New Oasis
SOOOO...after months, our porch is finally done. I'm a big fan of DIY home projects (in case you haven't figured that one out yet) so I thought I would share. This is what our porch looked like before we ever touched it (note the gross brown paint and absolute neglect of ambiance)
And here we are now! Jamin finished off the cement to give it a tiled flooring feel. Props to his hard work! We still have a coat of poly to do (as it was supposed to rain all next week we are waiting) but the flooring will have a completely different, finished and polished look when all is said and done! I wanted the art outdoors to have a symbolic significance, so I made my own specimen boards out of all the seashells we collected last summer as a family on the beach (one of Aiden and mine's fave pastimes) and then did our initials on the other side of the porch...one for each member of the family for a more personal touch. We salvaged our swing (MY favorite purchase of the summer) from a local artist at the flea market I frequent for unique finds. It's handmade, so this was like purchasing my own local piece of useable sculpture. I threw in an old lantern I have, and you should see it at night! VIOLA! AMBIANCE! Our own little sanctuary from the rain! We also used copper piping as hardware for the curtains which I think will only look cooler as it naturally ages. I tore down the blah blinds in the back that were blocking our view (our back yard is pretty private) and now my house feels a room bigger. (next project: brown linen like burlap curtains I am making next week to extend all the way from the ceiling to make our living room look larger)
Furniture: Pier One and Smith and Hawken (via target) / Shelf: Hobby Lobby, baby! / center table and bird cage: flea market / antique pieces.
In the fall, we're setting up the blowup projector and watching the Auburn games out back! Everyone's invited...don't forget the rotel dip! If you are still reading at this point, you're probably bored, so here are the finished product! Jamin is exhausted, bless him. ;)
Supa Blogga Supreme Mama
16 Comments
Reader Comments (16)
O.M.G. That is fabulous!!! I can't believe how good it looks! Who am I kidding - of course I can believe it. :-) I can't wait to see it in person!
P.S. I love the subtle shot of the Domino mag on the couch. ;-)
Again...you sicken me (in a friendly way) with your talent and supernatural artistic abilites. You should end this pic into somewhere. You could get recognized and maybe get somemore business on Etsy. Which btw...have you ever found cute bedding on Etsy?? I would love to find something unique from a "starving" artist, but the site is really hard to navigate when you don't have a specific person to look at. Just curious!
The patio/outdoor oasis is really amazing!!
karen-you're so sweet. I can only dream, I guess. I always feel so inadequate and have been in limbo, because for two years now I've really wanted this to take off, but not so much until my kids are in elementary school so I can do it full time...guess thats why I've started now so it can have a slow start and brick walls...because thats all I feel like I ever hit! It's a confusing emotion ;) I will search for some bedding for you and let you know what I find!
Wow! Great job! It looks very relaxing, yet fun and festive all at the same time!
what a wonderful project. you both did great. don't you love having a hub that can do things. mine is a finish carpenter and he can build stuff. so cool.
AMAZING!!!
wait... how cute is your porch! seriously. I have a huge deck and have done NOTHING with it. Now this makes me want to start spiffing it up a bit! good work :)
I absolutely LOVE it!!! You should seriously considering letting others pay you for your thoughts on what they should do with their places! You are so creative and I love your work!!!
Soooooooooo, WHEN should I come over for ice cream??? Isn't that how we broke it in last summah? :)
AUGHHHH! How do you get your windows so clean?? Just kidding. I am really impressed with the transformation! (Why should I be, you decorating genius, you...!) My favorite thing (if I have to pick ONE) from what you did was the seashell specimens. Very cool! Next project: A fun trip to Memphis to help decorate you good friend's living spaces! (BBQ & Cheesecake included!)
I LOVE THIS SO MUCH! I want to come over for some peanut butter toast and sweet tea like old days. I love everything, and am impressed. How did you cut the tiles on the edge?
Wow! Major props to Jamin for the concrete job! It looks fabulous! Major transformation, you should be proud miss artsy :) Now I am a little embarrassed for you to see our refurbished house, not near as art inclined as you, you know!
kristy-jamin still has to break out the drimmel (sp?) and get the lines all the way out. then we're poly-ing it baby!
I want this at my house! Wow! Looks like the perfect place for a nap. :)
ok, I am officially impressed. That looks great!