A Front Porch Refresh

Client Requests

• Dedicated seating area for up to 5 adults

• Various places to set things down

• Primary color palette

• Herb and flower pots

• $200 budget

• 3 week turnaround

We started with what we already had that could meet the requests:

• a wooden folding bench

• a wicker loveseat

• several round planters and flower boxes

• various acrylic and house paints

• sewing and painting skills

The wooden folding bench was in great shape and had been a porch fixture so we used it as a style reference for everything else. The wicker loveseat had been in the basement unused for some time so it needed to be cleaned and protected from outdoor elements.

The planters and flower boxes were cleaned out and we decided that the large planters would be suitable as side tables, but we’d need some tabletops.

My client had planned to make outdoor pillows, so we talked about color, material and pattern options so they could shop on their own for the best fit.

And finally, I was available to help paint any unfinished wooden items or to add acrylic color and sealant to accent pieces.

After we finished going through our inventory and assessing what needed to be cleaned and rehabbed, we knew what we needed to use our $200 budget on. The following items were purchased to round out the porch design and to meet my client’s needs:

• 2 outdoor area rugs

• 2 candles

• 2 yards of outdoor fabric

• 2 wooden trays

• 1 wooden crate

• 1 outdoor chair

• 6 herbs and flowers

• 3 cans of Rust-Oleum in Espresso

• 1 can of clear lacquer spray

The result

Before & After

Resources: Ocean State Job Lot, Aubuchon Hardware, Michael’s, Joanne Fabrics, Home Goods, and Cataldo Farms. Disco planter was a gift from Clean Cut Mosaics NYC.