Earlier this year, in the days leading up to surgery for our oldest, I decided to take on what could best be described as a nervous-energy project. The last wave of pollen was still a week or two away, but I wanted to be sure there was a welcoming outdoor space he could sit during recovery to get fresh air, watch the birds, and do some reading.
Before
Besides being pollen-coated and in need of a power wash, the porch really just needed a little zhuzhing. The rocking chairs, plant stand, and planters were all staying, along with the rattan ottoman (a vintage Franco Albini I scored for $25 due to minimal breakage) that just needed some TLC. The swing was in good shape, but desperately needed to be sanded and refinished. The gray rugs didn’t work with the space and were starting to show stains and wear due to their light color.
Plan & Action
I started by clearing the porch and power washing everything, then turned my attention to the swing. Someday I would love to put a daybed swing in here, but they are pricey and structurally our swing was perfectly fine. Instead I sanded down the swing and painted it in Lafayette Green by Benjamin Moore. Our porch already has a lot of brown tones (ceiling, front door, and porch paint) so I opted to bring in a dark green which goes so nicely with the color of our home and reads almost like a neutral since it is outside among lush foliage. I also restained the rattan ottoman with Restor A Finish.
It took some searching to find the perfect rugs for the porch, but a classic design in a neutral brown that would better disguise dirt was the perfect fit. I also swapped out the too-small table between the rocking chairs for something more substantial – a classic 30″ round table I had in storage.
I started the hunt for the perfect tablecloth to go over the table – preferably something with a classic feel that wasn’t too pricy, as it would be outside and subject to the occasional heavy summer rain and curious squirrels. I was pleasantly surprised to find exactly what I was looking for on Amazon and then purchased coordinating pillows for the rocking chairs and swing to unify the two sides.
I chose to keep the accessories pretty basic and suited to what our family needed – baskets filled with sidewalk chalk and bubbles, a ceramic garden stool, a good citronella candle, vintage seagrass beehive as a nod to Colonial Williamsburg, and a rechargeable lamp. The lamps (purchased in a 2 pack) were one of the best purchases I made for our house this year – we use them constantly for both porches and the kids love to use them for extra light when building Legos. They are a knock-off of a much more expensive brand, and while I would love the ability to make the light temperature a touch warmer, for me it is not worth the cost difference, especially for something that mostly lives outdoors. I also added on a wicker lampshade – salvaged from an old set of chandelier shades we had in New York.
The finishing touch was filling the planters with beautiful plants. To keep it simple, I chose to stick with greens, purples, and whites. I flanked the front door with impressive Kimberly Queen Ferns and added beautiful white florist hydrangeas. In the the aged terracotta planters on the front brick steps, I chose lavender topiaries and filled in the bottom with white impatiens and Diamond Frost (Euphorbia hybrid). Instead of doing a number of small containers on the top of my vintage plant stand, I found a self-watering trough planter, which added the perfect touch. I planted a Japanese painted fern (for some contrast to the Kimberly Queens), vinca vine, begonias, and more Diamond Frost.
After
I worked away at the tasks over a week, and was happy to have the porch refinished in time for surgery. Just as I had hoped, it was the perfect outdoor spot for lots of fresh air during recovery. But even more, our family suddenly started spending lots more time out here together and Mike and I would soak up every evening together here before the oppressive summer heat set in.
Sources
Swing Paint Color: Lafayette Green by Benjamin Moore
Monogrammed Door Mat
Outdoor Rugs in Tan
Rocking Chairs: Old from Birch Lane; similar here
30″ Round Table: Vintage; similar here
Round Tablecloth – Agate Green, 90″ Round
Blockprint Pillows on Swing – Emerald Green, 18”x18”
Blockprint Pillows on Rocking Chairs – Agate Green, 18”x18”
Rechargeable Table Lamps – White
Lamp Shades: Old chandelier shades with clips removed; similar here
Citronella Candle
Faux Lavender Wreath: Homegoods
Seagrass Basket Planters
Resin Urn Planters: Old from Lowe’s; similar here and here
Terracotta Planters: Homewood Nursery
Metal Planter Stand: Vintage via Facebook Marketplace
Trough Planter
Ceramic Garden Stool
Ottoman: Vintage Franco Albini from Facebook Marketplace
