I've been working on the back porch. I do it every year, tweak this, paint that,* but this time, I think I'm really, really happy. Ever since I stumbled upon this porch, I've had sheers on my mind. Hmmm... that might explain the foggy state of my brain lately, but I digress. Where was I? Sheers!
I...ahem, Mitch and I put sheers on the back porch. Mitch, I might add, has not had sheers on his mind and could care less if the porch has sheers or not, but he was oh so helpful in putting them up.
In addition to the sheers we hung matchstick blinds to soften some of the bright afternoon light this porch gets.
It's hard to get a good photo, they look better in person. I'll try later in the day to get a better shot. Our porch sits in an L at the back of the house and is accessible from the kitchen and the living room. In the above photo I'm standing just outside the living room door. Those windows are in the kitchen, the door is out of sight to the left of the screen. The windows you can see outside the porch are to the master bedroom.
The porch floor is concrete. We stained it years ago and it's one of the most satisfying diy projects we've ever done. It was fairly easy, just involved a lot of measuring and taping, on Mitch's part, it was not expensive and it's held up for years. We used concrete stain from Sherwin Williams. Rolled on the terracotta color and sponged a sand color on top. Mitch taped it off with 1/4 inch automotive tape.
I've been seeing lots of burlap used in home decor lately, and thought it would work nicely for the porch. I added some instructions using my much neglected embroidery machine and a little ric-rac for fun.
The wicker chairs got a fresh coat of spray paint. This year they went Mediterranean Blue- Valspar from Lowe's.
I like the burlap pillows, a lot, but I really, really like this pillow. The design is so sweet and happy. It just makes me smile every time I look at it.
If you have an embroidery machine or like to hand embroider, you must visit this site.
That little table up there, $15 on clearance at Walmart. Also got this clock for ten bucks.
OK, that's what I've been up to. Now I've got to go spray paint a flower pot, this porch isn't quite finished yet. Have a lovely Saturday, friends.
** Looking back at past photos of the porch, the bright colors photograph better. Some of you may be thinking it looked better before, you should have left well enough alone, some of you in addition to my husband. To me it feels more like a room now. Not as bright and cheery as in past years, but the soft neautral palate is calming and serene. Just what a back porch needs to be at the end of the day.
Your porch looks so refreshing and relaxing! I love it. I recently got an embroidery module for my sewing machine, and I'm trying to get aquainted with it. I have to admit that I was surprised at burlap as a choice of fabric with it -- I used to do rug hooking and the fibers of the burlap would get everywhere inside my machine when I'd serge or sew the edges -- but no matter what the effect may have been on your machine, the finished prodect looks smashing! You always inspire me. Thanks for the link to the machine embroidery web site. I will check it out!
Posted by: Kathy | July 11, 2009 at 08:45 AM
That looks wonderful! So inviting! LOVE the pillows! Let's be honest....generally speaking husbands have no decor sense! But I know he will love spending time out there relaxing!
Posted by: Brooke | July 11, 2009 at 09:44 AM
Very calming and relaxing. You (and Mitch)did a great job. The colors are very soothing.
Have a great weekend.
Betsy
Posted by: Betsy | July 11, 2009 at 09:56 AM
Very nice. I really like what you've done. We talk off and on about staining the concrete on our garage floor. We may have to now that I've seen your porch. Love it! Cindy
Posted by: Cindy | July 11, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Hope it lets me comment today. Yesterday I tried on your previous and the space to put the code word didn't show up.
Love your porch! Was the cement paint hard to do? I have a cement slab at my back door I've been wanting to paint either like tiles or stones. Scrubbing it to prepare it for the paint scares me more than the actual painting. Love the embroidery site! And I thought I had see all of those out there...
Posted by: Elaine Campbell | July 11, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Love the colors that you picked and those PILLOWS!!! So sweet. And the mix of burlap and cotton. Awesome. The embroidery is awesome, too.
Posted by: Shannon | July 11, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Is that vinyl siding? If so, how did you hand anything up there!?!?!!?
Posted by: Diana | July 11, 2009 at 11:18 AM
You HAVE been busy. It's just lovely!
The burlap pillows are great. I feel relaxed just looking at this space. Good job, Autum! ☺
Posted by: Rachel | July 11, 2009 at 12:32 PM
The porch looks so cool and refreshing, and absolutely love the burlap pillows. Jackie
Posted by: Jackie | July 11, 2009 at 08:40 PM
So pretty - and that birdcage pillow is so cute!
Posted by: Amber | July 11, 2009 at 08:48 PM
I want to go for a swim and then lay around on THAT porch and read (while my husband takes my children for the day). Ya can't blame me for dreaming:)
Posted by: Jennifer | July 11, 2009 at 10:34 PM
i think it's beautiful autum!!
Posted by: kathryn | July 12, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Your porch looks lovely, fresh and inviting. Rachaelxo
Posted by: Rachael | July 12, 2009 at 06:40 PM
It look great- I have such porch envy! I have to laugh because you pop into my head every time I weild a paint can and spray my wicker. Mostly because of your wicker chair that has seen many different colors. Isn't it funny what triggers these things. Anyway it looks fantastic- another job well done!
Posted by: Natasha | July 12, 2009 at 11:34 PM
i LOVE it!! looks so calm and relaxing and a wonderful place to unwind the day :-) now i am longing for a porch! tee hee xo
Posted by: darlene | July 13, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Lovely, lovely, lovely.
You have great taste and enormous talent.
Thanks for sharing.
Peace.
Posted by: Lynne in NC | July 13, 2009 at 07:27 PM
very good feeling of seeing such photo and products!
Posted by: iris | July 14, 2009 at 12:29 AM
Very nice! It looks very Scandinavian(apart from the cute pillows) with minimum furniture and calm cool colors.
Posted by: Mimi | July 14, 2009 at 02:29 PM
Now that's a back porch that I could sit and read for hours in! Beautiful! I especially love the sheers and the pillows!
Posted by: Tiff@ThreePeas | July 16, 2009 at 10:51 AM
love it all! perfect timing as it gives me ideas for our new screened porch we are having installed this weekend! and thanks for turning me on to the urban threads website! they have some awesome machine embroidery patterns!
Posted by: susie | July 16, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Oh Autum you have such wonderful talent for design and color. If you are ever up in Maryland please stop by and help me!!!
Was it hard to embroider on burlap? I love the pillows and might give this a try.
Tell Mitch he's the man for helping you out!
Posted by: Shannon | July 18, 2009 at 06:53 AM
the pillows are adorable.
Posted by: Hena Tayeb | July 23, 2009 at 01:39 PM
Your porch is INCREDIBLE! I love love love it and love the sheers! Those pillows are awesome too!
Posted by: Nicole@Bugaboos | July 24, 2009 at 12:26 AM