How To: Pretty Up Your Porch

Late spring in Atlanta is just about the prettiest time of year anywhere.  Everything is blooming like crazy, the air is balmy (without the blast of humidity that’s right around the corner) and toute le monde heads outside.  Restaurants with outdoor seating are packed and best of all, porches, patios and loggias get dusted off and put back into action.  And here – with a little help from our designing divas, Sam and Colleen – is how we’re envisioning our pretty porches:

 

Porch perfection.  From Pinterest.

Clean is pristine: get the hose, the blower, the broom and the dust rag and go to work on your porch.  Cleaning out the cobwebs means a nice, fresh start for your porch perch.

Make it count double-duty: there’s nothing better than a porch that’s designed for living, dining, snoozing and even watching tv.

 Multiple spaces make this porch a true living space. From Traditional Home.

 

This fab screened porch was recently featured in an Atlanta Homes and Lifestyle feature. No wonder.

 

We’d all kill to sleep in this darling little porch. From Pinterest.

 

Speaking of snoozing:  we love the cozy, rustic ambiance here.

If we couldn’t live without a TV on the porch, this wouldn’t be bad…from House Beautiful.

Could there be anything better? An open serving bar on the porch. From House Beautiful.

Make it comfy and cozy: there’s so much wonderful outdoor furniture and accessories out there.  Try slipcovers in water resistant fabrics and plenty of plump and smoothy down pillows for pretty accents.  Don’t forget cute drinks tables for icy beverages and a coffee table to anchor the space.  Have a mantle? Dress it up with something unique and architectural.

The outdoor living room. Upholstered seating and a nice rustic-y coffee table to balance it all.  From Architectural Digest.

We love the living room vibe of this beautiful loggia. From Better Homes and Gardens.

We were definitely thinking porch living when we decided to try this reclaimed wood coffee table at Huff Harrington. $965.00.

Ooooh and aaaah.  From Pinterest.

Another take on the outdoor living room. This is pretty fabulous. From Apartment Therapy.

Soften the edges:  we love the idea of floaty panels diffusing the late summer rays or crisp and tailored curtains jazzing up outdoor spaces.

Chic shade from House Beautiful.

 

Warm sun filtering through the curtains. Looks like a good reading or nap spot. From DesignChic.

 

 Beautiful boxwoods soften this oh so pretty entrance. From Everything I Love.

Lighting is key:  there’s nothing better than late evenings outside during the summer.  We like a little rose, a little music (what’s your favorite Pandora station?) and plenty of nice lighting.

Good outdoor lighting is key. If all else fails, just use candlelight.

Love your garden:

 

Frenchy pots and pale pink tulips. Yummy. From Pinterest.

 

Move dining into the garden. From Southern Living.

Antique garden furniture, potted boxwoods and pea gravel. From Pinterest.

 

We found these authentic French bistro chairs in Provence. Wouldn’t they be perfect on the porch?

Enjoy the view: no matter what it is…

 

Parisian buildings and geraniums? Now that’s a view we could love.

This view’s not so bad either. And we like the swing bed. From Pinterest.

We adore New York and can’t think of a better way to be outside than right here. From Pinterest.

What are you doing to pretty up your porch? Let us know….and in the meantime, you know where you can find us.

 

Ta ta.

 

Suzanne Kasler’s to die for loggia.  From Architectural Digest.