If porches could talk, what stories they could tell. Whether a heart-to-heart chat or a golden moment of solitude, some of life’s great memories begin on a porch – especially when it’s outfitted with a cozy swing.
Vintage Porch Swings, located outside Charleston on Johns Island, S.C., has graced hundreds of porches and patios – as well as interiors – with swings comfortable and plush enough for sleeping.
The swings are handcrafted in a range of decorative styles, including contemporary and shabby chic, and are hand-finished with paint or stain by artisans.
It was a business born of need – the mother of all needs, you might say. Seven years ago, Krista and Brent McHenry were parents of twins and a baby, and Krista was pregnant again.
She was in dire need of a place to lounge with the children and, as she says, “I selfishly needed a place just to go alone and swing.
“It started as a honey-do thing,” adds Krista, who designed a swing bed and asked Brent to make it. She loved it, and soon neighbors were noticing the creation and asking for one.
Today, the McHenrys operate their business from a warehouse-shop space near their South Carolina home, in quintessential Low Country, while Brent continues his work as a biostatistician.
The swings are even more important for this rapidly expanding clan, with seven children aged from two to 11 (including two sets of identical twin girls) and yet another baby on the way.
They act as sanctuaries, particularly on the family’s screened porch overlooking picturesque Bohicket River.
Built in cypress or other woods upon request, the swings are named after the McHenry children, such as the Joshua, which hangs from nautical ropes. Wrought-iron hangers are also an option.
Kits to build the swings are priced from $1,700 to $2,200 and include hardware and the assembly instructions. Clients can choose from a variety of frame styles and textiles, with mattress protectors and pillows also available. vintageporchswings.com
Image Credits: Photo by Holger Obenaus.