A late-blooming gardenia-aaah

It is always a good time for Champagne.

Cyn! That is spectacularly beautiful and so expansive. You lucky duck. I adore all of your choices. It is so verdant, and the structure disappears. Love the painting on an easel. Love your jaguar pillows (i've debated that one more than once!) The green table and lamp are terrific. The button --- too funny. If anyone asks, do you say, ahh yes, of course an homage to lazy afternoons in the Sri Lankan heat? HA

PS I can hear the heartbreak in the felling of the mighty oaks. It would kill me too. It looks like you have made lemonade though Cyn dear. 🤗

Haha!

Beautiful so far.

The view looks fine from here!

Can you plant quick growing trees?

The next town over from me built a large apartment complex. Blocks and blocks.

I don't understand how it got approved. Next, I saw a notice for another large building in a different section. This one is slated for families.

Wow! So inviting!

Is the green lamp an ”outdoor” lamp or an ordinary lamp? I need a porch lamp!

Cyn, it all looks so beautiful and comfortable, and such a nice place to hang out. I love everything.

I especially noticed your dome/mushroom lamp, as I’ve been looking for one for my living room. Yours is perfect out there!

Now THAT'S a porch! And I mean that in the good way - it's a dream porch. You talked about the floor at some point, didn't you? I vaguely remember but remind me - what material is that? It's wonderful - I can feel the breezes.....

What I wanted to say, has already been said. Good job.

Incredibly sorry about the development - I ache for you and know how it feels. Hope your lovely porch comforts you.

Its beautiful! I would declare it Finished! And perfect.

Love it! Well done!

Stunning

It looks so peaceful! Great job!

Beautiful! Porches are so relaxing!

Aw, thank you all. The porch has become my happy place when the din of construction is not too loud. Tea and the paper out there every morning.

Mtn, DH gave me the painting and said it was for out on the porch, Yes, I will definitely tell your story of Sri Lanka (already have in fact) and I consider it an homage to you.

Eld, I have been planting trees since we moved in here. If one looks from the development toward us, we are the only house that is unseen because of all my trees. I wish I had put in more evergreens, though. I planted hemlocks 25 years or so ago, but they did not survive the wooly adelgid. Further up the hill I put in some hollies-should have run them all the way down and across. At this point, I am only planting natives. I may put in an American holly back there. Slow growing, but the next folks in here will benefit. This spring, I added a Sassafras, a swamp white oak (actually, that was last fall), and two junipers, one down there on the lowest level abutting the development and one up on the upper level of our yard. House is on a hill, so we have three levels in the back.

Sue and Jilly, the lamp is rated for damp locations. Sidnie lamp . It comes in three finishes. Takes two bulbs. I used 25 watt incandescent because some bulbs were a little big and actually touched the shade on one side and I hate LED if not on a dimmer. It was more than I wanted to spend. I do however, consider the cost of anything over the number of years I will have it and if I live to be 90, that will be 19 years, so actually relatively inexpensive ($21/year) and if I die before that, I won't care. HA. It is very pretty when lit and conforms to the dark skies initiative, I believe-everything I do now is for the birds, wildlife, insects, children, and planet it seems. The tables were Target, I think, so I saved there.

DLM, thank you! Yes, the floor is actually outdoor decking by Millboard. The U.S. distributor is Outlive. Millboard decking . John Fowler is the company owner and is delightful. I was his first customer, but not the first to actually get my project started (sheesh, obviously). We communicated so often and he was so patient. He is my new honorary nephew. I am so pleased with the floor.

Schoolhouse, aw, you are so sweet. Thanks for the kind words and commiseration.

maddielee, haha, yep, that is pretty much my attitude now-most of the time anyway. Thank you for being able to overlook the undone.

Annie and Yaya, thanks for the wonderful compliments.

ETA: Bethpen, and jmck, peaceful and relaxing are exactly the right words. Thank you. There is nothing like birdsong all around to soothe a troubled mind.

Truly, I so appreciate all the kind words. You, as a group and individually are the most wonderful, kind, delightful, generous women anyone could hope to know. Aren't we all lucky?!

You should feel proud (as well as chill & happy when you are lounging al fresco).

Love the decking, the cool white cushions, the pretty pillows, the lush greenery, and the art. Art outdoors is an unexpected luxury. I was happily shocked when I first saw galleries display work outside.

Cyn, your porch is everything a porch should be, and more. It doesn’t look unfinished to me, it looks perfect—cool, relaxing, comfortable and beautifully furnished!

The screened porch of my dreams!! Spectacularly beautiful and serene!

Seriously though, as i see it now, im not sure id paint it. You *are* done.

Mmm, i can almost smell that gardenia. What a beautiful space. So inviting.

That is really beautiful!!

Paint? Who needs paint? i think everything looks perfect. But then i love natural finished wood, and I echo what everyone else has said. This is such a delightful porch, I could sit all day. You have taken care of every detail and truly created a peaceful place to relax. The champagne button is a nice fun touch.

I’m sorry about the destruction going on behind you. Sadly it’s happened to a few friends of ours too and they hate it. Our nearby city is growing way too fast.

That is an absolutely lovely porch and I can see why you love your tea and paper routine in the morning. It's your own personal aerie (or eyrie if you're British or playing wordle). You must get a wonderful breeze there.

I remember when you wrote about the deck material and it looks great. I really like the design of your railing and how it creates an opening around the post. Very eye-catching. It's open and spacious and just the right size to accommodate both the seating area and dining area.

This is giving me serious porch envy. I miss the screened post from our previous home. It was so relaxing to sit out here and listen to the rain. We even had a little space heater to extend the season into late fall.

It looks perfect. You'll have to tell us what needs to be painted because it doesn't show in your photos.

Maire

The perfect spot for champagne. You have created a delightful spot for relaxing.

That is a cool space, in more ways that one! I notice nothing undone!

I keep coming back to look at these photos, Cyn. It’s like a sophisticated adult treehouse, I just love it!

You've created a beautiful, relaxing spot. I think it looks perfect as is!

I am just overwhelmed by all your kind words! If you are ever in the DC area, let me know. You are welcome for breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea, whatever (Champagne?) as long as you promise to rush through the rest of the house without looking as you come out on the porch!

And yes, it is my treehouse/aerie/eyrie.

It's absolutely gorgeous! Have you considered hanging shades to help hide the new development?

I LOVE screened porches. I grew up with them. Now, in California where we have no need I STILL love them. and I love Va. Yours is, as all have said , sigh , a dream. Enjoy it, as I know you do.

It's beautiful!!

Gorgeous and restful. No floor painting needed. Just more work for you when it chips. :)

So nice!

And it looks comfy and spacious too 😊

Judi, thanks so much. I don't think I want shades, not that they would be great to block the McMansions going up, but our trees block pretty well for three seasons and I do love the light. I do appreciate the thought nonetheless! Come to think of it, they could be great for cooler evenings come fall and even if we have a mild winter which is often the case recently. So thank you!

Matinca, I grew up with a screened porch, too. Such delightful memories. I am living the dream! Thank you-come east and you can relive your childhood along with me!

Thanks, kitchenwitch. I am pretty happy with it. ;-)

Carol, Thank you! It is just right for us and I like having room for relaxing and for dining.

jab, yes, it is so restful. We have lots of birds, so I sit out there and read and listen. A balm for my soul. As to painting the floor-never under consideration.-you are right about the chipping. With a 90-lb. lab mix and three granddaughters (5-year old and twin 3-year olds, a painted floor would lood awful in about a week! Ha. It is Millboard (outlive.info). Needs no sealing, refinishing or anything. Just wash with soap and water maybe once a year or as needed. Good for two old people who would never keep up with lots of maintenance. I was considering painting the posts and rafters. The consensus here seems to be leave them as they are and I agree they are not intrusive, so I will go with the majority opinion. Yay. My husband, however, has painted the supporting posts under the porch black and the wooden parts of the steps black (the treads are the same Millboard. It looks fine. I remember someone here way back when suggested black and it does pretty much disappear (sort of). The black sets off the plants I have started putting in next to and under the porch. I will try to get a photo tomorrow.

Cyn, there are whole days when we don’t leave our screened porch, so that sentiment may apply to us too! How else can people sit outside in the rain? 🙂

It's absolutely perfect. It's my dream screened porch. We plan to build our retirement home and your porch is my new inspiration! :)

Gorgeous space! Looks lke a perfect oasis from the busyness of everyday life--a perfect place to while away time. All of the surrounding greenery is just the icing on the cake! Well done.

kswl, exactly!

Bluebell, I retired seven years ago. The porch is the best thing now. You will never regret adding a screened porch when you build. I promise. :-)

lizbeth, I wish we had added it when life was still busy, but I certainly am so glad to have it now. Thanks so much.

That is a lovely and inviting looking space. It looks like one that is easily used. Sometimes I have trouble incorporating spaces into my lifestyle but it looks like you don't have that problem :-). Wishing you many years of enjoyment.

Haha that is very good comic piece. I think I might be a screened-in porch person as well.. it seems like every bug loves me.🤷🤗

Ah, Yeona, it is indeed easily used. It is not a place to worry about messy children or adults and the whole purpose is comfort, relaxation, laughter, listening to falling rain, and birdsong. When we get away from the sweltering temperatures, the doors will be flung wide. I love having the porch open to the rest of the house.

Thank you so much for your kind wishes.

What a beautiful and relaxing space. No painting needed IMO.

I agree Texanjana, as do we all, it appears. Thanks so much.