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Relish
the simple splendor of the front porch by dressing it with
all the comforts of home.
by Jody
Garlock Photographer: james Salomon Filed Editor: Susan
Salomon
To decorate the porch of this Maine showhouse,
designers Georgie McGowan and Janet Swanson took inspiration
from the nearby sea, then looked inward to add unexpected
touches. "Don't be afraid to bring the inside out to
make your porch cozy," McGowan says. "Think of
a porch as an extension of your home, and make it as elegant
or casual as the interior."
dining
out
Details
normally reserved for the dining room make for elegant alfresco
dining, left. A French-style iron-and-crystal chandelier
and sconces holding pillar candles offer the ultimate in
intimate dining day or night. Floral and striped fabrics—layered
for impact—ready a plain patio table for guests. With
more coordinating yardage for seat cushions, a matched ensemble
is a snap to create.(Inexpensive wrought-iron chairs from
home centers or ice cream parlor chairs picked up at a flea
market can be painted and plumped with cushions.) A galvanized-tin
mirror, with angles that match the house, bounces the light—both
natural and artificial—adds more architectural interest.
Underfoot, the painted porch floor features faux runners,
which were created with stencils and exterior paint.
Refreshing
hues and seashell accessories make for a summer-by-the-sea
feeling.
please
be seated
Comfort
is as important on a porch, above, as it is in a living
room. The faux rug, painted at an angle like a real area
rug might be laid, creates an intamate conversation zone.
pillows constructed from vintage chenille bedcovers cozy
up wicker rockers; use a throw for the same effect. Hung
on the wall, a rustic iron gate becomes weather-worthy artwork.
Seashells plucked from a nearby beach play prominently in
the easy-do decorating scheme. (If you're landlocked, purchase
shells from a crafts store.) For the wreath, hot-glue shells
onto a wire floral frame, layering them for dimension. If
desired, fill in gaps with moss. For the planter, paint
a wooden barrel with the desired background color, and hot-glue
shells to it. Hydrangeas from the garden, right, create
a quick elegant centerpiece when arranged in a vintage vase.
QUICK TIP
Before painting a pattern on your porch floor or deck, take time for prep work. Draw your pattern on paper first, then transfer it to your surface using a T-square and pencil. Use low-tack painter's tape to tape off the exterior and interior edges of the pattern, making sure to remove the tape right after you've painted. |
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