Front porch reveal

Well at long last, I'm finally ready to reveal our porch makeover!

When we moved into our house just over two years ago, the front porch was, you could say, less than inviting. When house hunting, we almost didn't even go view the house because of the porch photos we saw online. It was basically a pine and plywood box and didn't exactly scream 'Home Sweet Home' if you know what I mean.

Here are a few shots of the original porch in all its glory. Check out the LOVELY Christmas wreath (it came with the house and we got possession in June!) and the charming (cough!) wooden mailbox – as if there wasn't enough wood going on already!

 

We decided that even though untreated pine wasn't our thing, the wainscoting and trim did have some potential. So we (okay, mostly my hubby) when to work with some paint and new black fixtures and ended up with this. Definitely an improvement. Bright and cheery. No more pine box.

 

And the above is how it sat for nearly two years. Nicely painted, yet lacking in charm and character. This spring/summer I finally got around to hunting down just the right décor pieces to achieve the look I wanted. It involved scouring several garage sales and making numerous trips to the thrift store, but I did it! Here is how it looks now.

You can read about the chair makeover and DIY wall art in previous posts. I had fun with these projects and I think they give the porch a personal touch.

Everything on this table (and even the table – which I painted white) came from a thrift store, dollar store or garage sale. I love a goooood bargain!

I adore this little tea light lantern with coloured glass. I considered spray painting it black, but I just loved the aged patina too much. What do you think, did I make the right decision in not painting it?

I am happy with the doormat I purchased for only $12 at The Home Depot.

There is a little story to go with this doormat. I looked around so many stores and finally found this one on The Home Depot's website. The site said it was in stock at the store, but I had looked and it definitely wasn't there. So I went back to the store again and this time recruited some help from customer service. Well, half an hour, three sales people and a forklift thingy-ma-bob later, the doormat was retrieved from a box up in the rafters. Totally worth it!

So that concludes the porch makeover tour. Thanks for taking a look! 

Linking up with these parties:
organize & decorate everything
{aka} design

Simple wall art

Here is another sneak peek of what's going on with my porch makeover.

I was in need of something interesting to put on the wall and I got this great idea from my friend Melody who did something similar in her daughter's nursery. It's so simple – I love it!

Simply use different-sized round cross stitch frames and stretch your favourite fabric in them!

Tada!
 

I painted the frames white to match the rest of the porch.

The best part is, you can easily change out the fabric depending on the season. I'm already thinking of what I can do for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Stay tuned for the full porch reveal – coming soon!


Linking to these great parties:

Beyond the Picket Fence

Porch chair makeover

Our front porch has been a work in progress since we moved in two years ago. It has gone under a total facelift, but I'm saving the big before and after for a future post - there are still a few little things I need to finish up before the big reveal.

In the mean time, here is one of the projects I've been working on. I bought this metal chair for a great price at a thrift shop. I loved the style, but it definitely needed an update.

I bought a can of black spray paint and I found this great outdoor fabric for 50% off!

So, with a couple of coats of spray paint and a newly upholstered seat, I have a great looking piece all for under $20! It looks charming in our little porch.

Stay tuned for the full porch reveal coming soon!

Linking up with:
www.akadesign.ca
Beyond the Picket Fence
October point of view link party

A refreshing treat

Sometimes pretty things aren't just what we see, they are what we taste! With all of these hot summer days lately, I was in need of a cool and refreshing treat. After googling homemade popsicle recipes, I came across this simple recipe for watermelon-mint ice pops. YUM! I was also excited to find another use for the mint that is growing (ok – exploding) on my back deck.

 

Watermelon-Mint Ice Pops

4 cups cubed watermelon
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup mint leaves
juice of 1 lime

Combine all ingredients in a blender and purée.

Pour into popsicle mold and freeze.

Enjoy!

Coloured glass

My blog has been severely neglected these past few months, but with good reason. I'm the proud mama of a handsome baby boy! Though he's hardly a wee babe anymore. It's hard to believe the little guy is already six months old! Now that life seems to be on a bit of a routine, I figured it's time that I get back to posting some entries.

I am working hard at finding décor pieces to finish off our living/dining area. This is a slow process since I am painfully thrifty and hate to pay full price for anything. It's most satisfying for me to find items at thrift stores and garage sales. Kijiji is also a favourite shopping locale. The hunt for a good bargain is half the fun for me!

That being said, I've slowly been collecting some vintage coloured glassware - vases, jars, bottles. I love these fresh colours for spring/summer along with the intricate designs and unique shapes. So pretty and cheerful!

Right now I have them arranged on the sideboard in our dining area. It is neat to see the different shapes, sizes and colours work together to create an interesting display. The overall sideboard display needs more work in my opinion. Any suggestions?