My parent’s house was built in 1973. Not the best decade for home design, to be sure.
They have this little porch off the kitchen that has never been fixed up. They garden and come in and out of that porch with dirty shoes, which makes for a catch-all of sorts. You know the spot! It’s a place to put junk and they have never been too concerned about how it looks. As I’ve mentioned, my parents are simple folk. They do not demand luxuries in life, in fact are very content with what they have. Truth be told, I had to convince them that we needed to make over this porch, that it could really be enjoyed by all of us if it was only a brighter spot to hang out.
We sat down and talked about it and they agreed that it would be nice to have a space to sit and relax, with more seating and organization to hide some of the uglies.
Hehehe, just wait til I get my hands on it! They will be so convinced that hopefully I’ll be given free reign in a few more spots in the house. 🙂
I’ve always thought this space could look really inviting given some TLC and the time has arrived that it’s getting a makeover.
I did add those cute deer antlers on the wall. 🙂
I was contacted by American Express about a program that they have going on: Membership Rewards. They launched Membership Rewards 20 years ago as a first of its kind program that over time has continued to innovate through new partners, categories, and features. The program offers more than a million rewards from over 500 brands and millions of Card members have redeemed their points for a variety of merchandise and experiences, from movie tickets to trips to the world’s finest resorts.
Sounds fun, huh?
I don’t have an American Express card, but I have heard that these points are really great to cash in. Since most of us live and shop online now, it’s a great opportunity to use the card (wisely of course) and then store up those points for great items. 
American Express generously gave me 150,000 points to use to fix up my parent’s porch, along with telling you about their Membership Rewards program. What that means is this! I scoured their online site and found out that Home Depot is one of the vendors and that 5,000 points = $50 in Home Depot giftcards. That works for me! They asked me to use these points to spruce up a common space that could be used by our family during the summer months. I can get a lot of stuff at Home Depot with those points!
This was the perfect spot to redo! As you can see, it is hideously ugly, though a swan is dying to burst forth. 🙂
So, here’s what I would love to know.
What in the world would YOU do with this porch?
You know my blonde head is swirling with ideas already and I think I’ve got some ways figured out to fix up this ugly duckling once and for all, but I’d love to hear all of your ideas too.
What I love about the American Express Membership rewards program is that they have so many vendors to choose from, from Pottery Barn, to Restoration Hardware, Kohls, and Home Depot. What DIY lover wouldn’t find a ton of inspiration from these sites? Yes, you would, believe me!
So, let me have them! I’ll be sharing another post with you on my ideas later.
{Disclosure: I was given 150,000 points ($1500) to use to redecorate this porch for my parents. I did not receive any other monetary compensation and was allowed to pick my own products from their websites. The final post of this series when I show the finished porch, will host a giveaway for a $100 giftcard from Home Depot! Woohoo for one of YOU!)
Find out more about American Express Membership rewards and visit their Facebook page.
The problem with a tiled floor is that with older people walking (or anyone) it gets extra-dangerous when wet. I’d do carpet tiles, maybe some of the Martha faux-bois ones, or do a rough-sanded paint to rough up the floor enough to avoid slickness. And I like gliders much more than rocking chairs, which take up tons of room and tend to mark up walls and bash into windows. I would blow money on a Dutch door or French door (maybe painted black) for a focal point at that end of the room, and do a mix of open shelving and cupboards near both doors to store things exactly where they’re needed and reduce just throwing stuff down as you come and go. Rhoda — of course you know this but there are a million things for indoor patio type living on the ATL craigslist right now!
If it were my project, I would use the Home Depot “money” for paint, siseal rug, a wall shelf with hooks for coats etc. and bamboo roman shades. I would keep the rockers and search craigslist for cheap furniture pieces to make it appear more “homey”. I have an antique dresser in my sunroom to hold my crafting supplies, tools that always seem to be laying on top and gardening stuff. My sunroom has to double as a mudroom since our backdoor goes thru the room. I have also added rocking chairs, a slip covered loveseat with patterned throw pillows and a small wicker coffee table. I have a long wide window high antique shelf with Dollar General wicker baskets to store our shoes and other items to keep the room clutter free. All three of you could have a fun time “shopping” at garage sales for accessories to warm up the space.
I wanted our room to look like a sunroom, but also function as a mudroom.
That porch is gonna sing when you’re done with it, Girl! Cannot wait to see it!
As for what I would do, I have been in a beachy or garden mood at my house for the past few years. If I went with a soft beachy look, I would paint the walls with Rainwashed or something similar then get out those rolls of beadboard wallpaper to use on the bottom half of the walls. If budget allows, I would then paint the floors, or even possible put down a nice laminate or cork floor. I would also put some type of treatment on the ceiling — probably a flooring product that looks grayed with weather and sea salt. Then I would paint those rocking chairs — either white and find red and white striped material for cushions. Or maybe paint the chairs red and use white denim or canvas covered cushions — something you can take off and wash if you spill your iced tea and chocolate dipped strawberries. I would look for a glider or daybed to add for great sitting along one wall to go with the rockers and a small storage cocktail table with colorful garden stools as accents and a console table for holding a tray of refreshments, vase of flowers and photos and/or collection of seashells. Add a ceiling fan and some ambient lighting, sconces on the wall, and either a sisal or Dash and Albert colorful striped rug for comfort. Soften the windows with either plantation shutters or the natural roll-up shades and soft, flowy white linen drapes. Add some comfy throws and pillows, artwork and driftwood from the beach, a large hurricane or decorate lantern and candle, some seagrass baskets for holding your decorating magazines, and you are all set with a porch that draws you in and lets you enjoy the feeling of still being at the beach.
Can we come visit when you’re done?
Hugs,
Victoria in Texas
The simpler the better!
Girl, I cannot wait to see what you”create” on this porch~! A window seat along the wall with storage inside would be really great! Whatever you do will be AWESOME!
Lou Cinda
I am in shock over here! Not only do I have that exact same room on the end of my house, it’s the main entrance now! It has been throwing me for a loop considering the door placement. I’m SO happy I stumbled onto your blog and saw this post!!! You’ll be able to do one heck of a redo with those amex points too, woohoo!
Can’t wait to see what transpires!!
Rhoda!
Well I’m a bit late to the party and I know you are probably well on your way to something fabulous! I do like the idea of taking up the area rug and staining or painting the concrete then find some fab rug! Storage area would be great that would go up one wall….some fun indoor/outdoor fabric window panels, wicker, fun bright colors, etc. Can’t wait to see what you do. In fact maybe next week I’ll take a drive over! 🙂
xo