A few of you have wanted me to post pictures of our new house. I’ve been holding out because, being the perfectionist that I am, I wanted everything to look like a page out of the West Elm catalog before I shared photos. But since I’m in the process of decorating now, I thought it would be helpful to post pictures and get your input. So I think every week, I’ll post pictures of a different room, show you what I’m thinking about doing with it, and ask for your thoughts. Awesome idea, right? Who needs an interior designer when you have a blog?!
The screened porch is probably the room that’s closest to being done, simply because decorating a screened porch isn’t terribly involved. We bought this furniture from Target, and the rug, which I love love love is from World Market. The little lantern is from Pier 1 (only $5 too!)–I have a citronella candle to put in it, but it’s been so hot, we haven’t had the chance to spend much time out here yet. This room is also functioning as my greenhouse. I have pots of basil and parsley out here and it’s where I’m starting seeds to transplant into the garden. I also have a dwarf gardenia plant in the porch, which I plan on keeping out there.
I’m hoping that next year, we can build a patio off the porch–I want to do a wood one and move the herb planters out there and do a little outdoor dining area there also. Right now, I have the pots of seedlings in a big plastic container, which isn’t very attractive. I’d like to get a plant stand that I can put them on, but I can’t find anything I like and that I feel matches the furniture. I wanted a shelf one, but I’m really liking this one from Crate & Barrel–I’m not sure how practical it is, but I think it would look really cool if I painted it to match the pillows I plan on putting on the couch. I also love this wall plant holder from C&B–I’d move my mint, currently sitting on the ground, into this.
So back to the pillows! I’m cheap and I just can’t bring myself to buy pillows. They are so expensive! I love this outdoor fabric from Jo-Ann, so I’m thinking about sewing two small(ish) pillows for the couch. I had been thinking red to match the rug, but I always have this inclination when decorating to be too matchy-matchy and I need to break out of that. I’m so bad at coordinating colors, though. Seriously, I may as well be colorblind.
Finally, I ordered this concrete bowl from obelisk on Etsy (thanks to Heartsy!). I just love it! I had initially planned on putting reindeer moss in it, as seen in the photo here, but I’m thinking that with the weather here, succulents would work well and be a little more interesting (and add some more color to the room). I’m not really sure where I’m going to put the bowl, though. For now, I suppose it will have to go on the floor, but when we have a patio, I think it would look good as a centerpiece on a table. Or maybe I’ll buy a second one and simply put them on the ground together. I’m sort of going through a phase of obsessing over succulents. And air plants.
So what do you think? What would you do with this space? Do you the pillow fabric would work well in the room or does it clash with the rug?
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Red pillows would probably be fine. I would see green ones working, too. I love it when people really do something with their porches
I love your porch and am so jealous! What a great space! I end up going overboard and being too matchy too. Like I had a red, black, and white in my bedroom and one point and the red just started taking over other rooms too so I've been trying to mix things up but it's so hard! I think you could definitely do the green – red and green are opposite on the color wheel, right?! I think it already looks like it's out of a catalog but adding the touches you have in mind will make it even more perfect!
Looks great !
They say to pull out the less obvious color to give it the "pop"
so I would go with the red shade
in the rug for a pillow on the sofa. Other than that, you are hired, when are you avail?
lol
What a great porch! I would love to have a space like that. We are porchless. I think it's fun that your rug sort of matches your blog! I have no coordination talent whatsoever so I will give you no advice except to say that I LOVE succulents.
I love that bowl – it will be so pretty with your succulents! I agree, pillows are crazy expensive. I like your fabric!
That's such a great room! I love it!