A porch update

I promised pictures of our new porch when it was finished.....and then we never quite finished it. I mean, it still needs a couple of little things, like a ceiling fan, an air conditioner, and a new rug. BUT, I feel like I've been putting this off long enough, so....TADA!!

As you might recall, it previously looked like this. And a few of your might remember further back, when it looked so bad that I refused to take pictures of it. Really, really, bad. Anyway...Joel laid the tile and we painted the walls Benjamin Moore "Hawthorne Yellow." Actually, the paint is Behr but the color is Benjamin Moore for Pottery Barn. The wicker furniture is a collection of odds and ends that I spray-painted glossy espresso. The pillows are also a mismatched set that I was previously using throughout the house. The cushions are.....old pillows covered with painters' drop-cloths. Yep. I didn't want to run right out and spend a bunch of money on new cushions, and I needed something VERY durable since I knew Ladybird would be lounging on them. Also, I can't sew. I would like to get something else eventually, but that's pretty low on the priority list. Hey! Somebody should sew me some new cushions!! (Just sayin'.) The other side of the porch has a table of plants, hooks for coats and bags, and various other things. It looks pretty nice, just not nice enough for pictures right now :) The stair-step in the picture leads to a set of double doors that open into our kitchen. We leave them open most of the time.

We love our porch. Benjamin spends a good bit of time taking all the pillow and cushions off the furniture, and Ladybird likes to lay on the couch. I spend my time sitting in the rocking chair and reading magazines, and Joel and I drink our coffee there in the mornings. It's been a good investment so far!