Before and After: The Front Porch

I remember walking up to this house for the first time. The first thing I noticed was that cute little front porch. Like I explained in this post, when we were handed the keys much of the house was overlooked and overgrown.

While it had (and still has) some rough-around-the-edges details, it wasn’t hard for me to see the undeniable sweetness and character of this home. Peaked gables, original front door, and Tudor-like details. Ugh, dreamy.

It was easy to dream about sitting on that front porch. And that’s just what we’ve done. We love sitting out here, whether it’s reading with a cup of coffee, having a conversation, or taking a break from yard work. We don’t live on a very busy street, but our neighborhood is laced with sidewalks and we love watching people walk by. Often times it’s friends since a lot of them live nearby. Plus we’ve had the opportunity to meet many of our neighbors, which is rare in a world of the backyard culture (y’all, we definitely love our backyard too)!

The patio is concrete and it’s amazing what a good power wash can do to bring back the original color. We borrowed a friend’s power washer last year and then again this weekend: look how fresh! (We probably need to invest in one ourselves.) We also used this outdoor cleaner from Lowe’s to help wash away the green that so lovingly attaches itself to our railing each spring. I was planning on purchasing new cushions this year because of the algae, but the cleaner even renewed our cushions after a quick scrub!

While my favorite color scheme is neutral, this exterior was screaming for a color. We decided for a pop of color on the door, since it needed to be painted anyways.

I love our little chairs! My sister gifted them to me for my 30th, which was my first birthday at the house and we use them ALL. THE. TIME. The lumbar pillows are the best depiction of my favorite color of all-time. Just wait until we get to the inside of my house; you’ll see! Fun fact: my birthday and Christmas wishlists are almost always at least 90% home items.

This year, we’re on the hunt for a new planter for the front porch. We loved our wood planter from last year, but it broke. Back to the drawing board. As I search for a new planter for my porch, I’ll share my favorites in three different price categories. It’ll be the first in my series called Simple, Savvy, Splurge. Come back soon or subscribe to my mailing list so you don’t miss it!

Other upcoming projects include a DIY railing update and planting perennials in the front flower bed. We typically start with the projects with the lowest cost and the biggest impact. You don’t need a big budget to make a difference!

Sources:

• Chairs (discontinued, but I’ve included a similar set)
• Pillows
• Plant Stand (similar)
• Door Mat
• Wreath
• Shepherd’s Hook
• Front Door Handleset

 

Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.