Monday, June 3, 2019

Porch Decor while in Transition

Hi Friends and welcome to the Spring Into Summer Porch and Outdoor Spaces Hop 
hosted by my talented, good friend Amber of  Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Are you needing some ideas to help spiff up your outdoor spaces? Put together something different? I know I am! We are in the middle of a facelift for our front porch and landscaping and sometimes it seems easier to just opt out of decorating an incomplete project. But I'm here to give it a try so I don't feel like it's a lost cause living with an outdated front porch.

If you're coming from Marty's at A Stroll Thru Life, I'm so glad you're here! I know the title to this post might seem a little strange, but it's an honest look at sharing the ups and downs during house renovations. 



If you've been by to visit before, you might know that late last Summer we purchased a home built in the 60's and spent all Fall and Winter doing improvements; a few renovations, but mostly cosmetic "enhancements" of the interior. One of the biggest changes we made was outside, tearing out the very dated iron work on the front porch that was so popular during the early 60's. That one element had totally turned me off of buying this house. I'm so glad my husband listened to me and agreed to do some updates for a new look.





We had a reno team that saw my vision for an updated British Cottage Porch, and got to work with the help of inspiration from Pinterest. We wanted hefty cedar posts and supports so I had spent a lot of time sifting through photos and websites on UK building and renovation companies to come up with the design. They did the update last Fall, and we're about ready to finish things up with white paint and a new front door color. We love the natural cedar, but because the overhang on the porch is white we felt the new posts needed to blend in better with the existing structure of the porch.




The front door surround needs to be painted all white, and the porch lamps updated, too. 




I had this little antique Train Depot slatted bench from our previous front porch and kept it for this new porch. I didn't know if it would work, but for now it's sitting in front of some vintage gray shutters to give it a little more presence. An old concrete urn in the corner, which had been inside the entry at another house, is still protected and holding a fern in the corner. One of my "Frenchy" watering cans painted white gives a little added vintage something.






I'm still trying to decide about the color for the front door, but I'm leaning toward a deeper rusty terra cotta color, instead of this orange/pumpkin color. The porch itself is shaded, so a pop of color is needed. I'm going to get some paint swatches and decide soon. This is a fun color, but it doesn't coordinate with anything I have inside.



Surprisingly, my Wild Twiggy Summer Wreath
has a few faux Lillies and mini Zinnias that echo the color of the door.



I've had a hard time discouraging the purple finches from claiming the wreath as their nesting base. They are persistent little buggers. Every time I put this out a few hours later I hear the telltale constant "cheeping" going on to let me know they're hard at work with a baby station in mind.



My sis gifted me with an initialed door mat for a Christmas/
House warming present from Ballards.



I hunted through my pillow stash hoping to find something that would coordinate with the orange door and these fruit pillows that were from Pier 1 years ago have worked. I made the ticking pillows back about 8 years ago for a wicker set on my then sunporch. (ticking is a neutral and matches anything in my book!)



Colorful Impatiens are my go-to flower for shady spots. You might remember these gray shutters that have been in my Entry Hall for the past 8 years or so behind my mirror. They didn't work in the Entry at this house, but I thought I'd try them out here. Not perfect, but they do give a little more interest than just the bench alone. I love using vintage elements for porch decor when I can. Luckily this little iron bench is really sturdy, just in case someone might actually need to sit.



We're going to have the landscaping updated hopefully by this Fall. It's been years since anything had been maintained here, and the shrubs are upteen million years old. We know that it will make a  huge difference in the looks of this house and bring up the curb appeal dramatically. Many houses in this area are going through complete renovations with updates inside and out. This one needs to catch up.




Thanks so much for coming by today. I'll be sharing my covered back porch later this week with my potting bench, so be sure to check back. I hope you'll continue the Hop with all the beautiful porch and outdoor inspiration with Christie at Our Southern Home. Please use the list or LinkUp below to take you on the Hop Tour!








joining in here:

 Sunday at Home at Little Farmstead  
 Celebrate Your Story at Celebrate and Decorate
Dishing It and Digging It at DIY180 
 Inspiration Monday at Refresh Restyle   
Tips and Tutorials at Home Stories A to Z
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life  
Keep in Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles 
 Talk of the Town at Knick of Time
Turnabout Tuesday at My Wee Abode 
Share Your Style at French Ethereal 
 Style Showcase at Shabby Fufu  
 Wonderful Wednesday at LeCultivateur 
Thursday Favorite Things at Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Grace at Home at Imparting Grace
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Sweet Inspiration at Home Health and Heart

24 comments:

  1. Love the new beams and corbels, so pretty. Your makeover is coming along beautifully. That bench is such a charming piece, I love how you use your antiques throughout your home. This is going to be a wonderful porch to sit and enjoy when you are done.

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  2. I agree. Ticking goes with everything.
    Your cedar posts are amazing. Could you do some cedar window boxes to help them blend better with the rest of the house?
    I have no problem painting wood and I'm sure it will look fabulous no matter what you do. You have inspired me a lot in the last year. I feel ready to let go of our big house and look for something a little smaller and all on one story. I love, love that train bench with the red pillows. Adorable.

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  3. Such a sweet and welcoming porch. I absolutely love that little bench!

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  4. Oh my I think it is coming along nicely! That gorgeous bench with the pillows, shutters and flowers steals the show!

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  5. Such a pretty outdoor space. Love the color of your door. You are creating a beautiful outdoor living area. Looks great!

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  6. The shutters are such a charming addition behind your lovely train depot bench! Your porch is so inviting. It is a pleasure to join you for the hop this week. Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction

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  7. I'm drooling over your train depot bench, Debra! What a treasure. Love hearing about your updating process and love the new structure, compared to the dated iron. You will have this house drop-dead gorgeous in no time, I'm sure!

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  8. I certainly know about opting out of decorating during a project! Your transition looks great. Happy new, fresh week.

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  9. The bench is so awesome. Your porch looks so cute and inviting. Have a great new week.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  10. Debra this is so exciting to see the English style changes you are making to your porch. I would have never thought of it but wow, I can already tell it's going to be gorgeous! I know you want to paint your door, but hmmm...knowing you love fall as much as I do, maybe wait until after fall! It could be fun to get one autumn out of it, surrounded by pretty pumpkins and fall flowers. Of course I know whatever color you paint it will be gorgeous!

    I think your porch during transition looks darling with the little bench, pretty pillows, vintage watering can and shutters. I love the wreath especially but I know exactly what you mean about the birds! I didn't "keep it real" 100% on my porch tour today because I didn't show any pictures with the ugly plastic owl that we keep up in the corner of one of the porch pillars. We have had the owl on watch for over a year and it seems to have solved our bird issue.

    I am looking forward to seeing your landscaping and curb appeal updates along with all you are doing inside. I know it's a lot of work for you, but it's fun for your reader and friends to watch!

    Thank you so much for joining the hop. Have a beautiful summer!

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  11. Love what you've done so far with your porch! Those cedar posts are phenomenal! Looking forward to seeing the new door color too! Mine was a dark terracotta color for years. This year I went to a pale aqua. That was a big change for me! Best wishes.

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  12. Debra,
    Your porch in transition is looking great. I can see the cedar posts painted white and think they will enhance the look of your house. You have a way of making everything look beautiful.

    Happy summer,

    Judith

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  13. Debra, your new porch surround will be wonderful when it’s complete. Your combo of pillows is a nice focal point on your train depot bench, which is a really great piece to have.

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  14. I know renovations are stressful, but yours will be beautiful.

    I really like that bench and you are like me - I have pillows in the attic and lots of different covers for them. I have red and white ticking just waiting for me to make some new pillow covers.

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  15. Thanks for the inspiration of your porch! I love impatiens too, but we're too sunny and I never though of putting them inside the shade of the porch. Your cute bench is perfect there too.

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  16. How inspiring and beautiful!I do love your pillows and wreath!

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  17. Debra, that bench is a real keeper and perfect size for your porch. I love your pretty leaded windows and the new porch supports. Beautiful combination. Looking forward to seeing how it's finished out.

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  18. Your porch is lovely, Debra! I love the new porch posts and the way you used the shutters!

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  19. Who did your front porch posts and beams? That is exactly what I want to do on my porch and I live in your area.

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    Replies
    1. Hi there, Elite Renovations and Designs here in Springfield, Missouri. Mark Erwin is the owner. They have a Facebook page too.

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  20. Debra,
    I love what your new porch posts and beams! It looks amazing! I also am loving the train bench, its so unique and pretty!
    Your outdoor space is beautiful!

    Larissa

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  21. Oh my word Debra - that train bench is amazing! I don't think I've ever seen one like that but gosh, it's a stunner. I love the corbels and porch posts you added, it really frames everything out so well. Everything is really beautiful! Happy Summer, Hugs, CoCo

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  22. The woodwork you had done looks beautiful! You had great vision, and pulled it together perfectly. That bench is amazing and the shutters behind it just perfect. What a lovely welcome to visitors and a great spot to decorate for the seasons and the holidays!

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  23. Your porch so inviting. I love the taking pillows and one reason is because they go with everything. Enjoy your beautiful porch!

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