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My Great Outdoors: carma358's Front Porch


2009greatoutdoorsbadge.gifName: carma358
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Type of space: Front Porch
Tell us about your outdoor project and how you enjoy it: My front-of-house project has been a very slow, but very rewarding one. When we bought the house two years ago, it had awnings a shade of green that even a green-lover like me couldn't live with. One of the biggest decisions we had to make was whether or not to repaint them or ditch them all together. Since the house is so small, the front porch really acts as an extra room, and since it was also the first impression people had of the house, it was important that it also look inviting. Now, it's probably one of my favorite parts of the house, and is almost definitely the most popular place to spend a cool summer evening...

 
 

How did you create it? A ton of work went into the transformation. First, we made the decision to keep the awnings but paint them a darker grey than the house. I opened up the previously closed transom window above the door and created a little grill-ish metal piece for it. Also, I replaced the front door with one that had a large window, keeping the great orange color that my husband so proudly chose for it (I made a curtain for the door in almost the exact same orange that folds down at night via magnets to make the door look completely orange). The porch was painted with a pale blue-grey marine paint. The front garden was completely roots from the two trees in front of the house, and I spent a good two days cutting them out. It was no fun at all, but very worth it, as the plants that were planted (all perennials, most evergreen) haven't needed much care at all, aside from watering and occasional trimming. The front garden was framed by little grey pavers and black mulch (which I was really torn on because it isn't good for the environment)

Recommended store, site, product or resource? We got most everything at Home Depot. The mailbox is ecco, pricey but worth it. The porch paint in Dutchlac. It is a high-gloss European marine paint that covers like a dream and lasts way longer than any other porch paint I've come across.

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My Great Outdoors 2009, outdoor, porch, Baltimore

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Comments (32)

i am loving that orange door! makes me want to paint our front door a spunky color.

www.brand-eye.blogspot.com

posted by brand-eye on June 18th 2009 at 11:31am
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Love the orange door and the chunky rocking chairs. Must be a great place to hang out. Nice work.

Can you--or anyone else--tell me about black mulch? I've also seen red mulch around. Why/how is it dyed (if it is in fact dyed)? Why is it bad for the environment? What's the difference/why not use just plain old mulch?

Color me curious.

posted by klt108 on June 18th 2009 at 11:35am
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Love the house especially the orange door, and the fold down curtain.

posted by Old Gray Mare on June 18th 2009 at 11:47am
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Details (grillwork, mailbox, light fixture) make all the difference. Adore the color scheme (which I think will work in my own kitchen). So happy you shared this.

posted by missmaryc on June 18th 2009 at 11:48am
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I love your awning. It does look really inviting.

posted by brittanykate on June 18th 2009 at 11:52am
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I love the mailbox, you're right, it was worth the cost because it's so eye-catching.

posted by paperchaseuk on June 18th 2009 at 12:01pm
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I love the gray and orange (a little different but not crazy) and the rocking chairs. Good work!

posted by slowdown on June 18th 2009 at 12:07pm
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You did a beautiful job, also love the door and chairs, esp.
From a Towson fan, go Baltimore!

posted by sassydo on June 18th 2009 at 12:17pm
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I've been hunting for rocking chairs EXACTLY like those. Can you tell me where they're from? Thanks!

posted by marieree on June 18th 2009 at 12:34pm
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The orange door is rockin'!

posted by suzy8track on June 18th 2009 at 12:39pm
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i love, love, love those rockers along with the grey and orange. niice.

posted by deeboyayay on June 18th 2009 at 12:42pm
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your porch looks refreshing and modern! love the elegant yet relaxed color scheme and the details that give your space a finished look.

...and i think i know something about that awful 'green' you've mentioned ;-)

posted by n.zbik on June 18th 2009 at 12:58pm
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Love it. Nice job.

posted by STYLeyes on June 18th 2009 at 1:00pm
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Love your orange door particularly its contrast with the grey walls. Your choice of light and mailbox is also great. Very nice job!

posted by vbp on June 18th 2009 at 1:05pm
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well designed but also inviting. kudos!

posted by SpanishOlives on June 18th 2009 at 1:15pm
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Go Baltimore, love it hon!
Seriously, that orange door with a matching curtain looks fabulous with the dark grays.

posted by RobinD. on June 18th 2009 at 1:51pm
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I love, love, love your light grill and mail box!

posted by Enamorada on June 18th 2009 at 2:04pm
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thanks so much for all the great feedback, I'm so happy I could share the project! To answer a couple questions, I've been told black (along with other colored mulches) can contain harmful chemicals that can seep into waterways etc. I know there are colored mulches that contain pesticides and insecticides, but I haven't done enough research as to know where to find them. The rocking chairs were a fluke find, I actually saw them outside of some store that sold random leftover and overstock items, I wish I could remember it's name..If anyone is in the Baltimore Area I could probably give directions though!

posted by w85jjrp on June 18th 2009 at 2:16pm
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Oooh! Good to know about the porch paint, I have that project coming up in a couple of months. When I looked for Dutchlac - I found out that it had been renamed Hollandlac and is made by Fine Paints of Europe - http://www.finepaintsofeurope.com/hollandlac_info.aspx

In LA, I'm checking with Mann brothers to see if they carry it...

posted by romeoandjewels on June 18th 2009 at 2:23pm
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So nice. The orange door is brilliant.

posted by SunnyBlue on June 18th 2009 at 2:41pm
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I love your choice on the door color. Mind if I copy your idea for my back yard? :-)

http://baltimorerowhouse.blogspot.com/

posted by baltimorerowhouse on June 18th 2009 at 3:36pm
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Go for it! I saw the pics of your backyard on your blog, I love the concrete planter box, can't wait to see what the space looks like when it's complete!

posted by w85jjrp on June 18th 2009 at 4:50pm
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About that great door color: be sure to tell your husband he did good. And he should reciprocate and praise your door curtain.

posted by katlia on June 18th 2009 at 10:06pm
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this looks great. do you mind sharing the name of the greay paint you used on the front of the house?

posted by catnap on June 18th 2009 at 11:10pm
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love it so much. love the grey paint with crisp white trim, bright orange door, and silver/nickel accents. everything works together perfectly. saving these pix to my inspiration file!

posted by cvjn on June 18th 2009 at 11:36pm
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what a cute porch!

posted by LoriSF on June 18th 2009 at 11:51pm
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The vibrant orange is a nice contrast with the rich stormy gray paint. It's like your door is a beacon of light. Like the nautical looking light fixture because it makes me think of New England.

posted by jessroo on June 19th 2009 at 12:10pm
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I like the way the door and shade are not only the same color....but a unique color. You took a risk with these colors and it really worked wonderfully.

posted by baileyb on June 19th 2009 at 6:49pm
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The colors are great! I would be sitting out there all the time!

posted by junklover on June 20th 2009 at 7:57am
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Unfortunately I don't know the name of the grey paint that was used on the house. The house was this color when we bought it, and when I went buy touch up paint I had them match a chip of paint I'd removed from the house, so sorry I can't be of more help!

posted by w85jjrp on June 21st 2009 at 7:49pm
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Where is the door from? Is it the metal kind or is it wood? That is what I want for my house. Thanks!

posted by jendurham on June 22nd 2009 at 11:17am
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The door is from Home Depot. It's a metal door, which is great because I was able to use its magnetism to make the curtain attach on the inside (not to mention random fun magnets!)

posted by w85jjrp on June 22nd 2009 at 4:40pm
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