Monday, October 31, 2011

Fall Decorating: Front Porch

Back in June, my client and I began pulling inspirations to decide which direction to take for her large, wrap front porch. Besides a few white rockers, they hadn't really used the porch. We wanted to make it inviting. She envisioned a place for the family to enjoy late summer evenings, as well as visiting with neighbors and friends. I had blogged about it here. She had a few things from our trip to Ohio the year before that we planned to use... little tables and a black bench from her family.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

The first thing I scored was the vintage wood framed mirror at the end of the porch, found in the back of a local store in the clearance section! Great start.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

We added these wonderful wicker chairs and ottomans from Ballard Design. As I create the link in this post, I don't see the chairs available, maybe a seasonal thing. They are the Vendee line. The amazing thing about these chairs is their scale! And incredible comfort. Just the right fit.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

At the wrap of the porch, we placed a Ballard Design loveseat. We used a small, wood table as a little coffee table. We may return to this space next spring and add outdoor curtains to this corner. Maybe something light and airy on rods and rings or maybe grommets.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

I had the front door painted black. But, not just the front door, the trim and side lights as well. The old door (when will I learn to take before pictures???) had a white surround and the door itself was a medium, spring green. By painting the door and surround black, the front gets the attention it needs to stay in balance with the rest of the large space.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

The porch has been up and running for a while now. Just getting to the picture taking part of it all. I have enjoyed a visit with my client, enjoying the late summer sun. It's a lovely, unwinding spot.

My client added plantings, fall mums, and pumpkins..... all set for little tricker - treaters and a visit with a neighbor on comfy chairs!

Happy Halloween!!

Front Porch Inspirations

'Tis the Season for time spent on the porch. I've been enjoying my early porch mornings, getting up with the sun. Now I'm onto my client's front porch design. She has a large, white house with black shutters. The classic, white, front porch wraps around to the side, providing lots of design possibilities.

Below, I've pulled some photos for inspiring ideas.

(photo credit: Decorpad)

It's important to establish how the space will be used, just as if it were an interior room.

Maybe it's a private retreat from the street, landscaped with higher shrubs and small groupings for quiet moments.

Designing for flexibility allows for both entertaining or for more intimate gatherings, when just the family is out enjoying the sunset.

This client's goal is to host parties and fill the porch and yard with unwinding parents and firefly catching children. We're planning an area for a self service bar and other areas to sit, stand, and mingle. It's important to have a good traffic flow, so layout is key.

(photo credit: Design Sponge)

Once the layout and function is established, texture and color are next. What about the floor or the ceiling? Painted pattern? Wood stained? Dark vs light? Ceiling and floor white and color comes from flowers, pots, and fabrics?

(photo credit: Southern Accents)

(photo credit: Southern Living)

(photo credit: Decorpad)

Is the sun an issue during times the porch will be most used? Porch panels or curtains or outdoor roller shades may help filter strong sun. Be sure to use outdoor fabrics.

(photo credit: Country Living)

(photo credit: A Soft Place to Land / blog)

(photo credit: Country Living)

(photo credit: Decorpad)

Or maybe privacy is an issue. Use a heavier curtain panels to section off your corner of the day.

(photo credit: Better Homes and Gardens)

(photo credit: Domino)

(photo credit: Design Track Mind / blog)

Good design always mixes it up. Bringing inside items out on the porch makes for great interest. Just about all these inspiration photos include an element mainly found inside the house. Make it your outdoor room.

(photo credit: Country Living)

Inspiration can come from anywhere. We've made one purchase so far. A mirror very similar to this one. A great inspiration piece!!

(photo credit: Restoration Hardware)

And a few more inspirations....

(photo credit: Southern Living)

(photo credit: Country Living)

(photo credit: Decorpad)

(photo credit: Southern Living)

(photo credit: Decorpad)

Front Porch

Welcome Summer!

(it may not be officially summer yet, but....)

I've been feverishly working on my front porch over the past week. We've had lots of family and friends come through the house in celebration of my son's graduation from high school. The front porch has been a lovely, early morning spot to start the day, mug of coffee in hand.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

I've been playing around with how to furnish the front porch for a few summers; how many to seat, wicker vs wood furniture, rocker vs chair, rug vs no rug, what texture and color planters to use.

After settling on a brownish wicker, I went on the hunt. (Summer white wicker always feels as if it needs to be stored over the winter. A tan or dark wicker can hold up in all seasons.)

After searching several of our local shops, everything from Plow and Hearth to our local Antiquer's Mall, I came across these wicker rockers and side table at Pier One. They were the right scale, right color and right price for this project.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

The front door was refinished this spring, after 6 years of sun damage. And the columns received a white wash. Sometimes, a little freshening of finishes and a few flowers are all it takes to brighten up an entryway.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

The bench pillows I couldn't resist after seeing this bird motif.

Both the gray toile accent pillows on the rockers and these crewel work bird pillows were a clearance find at World Market.

(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.)

I embellished the grapevine wreath with dried, white flowers and dried, green, long grass.

This wreath can easily be reworked with other dried plant materials for a change of season, texture and color.

I often get the question from clients about fake flowers. I've never been able to bring myself to use fake flowers or plant materials indoors or out. There are some very artistic silk flowers that can hold there own, but I've found that it's easy to tire of the arrangement and they can be very costly. Living or dried flowers are typically less of an investments and can be easily changed out.

I replaced my terra cotta pots for these concrete planters. I love how the texture and color relates to the concrete porch floor.