Wednesday, July 2, 2014

FRONT PORCH SITTING... CREATING A STYLISH OUTDOOR SPACE




When the weather gets hot and steamy things slow down here at StoneGable.  We take more breaks and spend more time on the porch... still outside but in the shade.

Here are a few changes and addition to my front porch and rockers where the drinks are cold, the breeze is light and there is always a free rocker to sit and relax...






This year I created a little "outdoor room" right on the front porch! A place that we can sit and read and sip iced tea or some great flavored water!


It all stared with this small outdoor rug (Ballard Designs). It anchors and gives shape to this outdoor space!








I also added a small table...painted bright lime green!!! Isn't this the most fun color (Valspar Crushed Oregano)?










In year's past I put lots of flowers in pots between my rockers. 

Using this sassy little table let's me have a place for a drink or two and other things also!












Did you notice the pitcher with garden flowers?  It's a new piece from MACKENZIE-CHILDS. Swoon!!!

Look for a tablescape post later this month using MACKENZIE-CHILDS beauties!









This pitcher is hand painted enamelware. Each piece is a little work of art! You know I love love love black and white... such drama!

And black and white and green... what could be better!










The garden stool now stands close to the rockers to hold magazines, books or newspapers. Reading on the porch is one of my favorite hot weather activities.

The pile of books is topped off with my "idea book". When I get ideas or read something I want to remember or creativity strikes I write it all down in this book.  Hundreds of posts are born from my "idea book"! Can you believe I've written over 1,400 posts? Whew! 










Some days the garden stool pile is very high!!!









My little outdoor porch room is comfy and cheerful and bright!  If you come by and see me on the porch stop and rock with me!











There is a chair and a cool drink waiting... just for you!










Remember to





37 comments:

  1. Beautiful colors! I love the vase with your garden flowers. You really know how to pull together the best mix of flowers for the perfect arrangement!

    Mary
    from Virginia

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  2. It looks like the perfect place to dream up some new post ideas! And I'm loving the lime table. In fact, we just painted our Adirondack chairs almost the same colour.

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  3. So delightful. Beautiful colour, and a lovely design. I would be quite happy to sit and sip iced tea with you.
    Hugs Kay

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  4. I would luv to sit and sip a cool drink on your luvly porch Yvonne.
    Hugs, Gee

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  5. So Beautiful! Love the rug and that pitcher is adorable!!

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  6. Front porch living is the absolute best! I love how you have everything so homey and comfortable. Inspiration must come so easy to you in a space like this. =) MacKenzie-Childs pieces are the best! I do love the fun they show.
    Have a most blessed day!

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  7. Your front porch living space is gorgeous ! I love my back porch living space with wicker furniture, beautiful flowers, chippy end tables and horses and a working windmill in the pasture.

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  8. Beautiful! Just beautiful 💗 Janis Covington Stufflebean

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  9. I love the lime green. This is such a beautiful and inviting seating area.

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  10. Yvonne,
    I can hear the crickets, the gentle breezes, and the clomp of Amish buggies now. You paint a masterpiece with your creativity. Thank you for blessing my day with a beautiful picture.
    Sherry

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  11. I love how you put all those greens together! Wish I were that brave.
    You always inspire me, Yvonne. When I first found your blog, it was the firefly lanterns. I copied them immediately! Then I lusted after your dining room chandelier. It's taken several years, but now I have my own lovely chandy after shopping Overstock. Come to think of it, that was at your suggestion , too. :-)
    Blessings on your day! *hugs* Karen

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    Replies
    1. I once heard someone say, "All greens go together". Well, I wouldn't go that far, but many greens do play nicely together! My front porch "room" is a very casual setting so I was not too concerned about a color scheme. Thanks so much for letting me know how StoneGable has inspired you... it is the reason I write my blog! It's so nice to hear!~hugs!

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  12. i love black and white and green for summer. reminds me of my sunroom. enjoy!
    b

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  13. Yvonne,

    You always create such inviting and welcoming spaces, both inside your beautiful home, and out! The green and black and white makes me feel cool and refreshed, just looking at it! Thanks for sharing all your creativity and Happy 4th!

    Poppy

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  14. Beautiful, as always, Yvonne! What color are your rockers.....love the almost periwinkle look! Thank you for sharing your creativity!

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    1. They were painted so long ago I can't remember. Now I write things like that down so I can tell my readers. I do remember it was a Valspar paint and it looked very grey on the paint chip. Lucky for us it turned out to be a color we love! Sorry, I can't help you more!

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  15. What color are those lovely chairs. Some pics they look purple, some blue, some grey? Just a great vignette.

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    1. See the reply above. They are a grey/blue in real life. Not much different than the pictures just a little more subdued. The second picture is the closest to their real color. They look good against my Pennsylvania limestone.

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  16. Hi Yvonne, I love your rockers and the bright green colour scheme....it looks so fresh and inviting. There's nothing like a rocker on a front porch. Enjoy and have a wonderful summer. Happy July 4th to you! Blessings, Pam

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  17. Adorable...as always! Yvonne, thank you for inspiring me to make my house a home, inside and out.

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  18. LOVE your porch! The colors are fabulous as is your talent for floral arranging. What color did you paint the blue rocking chairs?

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  19. I would LOVE to come rock with you! Just a glass of lemnade and a rocker, BLISS! And with you? perfection! Love the rug too. I am waiting for bench cushions to be delivered, then my patio will be decorated!

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  20. Art porch is just the best? We spend so much time on ours that it's hard to get anything else done. Love your vibrant colors… They suit you well.

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  21. I am madly in love with all of that, Yvonne. I am totally on board with the greens, black and white. I love that sharp contrast - it's certainly a cue from nature. In spring, there's nothing like wet, blackened tree bark with bright green leaves. Yes, swoon on MacKenzie Childs and I cannot WAIT to see your table! Enjoy your time on the porch - wish I was there!
    Rita

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  22. I love your porch and sitting room! Black, white and that wonderful green are my favorites too! In fact, I had them on my porch last year and decided to change things up a bit this year. I miss them terribly!! LOL!!~~Angela

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  23. You have created the perfect little outdoor space, Yvonne.

    Funny you mention Mackenzie's Child - I went to a local town's annual spring home tour and the best/biggest/most awesome house - still swooning about it....the lady of the house collected MC stuff and had it tastefully all over the house - it was amazing - she had the neatest decor. Anyway I never do like much color but your lime green's punch really does the trick for that neat space of yours. Well done, ma'am!!

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  24. Swooning and drooling over here! WOW how I love the fun color scheme and gorgeous scenery. Nice job Yvonne!

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  25. What a beautiful little space! I love all of the greens and the Mackenzie Childs pitcher is absolutely wonderful!!

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  26. The front porch looks terrific and what a great place to sit and relax. I loved the colors that you have used. I am sure your porch is going to get a lot of use this summer.
    Have a great 4th of July.
    Mary

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  27. I so love your front porch and love the choices of colors you have chosen for the summer!...and I LOVE MacKenzie-Childs...when I am in New York one of the places I must go to his her shop...and buy my little piece of heaven there...

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  28. I wish I could sit a spell on this lovely porch! I just love the colors ..... and the MacKenzie-Childs pitcher is adorable! Your home is so welcoming........Happy 4th!
    Lois

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  29. Ann from MichiganJuly 5, 2014 at 6:46 PM

    Yvonne,
    Love the "idea book". I visit tons of blogs (yours is always 1st), and I find it hard to keep track of recipes, gardening and decorating ideas. Can you tell a little bit about how you organize your book?

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    1. I don't really organize it too much. I write large headers like... Blog Ideas... Recipes... Great Wording... To Do For The Living Room... etc. If I get too crazy organized it won't work for me.

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  30. Good Morning Yvonne,
    I LOVE all your beautiful pictures and admire your talent on how to make a house a home. Would you share with me which MacKenzie-Childs pitchers you chose? When I went to the website, it looks like the size is the creamer rather then the pitcher. The website does not have any measurements on the items. I love the small size so it can be placed in so many different settings in my home. Thank you and have a great Sunday!!!

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    1. I did use the creamer as a vase for my flowers. Don't you LOVE MacKenzie-Childs? I sure do!

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  31. Front Porch Love Yvonne! Your color combination is so cheery and energizing with the green and black & white! I adore your MacKenzie-Childs pitcher bouquet!!

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