Monday, May 4, 2009

Put Your Feet Up

Welcome to my porch.  Put your feet up and sit a spell.  Or you can even take a nap, as I am sometimes inclined to do.

Most of the houses that I have built have screened porches.  Whenever I do a screened porch, I like for it to feel like an extension of the main house.  No tacky pressure treated lumber for me.  Here’s an overview of my screened porch.  Although it has pressure treated guts, all that pressure treated wood is wrapped with good stuff and painted the same color as the house trim.

porch 010The white wicker furniture is a hand-me-down from my friend Glenda.  She got some “better” stuff for her sunroom, so I gladly took the wicker off her hands.  The seat cushions came from an outlet in Boaz, Alabama (Boaz was the king of outlets back in the day), and the pillows were a Home Depot find.  If you look closely, you’ll see more of my pig collection.

porch 011See, I told you there were more pigs.  The red tole lamp was an eBay find, and the red International Harvester tractor came from LBeau’s Uncle Robert.  LBeau’s dad was an IH dealer in Newport, Arkansas.  I found the table at Chelsea Antique Mall.  I was going to use it for dining on the porch until I found this table.

porch 027Not long after I bought the first table, I came across this table and chairs, also at Chelsea Antique Mall.  How many of you grew up with one of these Formica topped tables in your kitchen?

Do you know about the penny trick for keeping your tulips from drooping?  Simply drop a penny into the water, and the tulips will stand upright.

porch 020I found this wrought iron corner baker’s rack at Lakewood in Atlanta.  I was certainly sad when Lakewood shut down.  It’s painted a nice soft green that’s rusted to just the right shabbiness.

porch 014  The birdhouse was crafted by a local artisan, and the primitive watermelon painting is by AnnieT., daughter of MoseT.  You can read about him HERE.  The small watermelon was painted by one of my boys at a summer craft class.

porch 018 The blue tole lamp is another eBay purchase, and I bought the “Girlfriends” painting at Scott’s Antique Mall in Atlanta.  It’s by an artist who calls herself MOSO. Here’s a LINK to her website.

The rest of the porch decor is a hodgepodge of things that I’ve collected.  These colorful bugs came from Lakewood.

porch 025

And there are more pigs.  I usually put a fern in this wire planter.  I’m not very good at keeping these over the winter, so I usually just get a new one each spring.

porch 021

This pig was one of my first eBay purchases.  I think he’s charmingly primitive.  I bought him because he was a Hampshire hog (see my blog header).

porch 022

porch 023 I’ve also used several of my Arkansas plates that didn’t fit in with my blue and white plate scheme. 

Finally, no screened porch is complete without a ceiling fan to stir the breeze.  In this picture you will see that I used tongue-and-grooved 1x4 beaded pine ceiling.  On this porch I’ve painted it, but it’s also pretty stained.

porch 028

PorchpatiopartyLg If you’ve stayed with me this far, then I would urge you to head over to Grits and Glamour where Barb is hosting the first ever Porch and Patio Party.  What a fun event this has turned out to be.

32 comments:

Robin said...

Your porch is absolutely beautiful! Nothing like a screened-in porch in the South. When we were choosing plans for this house, a screened-in porch was a MUST! We have one, but it is teeny-tiny....but hubby loves it just the same. (Even though it's not quite finished yet).
Thank you so much for sharing this beauty!

{{HUGS}}

Robin :o)

momma said...

your porch does seem like an extension of your home (even though i've never been in your home). i love a cozy front porch. maybe one day!

Christi @ A Southern Life said...

Wonderful porch. Love the pig collection. I'm in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Farther North on the White River. I would love to have your pig planter. It's the best. I'm the same way on ferns. I usually try to keep them over the winter but not much luck. My neighbor across the street keeps them over the winter very well.

I'd love to sit on the porch and visit with you. We seem to have a lot in common.

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

What a great screened porch. I looks so welcoming and inviting. I love the furniture pieces that you found to use on it. They look comfy and inviting. A great place to have a meal or a visit. Your accessories are lovely. Thanks for the penny trick. I had never heard of that. Hugs, Marty

Barb @ The Everyday Home said...

I have realized that blogging has made me a very sinful person, b/c I am always seeing things that I covet. I covet your screened porch. LOL I think it is perfect, and I heart your white table and chairs. What a great place to eat breakfast or dinner. I love all your pigs! The pig planter is hilarious. Thank you so much for joining in. BTW, I have decided to make this a monthly event so we can share our Seasonal porch changes. Yippee! Hugs, Barb

xinex said...

I love your screened in porch, Kathy. It is so cozy and homey. Is that true about the penny and tulips? My favorite of your pic collection is the one uner the table. He is so cute! Do you do screened in pool enclosure also?...Christine

Kristens Creations said...

Greetings... from a fellow Arkansan. Love your porch! That wire pig planter with the fern is so cute!! Kristen

Domestic Designer said...

Your porch is lovely and inviting. I could certainly put my feet up and relax!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

So nice to have a screened in porch to keep your pigs safe and out of the weather! Very cute!

Southern Fried Gal said...

Hello! Love to find other AR gals - and most importantly HOG fans!!! I love a covered porch and yours is beautiful! I love all your finds and how they have meaning and stories! Thanks for the tip on the penny and tulips! Please stop over for a visit sometime!

Kathleen said...

I love your screened in porch! It looks very comfortable..
Thanks for visiting my blog...and yes, I know I am lucky to be near the water. I am very thankful!
Happy Porch sitting!

bj said...

Your porch is absolutely stunning. Ilove every thing about it...

Rhonda said...

Hi, I saw the Razorback at Mommas and had to come over and say 'hi'. Little confused though....you mention Atlanta a lot in this post too. Where do you live?

LOVE your porch! Beautiful! I was a teacher now SAHM. Thanks for sharing your porch!

From the Old InkWell said...

Kathy, your porch is absolutely charming! Thanks for the penny tip. You learn something new every day. :)

Happy outdoor living!

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

What a great porch, love it all! The pigs are the cutest! Glad to find your blog!

Katherine

Thanks for the penny tip, never heard that one, now I have to find some tulips!

Sonia said...

Love your screened in porch..They are so nice to have, I had one at my previous home and I have to put one on my wish list after seeing yours! Beautifully decorated too-I love the white table and chairs. Sonia/Miss Bloomers

Melissa Miller said...

Kathy it is just an amazing screened in porch and it's so BEAUTIFUL!

You're E-bay hog is just too cute! ~Melissa :)

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Kathy your porch is just darling my friend...love all your pigs ha ha!! they made me smile...thank you so much for sharing this great porch...hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

Tara said...

what a fun porch to relax on and enjoy he outdoors. I wish I had one!
I love that little white table and chairs, I could just see myself eating out there of playing cards on a warm night!

Chandy said...

Very nice! I love your pigs and that is a nice trick about the tulips and the penny. I wonder if it has something to do with the metals in the penny that reacts wi the flowers.

Great pictures!

Keetha Broyles said...

Such a lovely, inviting space in which to take a nap or read a book!

Martha said...

Nothing like a screened in porch filled iwth wicker to make a house a home!

Debbie said...

I love your porch. The white table and chairs are incredible. Great space. Debbie

Anonymous said...

lovely & fun.. great combination!

julie & joe said...

I love your porch and your pig collection! So cute!!!!

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

positivley charming! I LOVE it!

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

I would love a screened in porch. Then maybe everything wouldn't get quite so dirty. You have a lot of fabulous finds. And I had never heard of the tulip penny trick. I learned something new today. Woo hoo!

~CC Catherine said...

Kathy, What a lovely screened in porch you have! The pigs here and there are darling! I totally am in to how you put beadboard on the ceiling., and you're right, the fan is a must! ;) Stop by for my blog giveaway! The deadline for the closing is May 10, midnight, PDT. I'll be posting winners on Monday. More than one chance to enter! ;) ~CC Catherine

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Looks like heaven.

LuLo Designs/Blue Eyed Tango said...

Love your porch, it's different than many I've seen being a screened in one! Love it! My mom and dad live in near Hardy, AR...just wondering if you know where it is or where you're located? Go Razorbacks! Lu

Kelly Bergsing said...

That is beautiful!! I love your screened porch!! I live in Decatur and our next house will definitely have a screened back porch and a big front porch. :) It is good to see what someone in this area has done.... and made it look so gorgeous!!

Baumbastic said...

The pictures on your blog are great, but they cannot do your porch justice. I love screened-in porches and yours is one of the best. It does indeed feel as though it is a part of the house.