The back porch of our new home was one of the reasons we were so excited to put in an offer on this house.
(Side note: Buying a house in the middle of a pandemic was a straight-up nightmare. We were constantly getting priced out by buyers who were even agreeing to waive inspections. This house, which we closed on in December and moved into in January, was our sixth offer. I was convinced we wouldn't get it. The sellers' agent said that they chose our offer because of the letter we wrote! We feel so lucky every day.)
Anyway, we thought the back porch could be renovated into an additional living space, but when the contractors' estimates came back way higher than we were expecting, we decided to embrace it as a three-season living/dining room.
Ready for the "before" picture?
Yeesh. Up until last month really we were using the porch as sort of a catch-all for outdoor toys, furniture, and strollers. Once the early spring pollen calmed down (all the windows are just screens), I took a day off of work and painted the ceiling, floor, and steps.
It took my wife Kristie and I forever to pick out a rug we both liked!! This one is indoor/outdoor, and big enough to protect a lot of the painted floor from being scraped by furniture and kids.
I love the functionality of this station – a helmet hook for Miles (so his helmet doesn't get left out in the rain!), and water toys, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, bug spray, and sun screen in a basket organizer on the bottom shelf of the bar cart, along with beach towels ready to go. (There's an Amazon Echo [af link] hiding back there too.) The tray on top is how I cart dishes and utensils into and out of the kitchen – we've been eating dinner out here almost every night lately. The sliding doors below lead right into the kitchen and our indoor dining space, so it's an easy choice to make.
Miles's play kitchen is out here for the summer too. We keep those brown folding chairs nearby for extra seating.
Our vintage radio is tuned to a local oldies station. Miles loves turning up the volume and running circles around the table and chairs!
SOURCES
Wicker furniture / Vintage (passed on from family)
Cushions on wicker furniture / Ikea
Rug / Lowe's
Table / Walmart [affiliate link]
Bench / Ikea, old
Bench cushions / Target [affiliate link]
Pink side table / Marshalls
Green side table / Thrifted
Clock / Target [affiliate link]
Wire signs / Target [affiliate link]
Play kitchen / Ikea, thrifted
Play coffee maker / Target [affiliate link]
Bar cart / Thrifted
String lights / Target [affiliate link]
Throw pillows / Sewn with fabric from Joann's
Radio / Thrifted
Glass bottles / Thrifted
Folding chairs / Ikea, old
Tiny white wicker chair / Vintage (passed on from family)
Circular gold plant stand / Thrifted
Square face planter / Target [affiliate link]
Dining chairs / Home Depot
