oopsie - you *are* rambling LOL! I think you like it angled in the last picture? I also have a double rocker (oak, not painted though DH says I can paint it white when it needs refinishing), and a big old pickle crock in the basement. Here are pics of those (PS'd to show white trim we're going to install in the spring). The pickle crock was to be used for umbrellas, I can also fill it with branches for winter, but when it gets really cold out I like to bring it in so it doesn't get water in it and then freeze (and crack). I also have 2 small (2ft x 2ft x 2ft high) wooden (maple? very close to the honey maple finish we have on our interior trim) tables I wanted to paint white, so I can group things. They use to be in our FR but didn't match the coffee table. I haven't heard back yet on the wicker chairs that were on CL a month ago (ad's still there). I was thinking wood on one side, wicker on the other (though I have 2 wooden tables so one on each side b/t the windows to hide the outlets)? If I get the chairs it will go a long way toward filling the (48 ft long) porch. Though I'd love a swing too if we could find the right spot to put it where it won't bang into house or railing. I can live w/o a swing as long as I have my rocker(s) though! Wouldn't you know I got rid of egg crate stuff when we moved - but I'll check thrifts and sales for a long cushion I can recover (if I can find Sunbrella material cheap). My mom might have one - she bought new sunroom furniture in the fall, didn't like the cushions so I think she bought all new cushions, maybe I can get the old ones and recover those (rusty red). I have 4 cushions we used to use on our high-backed wrought iron patio chairs, but may be too short for the settee and too big for chairs (and not wide enough). BTW, oopsie, I love brick and think your porch looks great with the black shutters and the dark (black?) rockers. NHB - I'll go check out your thread again - didn't mean to hijack it but I *will* try the Valentine's line on DH when he notices the wicker piece in the basement LOL. I love all of your porches, old house and new.

Thank you for all of the help. I posted this same question on another forum that I frequent and low and behold Kmart of all places has some wonderful resin wicker furniture that looks almost exactly like what I was looking at for 3/4's the price. I ordered a full size sofa, 2 chairs, coffee table and 2 end tables. They are heavy, almost the same color and while the cushions aren't what I showed (they will be yellow) I will add colorful pillows and will be great. I am thrilled and they are going to be delivered in less then 2 weeks for everything! I've got some power washing to do and then some painting and it's going to look terrific. I have to hold off a bit because of weather but I'm excited. I've been using old furniture out there for the last 4 years and this will be a fresh new start along with all the new landscaping that I worked on last season in the backyard (worked by behind off!!!). Thank you again.

No-green-thumb .. what a nice post to read, thank you. My household is crazy at times, but I wouldn't trade my DH, my girls, dogs, cat, chickens or Mr. Bun for the world. I'm very glad the instructions that I put up helped you all out! Angelcub .. the people across the street very recently painted their home the same yellow as our house. I had posted for suggestions on whether to repaint or not, and everyone here very graciously helped me out, including Squirrel doing some wonderful mock-ups for me of different colors. IMO, it's just a little too much of the same thing, leaning just a tiny bit toward the look of a showroom of vintage metal porch furniture, perhaps? Leahcate, this is exactly what I was wondering. I like the wicker mixed in with the metal furniture too. I love the picture that I posted of the metal glider painted the lime green and then they picked up that color on the cushions of the wicker. I like the two wicker chairs flanking the large glider that we have. I wonder how a wicker swing would look on the other half of the porch? Then do the same thing, paint the glider a brighter color, and pick up the color in the wicker cushion. Paint the little glider and chairs to match, but put them on the back deck .. that way there is continuity from the front to back of the house. Before I can put a metal set out there, I need to buy a retractable awning for the back deck though .. I've always wanted one for out there.

sheesharee, so glad I'M not the ONLY one :) I had my camera with me for the first outting with DH (and forgot to use it, kicked myself in the car after we left) because of course NOW I cannot remember the important details I need to for determining if it will work. We went out again last night and was very frustrated, DIDNT bring the camera or the measuring tape, went home telling DH that we are just going to keep the furniture we have and deal with it. (that was the frustration speaking) Nothing I liked was something he liked. Considered just removing the patterned couch, moving the green chair over in it's place, replacing the green chair with a round table/table lamp etc in that corner by the fp pulling down an ottoman from the attic that is 1/2 way redone and finishing it and just moving on. Oh well, we will see....I'm going to start working on those tables and see what I can do with them. I'm thinking about a darker stain. something along the lines of the colors in the frames on the pics I have in there now, would that be too dark? Eventually *much bigger, more involved project* would be to redo the ET center. I'll redo the legs on the chair and purple couch at the same time.