What type of ventilation did you do for this patio? Trapped moist air will grow mold on almost any surface. You need to create some form of ventilation as the first long term solution. Adding at least 3 exterior grade ceiling fans would be the easiest way to ventilate the surface at this point. And yes, you need to clean, strip, and redo with exterior products. Or just clean and strip and paint with an exterior grade paint. That would be easier upkeep for the long term if you do the prep correctly.

Thank you all so much for your very kind comments and for all of the "cheerleading" you've done for me! I appreciate the advice and encouragement more than you can possibly know. Covingtoncat - you asked about the lack of venting over our stove ... well, it's a problem! DH is the "chef" at our house and he tends to be a messy one. I'm sure there's gunk on the wall behind the stove (although maybe I'm lucky that my eyesight is poor so I don't readily see it!) -- the pot rack (not vintage, but it did come with the house - left by the previous owner) gets coated with greasy ick and needs frequent cleaning. I do wonder how the now-red wall will show up the gunk once I paint it white, but I still intend to do so. And maybe convince DH to be a little less splatter-prone when he cooks! Onedogedie - yes, the new window is upstairs, on the far right. (That's actually an attic vent on the side closest to the camera.) I still haven't been able to locate anyone who does vintage-style awnings in my area yet. Lots of companies do canvas or copper - but that's not what I have in mind. So - still keeping my eyes open and pondering that addition. I have now begun painting the lower cabinets white, and will change all of the red in the space to white. DH has remarked several times that even with the small amount I've painted so far, the room feels so much larger and open. I have to agree! I've given myself until the end of the summer to get this project completed, although I hope it doesn't take me that long. I'll post another photo update once all of the cabinets are finished.

First of all, put down the orchid and step away. You're killing it with kindness. If you want, just leave the phalaenopis unpotted until you get back from your trip. Orchids are tougher than you think. In my early years, I used to nitpick about every little detail about caring for my orchids. And I killed many of them in the process. I had to learn the hard way that they can care for themselves, just as long as you give them what they need, plenty of water and bright indirect sunlight. I've had this rescue phal sitting outside all summer long without a pot or any orchid mix whatsoever. It was potted up, but I didn't care for it because it lost all of its leaves and I thought that it was dead. But then I noticed this basal keiki growing off to the side of it. That's when I removed it from its old potting mix and left it completely bareroot. I did this because its roots can photosynthesize energy just like their leaves can, and I wanted it to gather as much energy as possible to help it grow. So its been like this all summer long. All I do for it is spray it down with a garden hose whenever needed. But now that it's growing its third newest leaf, I'll finally get around to potting it up today. The vast majority of orchids are epiphytes, meaning they grow up on the trunks of trees in the rainforests. Potting them up is more for our convenience than it is theirs. Dousing your plants with fungicides won't do it any good.

We have a porch swing that folds into a "bed" of sorts. We use "indoor" pillows on it. I can wash both the pillows and covers frequently. I sort of have to do that anyway, as I am very sensitive to mites, so I've become fastidious about frequent washing of all bedding stuff in hot water, and anti-mite additives to laundry water, plus covering all bedding with dust covers that also get washed. Working outside as much as I do, I am always at risk for picking up mites. BTW, we all have mites, even the most hygienic among us. The question is, at what level. BTW, that's also an argument against wall to wall carpet . . . I got rid of most of the outdoor carpet we had on the porch. It's actually less mite infested out there than my house with all its wall to wall carpet. We are having to just do one step at a time in the quest to rid any residual harbors of mites and mold and mildew which drive my sinuses crazy. Our leaking eaves are another mold and mildew battle right now . . .our house was not built with much regard to managing dampness, which is not good since we live in a damp spot in a damp climate . . . Edited to add that my interest is piqued in mildew-resistant pillow inserts . . . My biggest problem is finding outdoor chair cushions that can be washed without ruining them, and with covers that come off . . .