Front Porch Makeover for Fall

Hi Friends!

It’s hard to believe that fall is already here.   Where the heck did the summer go?  My kids are back in school and the weather here in Seattle has been wonderful, so I had no good excuse to put off refinishing my porch floor any longer.  It’s a big job and I was dreading it, but it had to be done.    Our front porch is really one of the most under utilized places in my home, and I wanted to change that.  My plan was to get it cleaned up, refinish the floor, and then add some cozy furniture and accessories.

Today I am sharing my front porch all gussied up for fall.  I’ve got lots of photos, so grab a cup of coffee and come join me on my porch.

A few years ago, we added the picket fence and gate to our tiny front yard.  I saw a photo of a fence in Nantucket that I used as inspiration for the design.  Staining all those pickets was not fun.  It’s starting to show a bit a wear here and there, but I like the charm of the weathered look.  At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

I refinished the porch floor with Benjamin Moore Arborcoat using a solid stain.  The nice thing about the solid stain is that it can be matched to any Benjamin Moore color.  I went with a medium tone warm gray called Graystone.  The house is painted Kendall Charcoal and I wanted to use a lighter gray for the floor.  I am so happy with the color.  It’s my first time using this brand of stain, so the jury is out on how it will hold up.  Our porch is covered, so the stairs are the only part that get exposed to much weather.

I added a few pops of pink using fall florals.  I just placed the plants still in their containers into a basket I had on hand.    I used a combination of heather, mums, violas and rosemary.

My local grocery store had white pumpkins which I love.  I had to get a few of those.

Another local store had the most amazing assortment of organic pumpkins and gourds in all tones of orange, green and white.  I picked up a few pretty green gourds as well.

I have had this bistro set from Ballard Designs for at least 10 years, probably more.  It’s a classic and they still sell it.  I love that it folds up for easy storage and it’s as sturdy as can be. My porch is long and narrow, so this small set fits nicely.

Those apples are from my garden guys!  My back yard is teeny tiny, but I still have space for a couple of raised beds and my 5 chickens.  Last spring, I planted a couple of columnar apple trees in containers.  They only get about 3 feet wide and 6 to 8 feet tall, so they are perfect for small gardens.  When I bought them, they didn’t have any leaves, and they looked like a couple of sad little sticks in pots.  But they grew and we actually got a few apples!

Of course a fall porch needs a cozy throw or two.

On the other end of the porch, I placed my outdoor chairs.  They were in my back yard, and I moved them up front.  They are so comfy.  I have already been enjoying my coffee and relaxing in that spot.

 

 

Last winter, my daughter and I hauled that stump home.  It was in a big pile of wood with a free sign on it.  The tree had just been cut down and it still had its bark on it.  It was so heavy, too.  I let it dry out over the winter and slowly worked at removing the bark.  I then sanded it down a bit to smooth it out and applied a coat of tung oil to seal it.  It’s the perfect size and height for a side table, and adds a touch of rustic warmth to the porch.

I hope you are all enjoying the fall season.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Susan

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