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Design Dilemma DIY Porches & Decks

Back Porch: Walls, Flooring, Lighting, and Furniture Arrangement

6 years ago

I need help! My fiance and I moved into our first house a year ago, and all of our attention has been on updating the interior but now we're moving it toward the exterior. The previous owners just didn't care, didn't update, did not do maintenance, and it shows.

I love having a back porch, but it's very long and somewhat narrow, leaving me with confusion as to how to decorate it. The half of it with seating in the picture is now his workshop, as he builds our furniture and basically DIYs everything because he's amazing! So it's worth it to have that space being used for tools and all that. I might have him build a divider for between the two areas. The half now for seating is the side with the table in the pictures. That is NOT our furniture! But it's kind of a mess and I don't want any rudeness about it, so I'm using old pictures.

I'm adding pictures of the sofas and/or chairs we've chosen for when we build, and some inspiration pictures to show what we like.

Here's what I know we want:
White paneled walls (the siding is old and needs to be replaced), and probably white ceiling and rafters?
No more outdoor carpet, but it's rough concrete underneath. What do we do?!
A seating arrangement that allows for easy walk through from back door to screen door (we rarely use the front door).
I would love to have more lighting but we have one outlet with two plug-ins behind the table in the picture. String lights? Either way, the ugly fixture next to the door will be replaced.

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Comments (4)

Jackie E
Original Author
6 years ago
These are the couches and/or chairs we like, but we would probably use a Briarsmoke stain, since we've used that throughout the kitchen and family room furniture.
Jackie E
Original Author
6 years ago
The charcoal couch cushions are really nice, but the white porch just speaks to me! If it were possible, I'd love to have a little bistro table or something in addition to conversation seating.
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First of all, your color scheme is perfect for a reading room. I say that because that is almost exactly the color scheme in DH's man cave, and it's cozy and inviting. Have you considered shelving on brackets for the walls flanking the fireplace and the short walls perpendicular to those walls? That will give you plenty of bookshelf space without conflicting with the mantel or heating vents. You could put a door stop on the French door to limit the swing. How often do you use the French doors to the living room? Can they be blocked with easily movable furniture so that you can make use of the space in front of the doors but allow for the doors to be opened without too much of a hassle when needed? Here's a suggested layout. I included two Leathercraft chairs and ottomans that are comfortable and small scale enough so that you can fit two in the room. They're not cheap, though. But fhey do have wheels, so they are movable.The H&M reading chair and ottoman are much larger, and you could only fit one ottoman with two chairs. Here is a link that might be useful: Leathercraft chair and ottoman This post was edited by suero on Fri, Feb 21, 14 at 12:12
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You guys were great to take the time to help me. Hoping more people will jump in but it sure seems like we all agree on wood floors through out the entire area. My new hubby said I can do whatever I want but wasn't really excited when I said maybe we could paint the cabinets. He really is not into decorating. He actually still likes the awful light fixture in the foyer!!! Yikes. If I can't convince him would you all still suggest satin natural white oak flooring? I will do as suggested and get the floors in first and then play around with moving the furniture. All great ideas. I am excited to change the appliances, light fixtures,counters, etc and cannot wait to get rid of the old green furniture. Yes, it is very hard to leave my place and I very well may end up trying to rent it (especially since the housing market is so terrible now). I have just done so many changes, updates in my current home, finally got it the way I want it and now have to leave it all behind. There is a tiny part of me though that looks forward to making this house "our" new home. DH knows it is going to be hard for me and I think that is why he is going out of his way to give me the go ahead to do whatever I want. I am really touched that all of you took the time to respond. I was almost afraid to post as I was worried that no one would respond! I promise to keep posting. Sure seems like a very friendly and helpful group and a great mix of personalities, styles, budgets, etc. Thanks again
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Put TV on the wall where the circle mirror is. Float the sofa facing it and place the two chairs right and left of the sofa, facing each other over a coffee table.
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User
6 years ago
When you change the ceiling/walls is the time to add electrical fixtures/receptacles. Put in one circuit for lighting(15A) and three or more circuits(20A) for receptacles in the new shop area and two in the living area.

Best way I've seen to arrange furniture is to make a mock up of area and furniture to scale and 'arrange' the furniture in the space.

If that were my porch, I would pour a leveling concrete product and level the floor. Any flooring material other than concrete is going to be difficult to maintain/clean.
Jackie E
Original Author
6 years ago
HandyMac, thank you! Those are great ideas, especially for the electric and the flooring. Do you have any opinions on screen coverings? We don't want or have a budget for windows all over, but rain comes in the shorter sides of the porch sometimes. We've thought about shutters, storm windows, blinds, on the sides but I'm just not sure how any of those would look.

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