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Monday 27 May 2013

Old Fashioned Summer Porch

It's time to dress up the front porch for summer.  Here in southern Ontario, we are still dealing with wildly fluctuating temperatures and frost through the night but I simply can't wait any longer!

My sister was doing some refurnishing and asked if I wanted her vintage wicker furniture.  Do I? Oh, yeah.  You have to understand, Lynn and I have passed household items back and forth so many times that we honestly can't remember who they originally belonged to!

Let's start building a setting around the old door from my parent's general store, that I salvaged from the dumpster.  Eat you heart out all you rusted hardware and chippy paint lovers! ~



Love this 7 Up couple telling me to pull! ~


The other side of the door says to ... wait for it ... push! ~


Up go the sheer curtains. They cut the glare from the afternoon sun on the west side of the porch. ~


From the shade of the porch I can see everything outside and no one can see me.  Total privacy!  ~


There's a wicker plant stand that comes with this set and a full size couch if I can figure out some way to squeeze it in there.  My poor fern, that barely survived the winter in the house, is getting a second chance at life and my shamrock looks forward to it's move out to the porch every summer. A bit of colour with some silk flowers and driftwood fill out the planter. ~


The vintage basket came from my Auntie Kay and always held dollies that my girls played with when they visited her.  The crock and folding camp chair are auction finds.  A $3.99 thrift store mirror hangs happily above the plant stand.  I gave this mirror a paint treatment to give it an aged look last year.  To see how it's done click here.

The farm egg sign I painted last year has moved back outside and sits on an old, wooden cheese box my neighbour gave me when he moved away.  ~


The best part of setting the porch up for summer was having help from a cherished friend.  We've been through a lot together over the last decade and nothing is dearer than a friend who has seen you at your best and  worst and stays true blue! ~


So here we will sit, sip lemonade or wine and watch the world go by! ~


Come on summer, I'm ready for you!

I'm sharing this with:  Budget Decorating PartyTweak It TuesdayA Favorite ThingFlaunt It Friday 

29 comments:

  1. How cozy is that. I love the wicker. It says 'summer' to me. Love the door, too. Great memories are attached to it, I'm sure. A cherished friend...one of life's greatest gifts. Hugs

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  2. I love it! We were driving past this a.m. and I said "Look Dan...Look at Maureen's beautiful porch!" Stunning and inviting to the max! xo

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  3. Very inviting Maureen...I love all the wicker especially! Good job!

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  4. It looks like a post card so beautiful. I love wicker it's such a beautiful space. I hope you and your friend have a wonderful Summer kicking back on the porch. I would give my first born to be sitting sipping wine with you and drinking in its beauty...but he's been annoying me lately so it's not a huge sacrifice LOL

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  5. Lovely porch! I love the curtains! Just so calming!

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  6. I love it, I could sit on that porch for ever, well not for ever but for a very long time. I don't take nice pictures but I love that one, I had fun.

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  7. Oh soooo inviting. What a wonderful spot to sit in the evening with a nice glass of vino!! Love it.

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  8. I'll be right over. Great space.

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  9. You are summer bound. Love that door. Perfect chippy pink paint.

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  10. Maureen that old door is amazing!! I love it and I love the 7-UP stickers on it and I love, love, your porch!! What a sweet place to sit and watch the world go by all summer. Your wicker furniture and the vintage finds are beautiful. I know you will have many enjoyable hours out there. Pamela

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  11. How beautiful! I love it all and am terribly envious. I have no porch and that just seems wrong for a country house! But I'm a dreamer and your porch is seriously dreamy! A true-blue friend is worth more than their weight in gold and I'm so glad you have her!

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  12. Absolutely beautiful Maureen! Love the wicker... so pretty on the porch, and that door is such a treasure.

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  13. I really like that wicker and the way you have the chairs facing each other. Pretty great old door, too! The perfect porch!
    Farmhouse hugs,
    Cindy

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  14. Hi Maureen ... I really like your porch, especially interested in the curtains.

    Would they work for me? I am gonna try it but need a clear plastic liner to deter the rain and blowing leaves.

    Thanks for the inspiration.
    Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures

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  15. Your summer porch is so pretty Maureen, I love everything, especially the wicker and that great planter. What a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by !

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  16. I love the wicker furniture very nice indeed! The planter is gorgeous and the sheers too!

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  17. I'm showing this post to my shamrock so he sees what he could be, if he would just try a little harder. What a perfect outdoor spot! The sheers are my favorite!

    Kelly @ View Along the Way

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  18. I love your summer porch- especially the curtains! I am finally back to blogging with a up and running computer-yay! Glad to find you here and looking forward to catching up- xo Diana

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  19. How beautiful Maureen - love love love the curtains - can just picture them swaying lazily in the breeze
    Hugs,
    Suzan

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  20. love your old fashioned attitude of watching the summer go by

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  21. You and Liz did a great job. My wicker looks perfect on your porch! Can't wait to spend an afternoon sipping lemonade and spying on the world.
    Lynn @ www.etsy.com/2becherished

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  22. SO cozy and comfortable looking ...love the curtains idea! :)

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  23. Well this is truly the perfect spot to sit for summer! And I love your chippy door with the 7-up directions and that cute planter and your filmy curtains all. Such a fun spot!

    XO,

    Sheila

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  24. Hi Maureen!
    This little porch is lovely. I like the rug on the porch; how it makes it feel like a real room, along with the curtains.
    I don't get much breeze on my front porch as it faces east...but curtains would be nice in the morning as the sun warms up the front part of the house.
    True ...what you said about having a friend who sticks with you thick/thin!

    --Pat

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  25. Hi Maureen,

    It's porch time in Ontario! Yay!! Shady white curtains dancing in the soft breeze and cozy tete-a-tetes in your little corner of paradise are most refreshing. I can't stop staring at the salvaged door; just the fact that it came from your parents' GENERAL STORE!! It's all so charming and nostalgic!

    Poppy

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  26. Very pretty! Love that 7-Up decal!

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  27. I just worked on my porch yesterday! I, like you, thought it was high time I did something out there. The door, the door! Love it. It must be priceless having been the door to your family's general store. And the curtains. I have often though about doing this on my porch because the sun can get really bright and harsh in the afternoon. It also gets really windy there, so I wonder if I would have to anchor them?

    Thanks so much for joining in this week.

    xo
    Claudia

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  28. There is nothing like a porch to watch the world go by.
    Love all the details and that door is amazing. I spy a large cheese box, I have on as well.

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  29. Your porch is very pretty, I love the curtains and the rattan furniture, very comfy and sweet looking!

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