Sunday, March 14, 2010

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.


72 comments:

  1. OK, you must be as sore as I am. I did wedding flowers in McKinney and then we worked in our yard all day today. I'll post pictures of the yard soon. I took before/after, but don't have the after yet. We better not have another freeze in Coppell. Love the hidden sign in the plant and G on the door.

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  2. Its great looking. I love all your 'chippy' stuff. It makes it look so warm and homey.

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  3. Your porch looks great the sun in even shining on it! Isn't it great to refill the pots and planters with sweet fresh plants! Happy Spring!! Bella

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  4. Looks great! I'm sure it makes you want to go sit outside and enjoy it.

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  5. My favourite are the galvanized pieces and the fun rooster pillows. It always feels so nice to freshen up the porch or yard after a long winter. A bit early for us here in Southern Ontario, but I can hardly wait.

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  6. This is great! I love the door mat and spray painted kick plate.

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  7. What a pretty transformation. My porch looks like yours did...leaves strewn about, etc. You've really got me in the mood to get it looking nice. Too bad it's dark out here! Lovely, warm and welcoming porch you have created. Thank you for sharing!

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  8. Your porch look so nice! You've been a busy gal! Love your G and all of your special spring touches.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  9. OMGsh. The G, the "welcome" sign, the "G", the chippy awesome rocking chair, the large, bricked porch. . . swoon. JEALOUS!

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  10. Looks really nice and waiting for Spring. I can't wait till we are sure it's not going to snow again here till I can start doing things to my porches.

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  11. You have created such a beautiful and welcoming porch area. The flowers are so pretty and I love the way you have incorporated all of your other pieces.

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

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  12. What an improvement that is and I love your birdhouse!

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  13. Looks lovely Gina...!!!! So glad you're MY neighbor!

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  14. I love your makeover! I love fixing up the porch for spring, new flowers and growth....cleaning up all the leaves that are everywhere. Love your watering can, and little garden tools. So cute. Your porch welcomes everyone. I like the old pieces you used to decorate. I like that it is not
    generic...I hate generic! But your porch is wonderful. Great job.
    Blessings,
    Debbie

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  15. ahhh, your porch looks fabulous. It is raining here today so will wait a few days and start MY porch makeover...I am totally in LUV with that new mat...gonna get me one, too!! :)

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  16. So inviting! I love seeing your plants because I can't wait. Of course, we really have to wait until the second week in May to plant anything, but I think I'm going to get some pansies to tide me over!

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  17. Yeah let Spring be here, you are all ready for it. Good work, your before reminds me of my patio.

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  18. What a beautiful spring porch! :o) My dirt filled pots are crying out for some flowers. :o)
    Sincerely ~ Trish

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  19. Makes me jealous! It's still too cold here for flowers! Great Job!

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  20. ok, You've inspired me to go clean my porch. Love the wire planter, pillows, and flowers. The G on the porch must stand for Grand job! Lezlee

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  21. Ah the sunshine in your pictures makes me LONG for warm days on the porch! Yours looks so welcoming and beautiful...

    Glad you could Mi4M!

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  22. Love every cottagy detail!! what a terrific transformation.

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  23. Great idea on the river rocks. It's functional **and** funky!!

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  24. Beautiful transformation! I love working in the garden and I have been waiting for it to warm up! I am excited to clean up and replant for spring. Great job! It looks so pretty! Stop by and enter my 6 dessert plate giveaway on my blog and see the yummy chocolates I make.
    Joan

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  25. Beautiful! I can't wait for warmer weather here in Arkansas so that I can get some flowers planted! Love the whole thing!

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  26. Luv the new look on your porch...my fav is the new wire door mat! I have done a little bit outside and plan to do a lot more this weekend! I just LOVE SPRINGTIME!

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  27. Love the wood and metal bench! And that wire mat is fabulous! Everything looks so fresh and springy!

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  28. Spring makes everything new! Your porch looks ready and welcoming. I love the little garden tools beside the metal bucket!

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  29. Wishing it was truly springtime here! We are expecting snow this weekend in Wisconsin, but love all the little things you did to make the entryway look great!

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  30. Wow! Wow! I so wish we had a nice outdoor space like that; I really need to do some work on our deck to make it more welcoming. Great job!

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  31. wow it looks so much better and ready for summer!

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  32. Looks great!!! Doesn't it feel good to get things cleaned up?

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  33. I'm in north Texas, too, and loving this spring weather. I'm also working on a front porch makeover- but I'm not done just yet.

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  34. I LOVE how fresh and clean and ALIVE everything looks. GREAT job!

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  35. Love your porch, what a difference spring can do. My back deck looks similar to your porch before picture.. its very winterized right now, and is a slow process of transforming to spring. I hope you will stop by and link up your spring porch next week, or any other spring project you have.
    All the best,

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  36. Your front porch looks very pretty and very inviting. I live in TN and am eagerly awaiting the warm weather you are getting.

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  37. Love your porch! Can I come over for coffee?

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  38. Oh you are making me want to garden!! I love all of your plants and the Anthro mat, LOVE!

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  39. Chubby Dove, it would have to be good ol' southern iced tea on the porch :)

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  40. Wonderful transformation!! It inspires me to get going on my outside of the house. :) Our weather is so up and down here, though, i'm afraid everything will wither and die after I work for three days to plant it all. (passed through from reinvented this morning--so glad I did) Beautiful! -shaunna :)

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  41. Your porch is so welcoming and just adorable! Can you please tell me the name of the pretty white flower you have in some of your pots. I love smaller bloom flowers and these are right up my alley.

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  42. Lovin your porch pics....I did my front porch last weekend also and it just makes a person feel good.....especially after our long, cold and wet winter! Today is really nice....cleaning out beds in the back, and painting furniture for Canton! Happy Spring.....Cathy of girls gone junkin

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  43. Your spring porch redo looks so nice,,but what caught my eye was the heart wreath,, is it made out of springs? I love hearts.

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  44. For a minute there, I thought I was looking at my front porch! I SO need to clean my porch up and plant some flowers. Your looks great!

    Jennie @ Cinnaberry Suite

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  45. Your porch looks amazing! I love the big G on your door, and the rocks nestled in with your pretty flowers, and of course that beautiful mat from Anthro!

    Kat :)

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  46. so pretty. also very mood altering.. happy

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  47. Hey, I'm a new follower too! ;-)

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  48. LOOKS like a different porch! It's so happy and welcoming now. Makes me want to bring over some muffins and visit with a glass of tea with you! Not quite warm enough here to start outside, but it's getting there! My husband started the waterfall on our garden pond yesterday and this morning the birds almost had a riot about who's turn it was to take a bath!

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  49. Your porch is inspiring and photography is terrific!

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  50. Oh wonderful!

    I was looking for a place to sit and relax!

    Are we ALL invited? it looks so nice.
    I like lemon with my tea. iced of course!

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  51. i had to click over from SNS, just for your title alone!
    we just now got our sun back. she was hiding for a week +. I am so ready to do our porch as well!

    happy spring to ya!!!
    hey, i'm having a spring fling party on monday - if you want to link this up! Anything spring goes!

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  52. Nice makeover! I love all of your goodies! Coming over from Funky Junk Interiors - new follower!

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  53. I am inspired! Love the mat and worn pieces! Can't wait for spring!

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  54. Oooh so nice! I admit I am jealous...'cause I'm SO ready for spring! We can't plant until end of May due to the chance of frost but your post is indeed inspiring.
    We can do yard cleanup...woohoo (kidding!)
    ~judi ;)

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  55. I am so ready for spring! I cleaned off my front porch and now it looks so barren and lonely for flowers. It's getting close! Lisa~ www.livingmybestlifeii-lisa.blogspot.com

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  56. So pretty and so inviting. I love everything. Boy does my porch need this. Yours looks just fabulous. Great job. Hugs, Marty

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  57. Girl! I love so many things about this post. First of all I love the ready for spring porch. I finally got out today and started planning. Tomorrow I'm am going to the greenhouse.

    Lovely porch, love the "G" on your front door, I have that same wire mat (love it) really loving the pot you painted ( I must try that) and I'm loving that porch swing and pillow. And really I could go on and on but I think you get the picture...I love your front porch. All we need now is something cool to drink.

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  58. So cute! It makes me very excited for spring!

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  59. From one porch fanatic to another, I love it, girl!!! One idea I'm excited to try ~ using riverstones in the pots to hold in moisture...plus it just looks so "finished"!

    Stopping by from the linky party at "Beneath My Heart". Great blog!

    Jane
    www.janiesporch.blogspot.com

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  60. I have a lot of the empty "before" pots sitting around! I love your red painted pots, and that rooster pillow is so precious! I'm visiting from Traci's linky party...and I can't wait to look around the rest of your blog!

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  61. Oh, I love! I have to say I am a bit jealous of the sun and green I see in your pics. We have had snow here this weekend! Happy spring to you though :) Your porch is lovely!

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  62. looks amazing. way to go!

    Ashley @ The Appraiser's Wife
    www.rahouck.blogspot.com

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  63. Just clicked over from thriftydecorchick. Great job, very lovely. And yes, that one photo is great! Still learning photography myself, and I have many many poorly lit photos to show for it!

    And I'm an SLP too!

    Enjoyed the entry. :)

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  64. I have an old watering can just like yours. I have been thinking I need to use it on the porch and now you really have me wanting to. I enjoyed your pics.

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  65. Your porch looks great! You are motivating me to get mine done. :)
    Thanks for linking up to my party.
    Blessings,
    Traci

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  66. Really Wonderful re-do..Love it all!
    Valarie

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  67. Ohhhh very nice! I hang my head in complete and utter shame, for my outdoors does not look nearly as 'ready for summer' as yours. Loving the pot touches!

    Thanks for linking up to the (clay) pot party!
    FJ Donna

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  68. So nice. Love the letter on the door. Great job. Thanks for sharing,

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