With lots of pics on my computer of my old house in Georgia, I sometimes look at them and enjoy my old rooms all over again. Such is the case with my old screened porch. It was very small, just a tiny little area that was left from the large deck that got enclosed for a sunroom and this portion was kept for a screened porch. Just big enough to cram some wicker furniture into. I still love looking at these pics all these years later. One of these days, I’ll have another screened porch and I’ll be able to use all my wicker again (Lord willing). It’s all stored here in our garage.
This is an old antique wicker sofa that my sister passed on to me years ago. It started off white and when I did my porch makeover, I sprayed it black and it looked so good with the green and black fabrics I picked up to use out there. Again, my sweet mom made all my cushions for me, recovering some old stuff and refreshing this space and I just adored it when it was all finished. I still have all these pillows too, packed away in the attic. I think I did this porch back in 2003, if I remember right.
This little iron table was a yardsale find for $5 and it currently resides in my livingroom on one little wall. You’ll recognize that old iron urn, another $5 find from long ago. In fact, I still have all this garden stuff and still enjoy it.
It was hard to take pics of this space, it was so tiny. You’ll see that the floor got painted in a black and white checkerboard pattern, one that I still love. And that’s one reason I went with the black and white peel and stick tiles in my laundry room here. That leopard rug was a yardsale find too, as well as the column and all this furniture.
I found this table and chairs one Saturday while I was out yardsaling in Marietta. I got the table and chairs along with the teacart for $125, if I’m remembering right. Where you see the black, it was a dark green and I painstakingly painted it black with a paintbrush. This is stored in my garage here in AL too. You’ll notice 3 old stain glass windows hanging up and I still have those too, stored in their boxes. One of these days, they will come out again!
Mom covered the cushions that I found at a yardsale with leftover fabric. There was originally indoor outdoor carpet out here and I got really tired of that, so when I decided to redo this space, I ripped it all out and just used the plywood subfloor as a base for my black and white pattern.
Painting the floor tips:
I looked at a magazine article at the time and they added a black border all the way around the edge (about 6″ or so). That makes for a much neater look, I think as you can see by the door going outside. By painting the border and then adding the squares on the diagonal, by starting in the center, the squares will all come out evenly all around. Not that they are complete square, but they are even at least, so I followed their instructions. Painted it all white to begin with, marked the squares with pencil, I used a cardboard template for the job. And then went back and painted every other square with black. Didn’t tape off the squares as that was much too time-consuming. I used a small artist’s paintbrush for the edges and then a small roller for the middle and it went surprisingly fast. I would do this again in a heartbeat! I think using a Sharpie for the lines would also work good.
The teacart that came with my table and chairs. That’s an old stained glass window with a light behind it that my ex built and I left it with the house. I used the same color as my kitchen paint, Laura Ashley Olive 4 out here. It’s such a fresh green and looked great with the black and white. So, you can see I’ve been enjoying these colors for a few years now.
A porch is definitely on my wish list for future.I know I would use it almost every day, especially with Fall coming. Screening is essential here in the South with all our bugs, so that is a must.
How about you…do you have a porch or favorite outdoor space?
Linking to DIY Day at Kimba’s.
This looks great! It has such a finished, tied together look.
I can see why you miss your porch Rhoda! I would love to have a screened in porch this time of year also, temps getting cooler!
Blessings…
I can imagine curling up with a book on your old porch, very inviting.
My favorite outdoor spot is my front patio. Funny, because the back yard has the view of the bay, but that view gets monotonous. I like the people watching that the front offers.
What a great porch. I love checkerboard floors! We had one in my first house (in the kitchen) and it just made the room feel cheery somehow.
I had a porch at my last house and still look at photos of it now and then, too. I miss it! We just have a deck here, and the bugs can really ruin a nice afternoon outside on it.
I absolutely ADORE this screened porch area! It is BEAUTIFUL and so pulled together!!
I’m loving the porch Rhoda! That’s my mission next spring to work on mine. Money has been way too tight lately, and it’s not good for me! Hopefully, I will finish this MT course in the next month and find a great job. That might really create a major monster…me with a full-time income? Oh my lawdy!!!!
Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!
~Misti
Hi, Rhoda! Your blog has always given me such inspiration, especially now! Next week we are starting an addition to our 30 year old home: a sunroom, small screen porch (loved your post today!), powder room and laundry room/pantry. I am getting so many ideas from you and your excellent decarating taste. I, too, am a yard sale “junkie” and find lots of goodies there. Thanks for your help and inspiration!
I love your porch pics…I would love to have wicker. I would love to have an area like that. Love all of your yardsale finds you decorated with.
Your porch is stunning, Rhoda, and I hope you get to use all of your beautiful wicker in your new home. Your mom was so sweet to make the cushion covers for you. I have known about the beadboard wallpaper for about a month now, but haven’t ordered it yet, so I better get going if I want to join the party…and I do! I can’t wait to see what people have done with it. I need to my kitchen walls, so time’s awasting…so glad you gave us the tut on how do it, otherwise, I woudln’t know about it, let alone attempt to do it myself. Shari from My Cottage of Bliss reminded me and said it was easy,,,so nice of you to tell us all about it! Have a great day!
Mary
I can feel all the love in your descriptions – it makes me nostalgic too 🙂 I hope you get to enjoy your furniture again soon.
I love what you did to your porch. I have a full length screened in front porch and I love it.
Remember that porch the girls & I built hubby for Father’s Day? We use it nearly every day. It’s not screened in, but we find time for a cup of coffee in the morning or eat dinner there in the evenings. It was the best investment I’ve ever made for family time.
However, soon we will be building a 48 ft. long, 10 ft. wide porch all along the front of our house. When that porch is built, we will finally screen in the smaller one in the back of the house.
You’re right about those bugs, though. I’ve not seen them this bad in years — which makes for icky croquet games. Hope you have a wonderful day, my friend! Stop by and sign up for my Purdy paintbrush giveaway.
Too much beautiful, just like everything else you own or touch! ;0) We have a large wrap-around porch on the front of our house and a deck on the back. I like the front porch best because it has a swing that my dad built. However, I’m not able to get outside much to enjoy it due to my illness. Plus, neither area is screened so that makes both much less desirable anyhow. I DO NOT like the bugs either but the sure do like me!
Hope you’ve been enjoying these cooler days we’ve been having over the last week or two. I’m just itching for fall to get here. Oh, and for SEC college football to kick off this weekend!
WAR EAGLE! ;0)
Teresa <
30 Thing You May Not Know….
http://toomanyheartbeats.blogspot.com/2009/09/30-things-about-my-illness-you-may-not.html
That porch is amazing!
I loved everything.
But especially the tea cart.
So southerney.
Sweet dreams.
What a welcoming porch! We have plans to build a screened porch, but right now we just have open ones–and lots of mosquitoes to go with them!
Rhoda your porch was just gorgeous with beautifully serene views. I see why you miss it. Love all the pretty greens you used. ~Lovely decor’ throughout. ~Blessings, Melissa 🙂
I love your old home! That porch is to die for with the green and the beautiful foliage through the windows!
love, kelee
I love this! especially the floor – that makes the whole porch. I love to see pictures of your old houses (esp. that kitchen redo!!!)
What a sweet space! I love the floor! 🙂
Oh wow! This brought back memories – it seems like only yesterday that you shared this beautiful porch with us on our old decorating board – yet ages ago at the same time. I loved it then and I love it now! Thanks for lettiing us visit this charming place to nest again!
xo,
Kim