I have teamed up with three other bloggers to bring you the Summer Spruce-Up Series. The series is all about sprucing-up our outdoor areas to get them ready for summer! What all of that means is that I had to get off my butt and get to work. Enter my screened-in porch makeover.
My screened-in porch had been so neglected until I was forced to tackle it (a good and needed forced, thanks gals). When we moved in two years ago, the last thing on our minds was the back porch. We were too busy with a kitchen, bathroom, and basically an overhaul of our entire house. I didn’t take a photo of the inside of the porch, but this was the outside, so you can get a pretty good idea of what it was like.
Rough, to say the least.
We finally got around to working on it about six months after we moved in.
But, then I got pregnant.
And lazy.
And tired.
So, for the last year and a half, our screened-in porch has set like this. Partially finished.
Grunt Labor had fixed the screening and added lattice to keep the dogs from getting in. We had also partially painted the woodwork, but that was it.
And now, within the last three weeks, it has finally gotten its long overdue makeover.
With the exception of the chaise lounge and rocking chair, we already had the patio furniture. I picked up the lounge at an antique store for $100. All of the furniture got a fresh coat of gloss black spray paint, which it was in desperate need of.
I am loving my outdoor chalkboard. We just bought a piece of pre-cut 4×8 plywood, slapped some chalkboard paint on it and nailed it up. The silver pail holds chalk.
We also purchased cushions from Home Depot for all the furniture.
I found that sweet little rocking chair at an antique store for $20. It was originally white and sporting some horrid circa 1991 floral fabric. I ditched that for some simple outdoor fabric that would match the new cushions.
Needless to say, that chaise lounge is this girl’s new favorite spot. Don’t sit in my chaise when I am present. It. Is. Mine.
I painted the floor the same color as the floor on the front porch. I finally got around to painting the rest of the trim / woodwork as well.
I love how all of the little decorative touches turned out. I really just threw some stuff together I had around the house. I made a
monogrammed tray for us and put it in the middle of the table to hold napkins, condiments, and such. I pulled the lantern from the guest bedroom, since it will soon undergo a makeover.
I had these mason jars in the cabinet, with the hanging wire already attached. Luckily, the hooks were already in the ceiling as well, otherwise these boys may not have made it out. Right now, they have pebbles in them. And someday when I remember, I will pick up some candles for them.
We have had the chandelier for a few years now. I found it as-is at a yard sale for $3. Yes, I’ll take it.
We switched out the previous light fixture which was rusted and haunted-house-scary-looking for this one. I found it at Lowe’s on clearance for $25. Yes, I will take that as well.
Another favorite part of the porch for me is this clock. It is an old one with an electrical cord to make it run. I picked it up at an antique store for $15 a few years back. It still works, but there isn’t an electrical outlet on the porch. I wrapped the cord around the back, set the clock to 5:00, hung it up and then got myself a beer. 🙂
The tray was another yard sale find for $3. I gave it a coat of spray paint. Obviously, not a good one, considering there are bubbles on the side, but, hey, its outside, who cares? I pulled the metal pitchers from my open shelving, which recently got a makeover.
The screened-in porch is my new favorite place. It’s always 5:00 there, it’s a great outdoor dinner space, an awesome place to relax, keeps the kid contained, and did I mention it’s always 5:00 there?
Wanna snoop around my house more? Head here.
You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.
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