Anyone feel like playing decorator?
I’m looking for advice on what to do with our back porch. The stuff on the porch is now gone, but the green indoor/outdoor carpet is still there. It feels like ordinary concrete underneath. Between the two middle posts is a small opening and three stairs that need replaced. All around it is ivy — lots and lots and lots of ivy.
It’s a big porch with lots of possibilities, but I don’t have even one idea. Anyone feeling creative?
April 24th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
I would cover all the cinder blocks, stacked stone looks the nicest on columns and walls, and there are some economical ways to get this look, too. There are faux stone products that are sold in large pieces cut to fit, stone “veneers” that give the look of stone for much less cost than the real deal. Any Home Depot or Lowes can probably get you started in the right direction with info on one of those products. Stamped concrete is a really affordable way to give the porch floor the look of real stone or tiles without the huge cost of real stone or tiles. An even simpler solution in the interim could be to just remove the green turf, clean up the cement, and paint it. Buy a large outdoor jute or sisal (any natural fiber) rug and arrange your patio furniture around it for an “outdoor room” feeling. Have fun with color. Lots of plants. Hanging pots of plants between the columns, impatiens like shady areas and look pretty in hanging pots because they get so full. I think an outdoor ceiling fan with a light to replace the fixture on the ceiling would give it a lot of personality too as well as be useful on a really hot day. I did a quick google on a faux stone veneer product and this is how one house transformed their columns, I think it’s beautiful:
http://santinilandscape.com/gettysburg.jpg
April 24th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Whoa! You’re good! I love the idea of the ceiling fans. I never would’ve thought of that. There are already 2 lights out there that I could easily replace.
I was looking at some of the fake stone products at the Home Show last month. I’ll have to check it out the next time I’m at Lowes. (Which is pretty much every other day right now.)
I really appreciate all these tips!
May 8th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Before you decide what to do with it, you need to figure out some things…..Does it get any weather? Are you visible from other houses when you’re up there? Do you plan to entertain much (in an adult, social way)? Knowing the answer to these questions will help determine how you set the porch up.
There are a lot of neat ways do decorate a porch like this, but I’ve gotten the impression from reading your column over the years that what might suit you best is a reading, napping-during-rains, lounge with the kiddo and pets-type porch. Does that sound right?
If so, I’d go for some sisal or jute carpet underfoot, or maybe tatami mats (that’s why you need to know if it gets rained on). Nice comfy spots to curl up with a book are good. If it gets sun glare, you can put inexpensive curtain rods up in those places and use a semi-sheer curtain that can be pulled into place when needed and pushed out of the way when not needed.
If you’re not terribly visible from other houses, having some kind of comfortable couch or something where a theraputic rainy-day nap can take place is really great. Also makes a place to sleep on a hot summer night for an adventurous girl and her buddies.
Overhead fans suggested earlier are a great touch, too. Just think of what will make it a nice extension of your indoor living space and go with it. It’s not HGTV, it’s real life, so make it suit you guys.
Wow, bet you didn’t want that much detail, did you?
May 9th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
I love your suggestions. The porch is very private. Only one neighbor to left and there’s plenty of plants in between. It looks like rain can hit about half the porch when it’s coming down hard, so I’ll have to take that into consideration. I put a rocking chair out there the other day (we still aren’t moved) and it’s just so nice.