Summer is unofficially here! The kids are taking Nutella and crackers for lunch (because no one cares anymore!), the sun is shining, and the porch lights are on. Bring it. I am thrilled to be participating in Lindsay‘s Blogger Stylin’ Home Tours today and am going to share my Summer porch tour. If you are popping over from Sarah Dorsey‘s place, welcome! I just love Sarah’s modern vintage style and I know her tour is a tough act to follow. I am happy to have you join me in our family’s favorite place to hang out together this time of year.
We live in a Cape Cod style home up on a hill. It’s quiet, private, and peaceful and is truly our sanctuary. The porch is one of those places that just brings us together as a family. Life offers its challenges to all of us sometimes, but at the end of the day when we can gather here for a meal or round of Uno, all seems right in the world again. If you’ve seen the inside of my home, you know that yellow and brown are far from being in my color wheelhouse. One day when we can afford a total exterior overhaul, things will change, but for now I try to embrace it for what it is and make it work for me, by bringing in my favorite color…. blue.
Our front door features a bench that I painted, a window I found as is, and a skull with a tassel garland in navy and teal, created by my bestie for me. Our ficus tree is surprisingly hanging in there after losing many of its leaves… I am really trying! I keep it watered and hug it and send it good thoughts, but at first it was just really struggling. I’ve also added a new spider plant I found at my local farmer’s market and a tiny spider plant I propagated from the one hanging in my living room. As you can see by the doormat, the kids and I had some fun playing with chalk last week.
On the corner of the porch, in between our front door and side door that leads to the kitchen is the most coveted seat in the house… the hammock!
Sidenote: see all of that chalk drawing? We love to draw all over the porch… I thought about washing it off to shoot this tour, but Emmy looked upset. And my children’s creativity will always be more important to me than anything I need to photograph (unless of course said creativity is unleashed with permanent marker on a wall or something).
Our hammock was a gift to me from my husband and kids for my birthday last year. I spend time reading alone or just working from my hammock; I read to the kids in the hammock; and the kids individually spend time in it. Emmy loves to take her puppy, Snowball, outside with her and snuggle in it.
Being up on a hill, this hammock also boasts a lovely view, so it really is a peaceful place to rest. It’s also right next to our front garden where peonies bloom. We inherited several mature peony plants with this home, and the scent fills the porch during their too-short season. This photo was shot Monday, when a storm had come and washed most of them away.
But just last week, this was the same space, filled with peonies and roses.
The side porch has always been a bit more of a challenge for me to put together, but I think I finally have it right this year. As you can see, it’s not the easiest layout with doorways, windows, and chimney stacks.
We’ve broken it into two areas- a dining area and a seating area which sits adjacent to our new herb garden.
Our dining table is an old oak library table and I’ve covered it with an tapestry I got about 12 years ago when I worked as a manager for J.Crew. We had used it in our window display and I was able to take it home. Score!
I found the wicker chair last year at a thrift shop and am hoping to find a mate for the other end, but I am OK with it if I don’t as it might obstruct the view.
On top of the table, I brought in some teal by placing a window Emmy found at a yard sale with me. Placing the plants in it was entirely her idea, and I loved it. We used vintage milk glass as well as Ikea planters to create a cohesive look with white.
To the right of our side entry door we created a seating area with a love seat and two chairs from Target’s Belvedere Collection. I added some green outdoor pillows a friend handed down to me plus one vintage fabric pillow I created. The blue and white lanterns were found at Ikea last month. They are solar powered so if I had them hanging in the sun they would light up, but I am happy just having them for ambience.
On the chairs, I added some fun blue outdoor pillows I found at Costco.
For a makeshift coffee table I added a white antique bench I had on hand, and added some plants. I am propagating a spider plant and this planter Emmy painted was perfect for the purpose.
Our side entry opens to our kitchen, and it’s the most used doorway into our home.
I was thrilled to find giant planters in cobalt blue at my local Costco as well. I filled them with rosemary so they are nice and fragrant by our door. And one day while I was working at my shop, one of my vendors brought in two vintage pink flamingos and I had a gut reaction to them… I needed them! I let them sit in the shop for two days first in case any customers wanted dibs (We are only open 3 days of the month, so 2 was generous!). There were no takers so I brought them home with me and stuck them in my planters.
I love the touch of whimsy they add, and the kids were thrilled when they spotted them. On the right side of the entry, I also created a dream catcher hanging, gluing and tying together one that I crafted with two Emmy made. Alone, one was too small so we connected them for more of a statement.
And at the base of each planter I added a couple more plants… I love finding plants at yard sales and garage sales, and just started propagating my own from shoots. My mom gave me this little cast iron frog she no longer wanted and I thought it was perfect for succulents.
Of course, the real memories take place on this porch in the evening, when we gather around the table, or sit around and chat. Just the other night as I was waiting for the evening to fall, the kids sat with me and we chatted. After a little while, I realized it would be a great moment to capture, so I grabbed my camera and caught the two of them engaged in conversation.
At night, this porch becomes a magical place where we share stories, hopes and dreams. When the kids tire of conversation and the fireflies appear, off they run to catch them while Chris and I relax.
I love to read to the kids by the porch lights on the hammock. We don’t often have time but once school is out I hope to have many nights reading here.
And around this table we love to play a game after dinner where we each take a turn asking a hypothetical question and we go around the table answering. Chris and I tend to ask deeper questions. I really enjoy this little peek into the minds of my family members.
And when other couples come over, we tend to gather here and relax with our drinks.
At night, everything about this space feels so right to me and I feel truly content.
Thank you so much for coming by today to take my porch tour. I welcome you to head up our hill any time for a visit. (This shot was taken from halfway up our hill, and that structure you see is our fire pit- another great summer family hangout place).
Now head on over to Swoon Worthy, where Kim is sure to have something dramatic and fantastic for you!
And to catch all of the tours this week, just check out the list below. And PS- If you liked what you saw here, I welcome you to check out my Summer interior tour. Here’s a peek of that…
Monday:
The White Buffalo Styling Co.
Cuckoo for Design
Bliss at Home
Eclectically Vintage
Dimples and Tangles
A Designer at Home
Claire Brody
Julie Blanner
Tuesday:
Nesting with Grace
Place of My Taste
Our Storied Home
The Chronicles of Home
Life on Virginia Street
Simple Stylings
Restless Arrow
Wednesday:
Inspired by Charm
Hunted Interior
Sarah M. Dorsey
Primitive & Proper
Swoon Worthy
HI Sugarplum
Brittany Makes
Burlap & lace
Thursday:
My Sweet Savannah
Jennifer Rizzo
Circa ‘34
StyleMutt Home
SG Style
Bright Green Door
A Creative Day Blog
Friday:
Craftberry Bush
The House of Silver Lining
The Makerista
withHEART
The Wicker House
My Fabuless Life
Iron & Twine
House of Hipsters
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