30 feet long, has cozy seating areas on either side of the front door. She uses mostly wicker furniture and colorful accessories, as well as an outdoor lamp and original art.
The wicker is by Lloyd/Flanders, whose woven furniture can last for generations, she said. Her colorful Ralph Lauren pillows are constructed from a mildew-resistant fabric, making them ideal for outdoor use. She also has an outdoor rug that's mildew-resistant. "Even my lamp is made for outdoor use," she said.
Fowler said her front porch has been an ideal way to get to know her neighbors. "I love to sit [out here] and watch the world go by," she said. "And I've met so many people who live in my neighborhood simply by being on my front porch."
Porch must-havesSeating for at least 4 peopleA rocking chairOutdoor lighting - lamps or candles in safe containers or battery-operated onesFresh plants and flowersColorful accessoriesArt/family photographsCeiling fanA small tableSource: Chappell FowlerFront-porch nostalgia
Theresa Ainsworth Maddox, 59, of Chattanooga, said just hearing the words "front porch" brings back wonderful memories.
"We had a screened porch growing up, and not having air conditioning, it was the best, especially during a summer rain," she said. "We don't have one on this house, but our deck is in the shade. In the late afternoon and evening, we spend a lot of time on it watching the hummingbirds. It's a great place to have a glass of wine and relax."
Denise Shahan, 59, of LaFayette, Ga., said her childhood memories of sitting on the porch with her family are priceless. She remembers catching fireflies, listening to tree frogs and drinking sweet tea, Coca-Cola and lemonade from that haven.
The porch swing was particularly fun, though she wasn't allowed to swing too high or let the screen door shut with a bang, she said. She recalls "hours and hours of conversations" conducted on various family members' front porches, with no cell phones or computers interrupting the reverie.
At her own home, Shahan converted her back porch into a den-like room.
"But, for some reason, it doesn't have the same appeal as that screechy porch swing or those porch rockers at my childhood home and those of all my grandparents, aunts and uncles," she said.
Her front porch, though, holds something dear to her heart.
"My daddy's porch rocker has sat nobly on my own front porch since his death in 2003, and it is a peaceful comfort to me on the rare occasion I take a few moments to just sit and enjoy," she said.
"I keep that front-porch rocker a separate entity from my back porch 'den' in order to maintain its porch persona of simplicity. It greets visitors to our home, welcoming them with a history of warmth and comfort. When I sit there, I'm instantly swooped to the happy memories of childhood days on the front porch."