front porch makeover for spring

It's the weekend before Spring Break and we have beautiful weather here in Cowtown (that's Fort Worth, Tx's nickname).  It was blue skies, sunny and 70!  Perfect day to make over the front porch.  I spent less than 20 buckaroos to redo it.  I bought new flowers and some dirt for my pots.  That's it.  Everything else was already there, came from other parts of the house or were odds and ends I've picked up along the way. I have a lot of pictures but maybe that means there will be a lot of ideas...or maybe I just have too much stuff on my porch.  Oh well, it's how I like it.  So, let's take a look at the sad before and then the pretty after.

Before....

and now, the After...

I painted this pot with cream paint, then crackle medium and then wiped watery brown paint on and wiped off.  I added the red band at the top (also craft paint).  This was a few years ago and they've aged well.

the little red tables are vintage metal pop-up tables used for camping or tv trays; I got both for $20. last year

picked the metal G up years ago at Pottery Barn; previously hung in my son's room.

I painted these cheapo terracotta pots with craft paint a few years ago and then let them age naturally outside.

I like to use river rock around the plants to help keep the soil from drying out so fast

by the way, notice the nickel hardware and kickplate on the door?  It's ugly brass spraypainted with nickel paint.  We did it two years ago and it still looks great (or at least better than it did)

Got it on clearance a few months ago.  If it gets yucky, I'll hang it on the wall inside and

call it architectural salvage!

sorry for the blurry picture...photography skills have improved but have a long way to go

my favorite picture...that little rusted welcome sign in the ivy!  I can't believe I took that.

(Kim M., you're rubbing off on me)

little red rooster pillows in the old chippy rocking chairs.