Craving a Sleeping Porch and a Good Book

With Labor Day behind us and as the air turns more brisk with every passing day, I am wishing for a sleeping porch.  These ingenious outdoor spaces became popular at the turn of the century (pre-A/C!) and are most often located on an upper floor of a home.

[Image from This Old House]

A more modern take on the sleeping porch from the exterior:

[Image from Angela in NC on Flickr]

I love sleeping porches with the weathered, white-washed “not too fussy” look.  Mmmmm, instant cure for insomnia!

[Image from HGTV]

[Image from House Beautiful]

[Image from House Beautiful]

And I just love the idea of a hanging bed in a sleeping porch – how delicious!

[Image from Apartment Therapy]

And here is a great minimalist sleeping porch, with just the bare essentials:

[Image from skvidal on Flickr]

I wouldn’t mind catching some shut-eye in this 4 star, luxe, Phoebe Howard-designed sleeping porch:

[Image from Phoebe Howard]

Now all I need is a comfy throw blanket great book!  May I recommend a few of my recent faves:

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews.

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.

Any good recommendations for me?  Sweet dreams and happy Fall!

Happy Weekend

“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.”  

–Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

[Image courtesy of Coastal Living]