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.
Kal says
Rhoda – WONDERFUL to have you back and blogging! My sister redid her kitchen using AMEX points; it is a wonderful program. Like a savings program of sorts!
My initial impression is that you need to save the rockers and incorporate them in your redo.
My next thought was to paint the cement floor and maybe a sisal rug on top of that to keep it simple as you’ve indicated they garden. Give it a potting shed/mudroom comfortable look/feel.
Judy Clark says
Rho:
I can’t wait to see what you do with your Mom and Dad’s porch. I do love those rockers. Still lots of good visiting will be happening on that porch.
Judy
Lauren@SimplyLKJ says
How fun! I love the rocking chairs, so those would stay. Maybe a planked ceiling or accent wall. I love a pale blue on a porch ceiling. I would also go for a tile floor or something less maintenance more durable on the floor. And, lots of greenery. Can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Mom on the Run says
We’ve used Amex for 25 years, but DOTR always uses the points for travel, so I had no idea that you could use them to buy stuff. Hmmmmmmm, very interesting info 😉
Heidi @ Show Some Decor says
What fun!! Love hearing about the Membership Rewards… my hubby and I both use our AMEX cards regularly, so I’ll have to check that out.
Okay, the carpet has to go, first of all! If it’s concrete flooring, I would paint it! I’m thinking a large black and white checkerboard pattern, but a chevron pattern in a subtle color might be awesome, too (depending on how bold you want to go). Simple cabinetry to disguise some of the ugly stuff, open shelving with matching bins/baskets for the not-so-ugly stuff. That’s just for starters… comfortable seating, lighting… you are gonna have SOME fun!
Can’t wait to see what you do!
Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails says
Though I’ll never open an Amex credit card, I cant wait to see what you do with this room! (Sorry but we are working to live debt free here and credit cards arent part of the solution end of that:)) Obviously, some paint would be the first step. Then some nice seating pieces as well as storage for the items they have out in the open now. Keeping the space functional for your parents is key. And some greenery or plants would bring the space alive as well. Its definitely a diamond in the ruff and Im sure you’ll work wonders. $1500 is ALOT of money to work with, espeically if you’re planning to incorporate anything from sales or thrift stores. I guess you wouldnt need to with that kind of money. So exciting!
Cindy says
Can’t wait to see what you do.
Add tile floor, paint on the walls, comfortable seating for you and your parents, side tables with lamps, rugs, and some greenery. Have fun.
Glenda says
Hi Rhoda, I think the porch would look nice with a bench like what we often see in a mudroom. Maybe just there by the back door, or all the way around the room if space and money allows. A bench with cubby’s underneath for shoes, boots, gardening items…. you know what I mean. I’ll be watching, as I am sure this will be a beautiful make-over. And shelves, off the floor, to display your mom’s pretty african violets.
Ann says
I am all about keeping those chairs!
A wall of enclosed storage would be nice and handy. I can’t wait to see what you do…are you planning to keep us up to date as the project moves along?
Love of the Sea says
Wow – that is fantastic…can’t wait to see what you do. 150,000 AMEX points to work with is fantastic. I love AMEX because it is not like a conventional credit card…there is never a balance because you pay it every month. I use it like a debit card. Good luck!!!
Carolyn says
Storage cabinets of some sort is a MUST! Use the area right by the door for a bench with cubbies underneath for shoes. Continue the hook and shelf idea above it but tie it all in with hooks and maybe more cubbies for drop off stuff like a mud room! Paint the walls with an inviting “welcome home” color. Love the rocking chair idea if there is something to look at out the windows. Otherwise, a couple of swivel chairs with a lamp for reading. Looks small for a sofa but maybe a love seat. What about using your wain-scott wall paper and a chair rail? I look forward to seeing what you end up doing!
Arlene @At Home with the Grimms says
Well I know that 1500 dollars can be spent quickly in remodeling!! So I would use paint as much as possible to perk it up….then some nice shelves to hold the essentials…and one of those cute tray boots that I am seeing everywhere these days. I saw one with pebbles in the tray and it was so cute. I would also add some cute pillows to spruce up the rocking chairs. Looking forward to seeing the results Rhoda. I know it will be great!
angela says
That far wall that has a little hanging shelf needs a wall built-in storage cabinet. Cubbies to hold shoes and jackets. Another wall could have a shelf and containers to hold gardening tools and flower pots, mulch and a watering can!. I would have seating and a table to hold lemonade and glasses. Put a small fridge for bottled water so when they are outdoors they don’t have far to go for a drink. The floor would be the biggest thing for me. I think I would do tile. I would love to see a painted floor but I speak from experience when I say they don’t hold up very good with a lot of outdoor traffic and muddy, gritty feet! Can’t wait to see what you do! I would love to partner with AE and do a makeover like this! What fun!
Elisabeth says
What perfect timing to receive AmExpress reward points. I can tell you’re really excited. I’m all gaga waiting to see what you’re going to do, so I don’t think I have much to offer – but I would suggest some type of storage cabinet for whatever is stored in those freestanding shelves & baskets.
Can’t wait to see the changes.
Elisabeth
kk says
hi Rhoda…it would be nice if you could add windows to make it more of a sunroom and add light curtain panels. The rocking chairs are nice, just add cushions and side tables with small lamps (i love how lamps make a room cozy). I like the little wooden shelf. i would build something to hide the dryer vent. I would also add maybe a small bistro table, plants and either built-in shelves for storage or a nice piece of futniture. Tile would be great for the floor. Add some wall decor, a nice overhead light and now your parents have a new sunroom/porch.
Linda says
Mudroom! I’ve always wished for the space to have one and this looks like the perfect area. Bench with cubbies underneath, use the two rockers, hook to hold keys and such. Fun!
Rhonda says
Rhoda…Oh my….this is so up my alley!!! I LOVE redo’ing rooms!! I also LOVE my AmEx reward points…I always cash them in for gift cards to all my favorite stores!
I have done two rooms in my house that are very similar to your parents room. One was a small room in between my kitchen and our garage….which I now call my mudroom. Then at the other end of our kitchen was a screened in porch that I converted to a sunroom.
As for your parents room:
I would make the screen door (at carport) the main door to the house.
I would completely remove the existing kitchen door. (I assume that is the kitchen door)
I would completely remove the existing kitchen window. (I assume that window is the kitchen window)
I would do the floor with tile or hardwoods.
Budget for a nice rug(s).
Budget for nice window treatments. (or trim the windows out nicely with big headers)
If budget permits…nice baseboards, crown molding, trim all windows and doorways.
Budget for the room and ceiling to be painted.
Nice lighting but the practical thing would probably be a ceiling fan.
Obviously, lots of storage is needed. I would do a bench seating on one wall with shoe storage underneath, with wall hooks to hang all coats & jackets. Other storage cabinets is also needed. (but I would consider actual nice furniture pieces that can be used as storage)
I love their rocking chairs…nice cushions with a accent decorative pillows.
An accent end table between the rockers with a lamp.
A small breakfast table would be great! (just big enough to seat two people)
Obviously, you are working on a budget so you cannot do everything I have suggested but I am sure whatever you come up with is going to be great!!!
My brain is going a million miles a minute….lol!!!! Like I said, I love doing stuff like this! I can’t wait to see what you do with this room! I have lots of pictures (before & after) my two rooms I mentioned I that redid….shoot me an email if you want me to send them to you!! my email: [email protected]
Have a GREAT day!!!
~~~rhonda~~~
Midwest Magnolia - Melissa Lewis says
I know you are going to make it so perty! I would love to see the outside of the house, specifically to that porch. Maybe I’m weird, but that helps me sometimes. My first inclination though was to replace the metal door with an old farm painted screened door. But I don’t know if that would go with the house. Also, since you said it’s a “catch all” right when then walk in, I immediately thought adding some sort of “cubby” space to the right of the door would be practical and pretty. And it looks like she does some gardening against that back wall, so maybe have a gardening work table with some shelves framing that window for flowers, pots and other decor. If you made the work bench go from wall to wall, it would hide that aluminum hose poking through the wall.
Cindy Logan says
I would keep the rockers, add some wicker furniture, paint the walls a soft green to bring the outdoors in, add closed storage for gardening supplies, use your Mom’s african violets as a focal point, paint the floor and and a large outdoor rug that can be hosed off.
jennifer says
with all that natural light, you can warm it up with some color, and stained wood and still feel light and open. i agree that you can build around those chairs, i love the peg board with the straw hats as well. add a bench for storage under it and a place to sit and take off muddy shoes. mossy green walls, warm brown wood trim, and maybe a tile floor that looks like stone, or a laminated wood floor that can handle a little wettness. on the end away from the door i would create the sitting area, and anchor it with a small rug.