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 is 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.
(Re-edited from a post originally published 06.18.09 - NM)
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i am loving that orange door! makes me want to paint our front door a spunky color.
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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.
Love the house especially the orange door, and the fold down curtain.
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.
I love your awning. It does look really inviting.
I love the mailbox, you're right, it was worth the cost because it's so eye-catching.
I love the gray and orange (a little different but not crazy) and the rocking chairs. Good work!
You did a beautiful job, also love the door and chairs, esp.
From a Towson fan, go Baltimore!
I've been hunting for rocking chairs EXACTLY like those. Can you tell me where they're from? Thanks!
The orange door is rockin'!
i love, love, love those rockers along with the grey and orange. niice.
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 ;-)
Love it. Nice job.
Love your orange door particularly its contrast with the grey walls. Your choice of light and mailbox is also great. Very nice job!
well designed but also inviting. kudos!
Go Baltimore, love it hon!
Seriously, that orange door with a matching curtain looks fabulous with the dark grays.
I love, love, love your light grill and mail box!
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!
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...
So nice. The orange door is brilliant.
I love your choice on the door color. Mind if I copy your idea for my back yard? :-)
http://baltimorerowhouse.blogspot.com/
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!
About that great door color: be sure to tell your husband he did good. And he should reciprocate and praise your door curtain.
this looks great. do you mind sharing the name of the greay paint you used on the front of the house?
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!
what a cute porch!
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.
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.
The colors are great! I would be sitting out there all the time!
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!
Where is the door from? Is it the metal kind or is it wood? That is what I want for my house. Thanks!
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!)
would you mind telling me what brand of paint you used for the orange door? i want to paint our metal door from home depot too but i dont know what paint would work best? did you guys use a sprayer or brush?
I'm so glad I found this post! I had done touch up on my Richmond, VA porch last year, but it's clear that the hardware store didn't recommend the correct type of paint for what I needed.
I've been thinking about repainting this year, so I'll search out that marine paint for my project! Thank you!!!
I am painting our house a similar shadeof gray and also changing out the solid front door for one like yours...my difference will be that our door is getting painted jalapeno green! saw that color in a magazine a few months ago and KNEW i had to use it on my doors.
it is a mild version of lime green!
I'm trying to copy this for my house in Buffalo. Can anyone tell me the paint colors or similar paint colors that they used on this house?
It's really cute...but you cut down your trees? I disagree there.
That shade of green you hate so much is the color of my clad window frames, so thanks loads. It's a bit heavy for an awning on a tiny house, but a classic color.
From a green -- all green, including trees -- lover.
@RURAL and RUEFUL: I got the impression that the trees were already gone when they bought the place, and all that was left was the root network.
love, love. love the gray & orange
We have a similar project coming up with a green awning that we want to paint gray.
How did you paint your awning? Did you sand and prime before you painted?
Thanks for any feedback.
love everything about this! enjoy this summer!
Hampden? :)
I was wondering if it was Hampden too! Next time I'm down there I'm going to tool around looking for a happy orange door!
Looks great!
I love how the transformation looks, but want to come under cover of darkness and paint the awning grey and white striped!!!! Then the first impression made would be nothing short of spectacular...
Not to worry, I'm safely behind Canadian borders...
Great! Did I miss a "before" photo as that is always neat to see as well.
The mailbox, the door colour and the chairs, all fabulous!
@ROMEOANDJEWELS -- Only Fine Paints of Europe carries it, but they ship. (I've used their paint throughout my home, and don't live near their store (s)).
I LOVE what you have done -- my only question is about the awning. Don't you find a permanent awning makes your interior dark? That would be my biggest concern. Personally, I would have been tempted to substitute a retractable awning (there are some great ones around).
Haha I too immediately thought Hampden. I was also curious about the username used to post the article. Carma...any relation to Carma's Cafe?
I just moved from Baltimore to Boston and while Boston is a great city, I miss Bawlmer a lot.
WOW!!!!!