Sunday, June 16, 2013

Porch Update: The Front Door


Hi there... I hope you have had a wonderful Father's Day!  I thought I'd give you a little update on our front porch progress.  We're not quite to the fun decorating stage yet, but we're getting a lot closer! 


 The porch remodel has actually been a lot of work, but it's exciting to see it shape into something that is more our style and hopefully more fitting for our house.

BEFORE


AFTER


You can probably get a better view in the first photo above, but the very first thing I did was tear off the shutters.  I know it's a little shocking, since it does give a much simpler look, but they were non-functional and certainly not original to the house.  I love how it opened up the porch. 


Next we replaced the light fixtures with these energy efficient lights that Lamps Plus sent.  I spent a lot of time deciding what color scheme I wanted to go with... I alternated back and forth between nickel and black, but in the end, I felt nickel was the best choice, especially with our nickel colored barn lights in the back.  These light fixtures are very lightweight and let off a surprising amount of light. 

Justus actually rewired to accommodate these fixtures... it's hard to tell in this picture, but he lowered them a good few inches so that they were more in proportion with the door frame. 


 One of the biggest changes for me was painting our front door because it has always been a bright red.  I wavered between black, green and gray and then after being inspired by this picture, realized I could bring in a dark color that would still be in the green family.  I loved the idea of a color that would match our green metal roof, but wouldn't be the exact same shade.  I went to our local Benjamin Moore store, picked up this swatch and knew it was perfect.  The color is Essex Green (semi-gloss, exterior).  

Our front door is original, including the wavy glass.  We have a storm door as well, which had gold hardware.  After reading about Rust-Oleum's Universal Hammered spray paint here, I found it in the color Titanium at our hardware store and set out to spray paint the door hardware to match the nickel lights.  And once again was reminded why I'm terrified of spray paint... I have never once had a successful spray paint story (user error).  It stuck, it chipped, you name it... it had to removed with paint thinner and then I let the expert (Justus) spray them the second time around!  It was a great, affordable way of changing out the color though.


 This weekend I finally picked up a plant for the round galvanized tub from Lamps Plus that I chose to use as a planter.  And now here's a confession... instead of the tub sitting, I've been using it for every imaginable thing around our place.  My most favorite thing to use it for is weeding in the garden... the handles are so sturdy and it's just a perfect all-around size.  So I think I'm going to have to order another because I've already been missing it (smile).  

I planted a Mini Penny hydrangea in the tub, which is a compact hydrangea that is re-blooming.


I also spray-painted the number plate beside our door and then this weekend gave the siding a good cleaning.  I'll be giving the porch floor a fresh coat of paint this week, but it will remain light gray. 


 The other side of the porch is still a construction zone.  We're framing in the columns so they are square, and I am so, so excited.  Justus made some great progress this weekend though and I've been working behind him with wood putty (smile). 


Happy Father's Day! 

42 comments:

  1. It's looking gorgeous!
    Love your dark green door - and that photo of your husband and girls is just beautiful!!!
    XOX

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  2. I'm kind of surprised, because I thought of myself as a lover of shutters, but you are right! It really looks so much better without them! I love all of the changes!

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  3. The project is great but your family is insuperable. Congratulations!

    Marina

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  4. Looks great !!!! Wow ! Hope you have a wonderful day and week !

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  5. I love that you removed the shutters. It makes the porch lighter and brighter. I had to chuckle about the galvanized tub. I have an old one from the flea market I was going to turn into a planter but have been using it for pulling weeds, too! Now I don't know if it will ever become a planter. :)

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    1. Thank you, Jennifer! They do make the perfect garden companion! :-)

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  6. Your porch is looking good! I like the look of the porch without the shutters, it does look more open. You have a beautiful family.

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  7. The photo is lovely. Your porch is looking great! I once painted a front door that shade of green too.

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  8. It's all looking good, Andrea. Can't wait to see those columns.

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  9. Those column are going to look great, can't wait to see how they come out!

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  10. Little steps at a time are the only way we make progress, too. Slow and steady wins the race, right? :-) It's all looking lovely. I love that tub of flowers! So simple and pretty.

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    1. Thanks, Rita! Yes, little steps are about all we can take here... :-)

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  11. Your changes are so pretty! I love the new porch look.. I'll have to find one of those galvanized tubs myself:)

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  12. Oh Andrea, it looks so good! I love the lighter hardware with the green door, and it looks so airy without the shutters. Great choices and the Hydrangeas are lovely. I just painted two country benches "Minty Green" by BM for our back patio, and I love it! I got the idea from the April issue of Country Living magazine. Of course, I had to add a Hydrangea in a galvanized tub. You two are doing a wonderful job and I love the fuzzy prop you used by the door :)

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    1. Thanks, Deni! I kept searching for the right word to describe the feeling after removing the shutters, and you had it... airy! :-) I know the color you are referring to - how pretty!

      P.S. Huck was a great prop although you can see he quickly tired from the picture taking and had to take a nap. ;-)

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  13. Love the hydrangea! They are just one of the friendliest flowers going.

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    1. Thanks, Jane... I love them too! Shade and water and they are happy campers. :-)

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  14. Looks GREAT!

    Love the pic of your wonderful hubs and adorable and darling children in their sweet matching dresses. I have two daughters too and loved to dress them to match - until my youngest - the most beautiful petite and feminine little thing said "no more dresses for me EVER, Mom, I am a TOMBOY!"

    Well, she's finally wearing them occassionally but they're much too old to match up now, haha.

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  15. It's all so pretty. You guys (working together) are so talented. I think that is just the neatest thing. And, I sure can't wait to see how the porch columns will turn out.

    Who knew..?

    You have/are a beautiful family.

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  16. love the changes, andrea:) your puppy has gotten so big! your girls look so much like their daddy:) happy week to you!

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  17. Again, simple is so hard to do....and you do it so well! De-shuttering the windows; genius. Sarah

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  18. Sweet photo of daddy with his girls :) The porch is looking wonderful - I strongly considered similar lights for my bathroom remodel. And I get a kick out of your house number being "6" - too fun! Like the old days of RR 2. Or my dad's cab company in Iowa - just call "1", really!

    http://northislandcottage.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you, Barbara! Oh, I know... whenever I have to give our address to somebody, I always hear, "JUST number 6?" :-) If I told you our street name, you would die laughing. :-)

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  19. Happy Fathers Day to that great handyman! :) Everything looks very nice! :)

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  20. Porch looks great....especially with Bradley Cooper building it!

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    1. Too funny... I can't wait for Justus to read this comment! :-)

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  21. Andrea,

    Everything is looking so great. Love that galvanized bucket and the columns are so exciting. Can't wait to see the finished product!!

    Cynthia

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  22. Your porch looks so good! It is an amazing transformation. Love everything you have done.

    Judy

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  23. Just beautiful...you do simple so well...great photo's.

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  24. Looks like some great changes taking place on your porch, Andrea! Love what we see so far.
    Mary Alice

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  25. I love the new changes. Andrea it looks so lovely. And I love your green for the door. I opted to go with Evergreens by Benjamin Moore but that one is lovely too.
    How lovely is the photo of your girls with their daddy.
    Dying to know how your mom's trip to Ikea went.

    Lisa
    Leeshideaway.blogspot.com

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  26. just found your blog and am reading the archives. love it. where can i find a mini penny hydrangea? and did you drill holes in the bottom of your galvanized tub for the water to drain out?
    joanna in northern ca.

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    1. Thank you so much, Joanna. I buy my plants, including this hydrangea, at our local small-town home improvement store. They seem to offer plants that are good for the area at the best prices. I do need to drill holes in the tub. Thanks for reading!

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  27. Beautiful! Love your porch, it looks perfect:) Jen

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  28. Hi....I just wanted to stop by to let you know of a GIVEAWAY being hosted by Koralee from Bluebird Notes blog to help celebrate the opening of my new Etsy shop: Daisy Pink Wish.......if you have the time please stop by.....we would love to see you enter!
    Daisy~

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  29. Belated Fathers Day wishes to Justus. Look at this picture of him and the girls. Justus is not only a great carpenter, but a guy that truly cares about all his girls. Love your changes and can't wait to see the final results.

    Debra

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    1. Such a sweet comment, thank you, Debra! We really are three lucky girls. :-) Hope you are having a great week!

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  30. I love the front door color. I think it might even be the same color my mom painted our door and shutters of our antique cape when I was growing. up. Love how it looks!

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  31. Your house looks neat and clean with that light gray paint! Also, I didn't notice that you have a storm door because of the glass door. Your husband did a great job in updating your front porch. I can't wait to see once everything is done!

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