I'm not really counting the hot tub or mud room porches. The hot tub is for my husband (and he loves it) and the mudroom porch is functional, not really decorative. This means all I'm being held accountable for (so to speak) is the greenhouse/sun porch and the screened porch. Since the screened porch is for eating outside and close to the BBQ (which will be just beyond it) my husband really likes that, too. So, I guess I just had to convince him about the greenhouse/sun porch...and he knows how much I really want that for gardening/winter sunshine :) We really like the changes to the kitchen and no one seems to mind the slightly longer walk to the living room, in exchange for more separation/noise control. Of course, we're not used to the living room and kitchen open to each other, so that might be one reason it won't be missed. We have a 7' wall now, which blocks the view, but not the noise. Just in case Summerfield stops by and decides to update my new kitchen layout, I have a few more changes (small ones) to the rest of the plan. The cool farm sink with drainboards, would be great out in the sun porch, against the wall to the ovens. With the screened porch for entertaining, this can be more of a greenhouse/small seating area...and we're moving the door to be opposite the sink. The lilacs don't go quite that far back and it will be easier access to the vegetable garden. This would also give us space for a small table with two chairs (bistro style) on the sink side and maybe a couple of wicker chairs on the other end. Since we're moving the sink, I'd still like a sink in the utility room, but something a bit smaller with more storage space around it. And, the front door/vestibule, I'd like to change that to a single glass door instead of double doors, since it will usually be kept closed. As for the basement door...anyway to make that a pocket door, but with glass? Thank you all for your suggestions, insight and help! Especially Summerfield, not only for the beautiful plans, but the constant support, great ideas and amazing changes that came up with this final plan! :)

I'm hoping to get ideas for a low-maintenance porch paint color for my porch steps and floor; comfy seating for people; and homes for 3 feral cats that have adopted me (I live in an area in which pets get dumped, unfortunately.) My porch is small: 5' w x 17' l x 8' h. I have to paint it yearly because these colors show dirt so easily. I'd love to have an inviting place for people to sit, as well as a safe place for the feral kitties. I've added some photos of a neighbor's porch that I love - but their porch is a lot bigger. Any help with colors, seating, and pet-friendly suggestions? I'm thinking of painting the porch steps and floor a dark gray - for low maintenance - but nothing about my house is gray. Thanks for your help. (And I'm hoping this isn't a double post. If so, apologize.)

I do LOVE that paint color, but where we are storm doors are essential. They are usually the only thing closed. The large interior doors are usually opened first thing in the morning and left open during the day, Theres a set straight behind them behind the stairwell that open to the back porch that match - though the idea of new storm doors had not occurs to me!! Certainly something to think about. I wonder if I could get away with a different type of storm door with such a traditional style of house... I do need to paint these and the surrounding trim - it’s on the to do list. However, I don’t think I could venture color wise on the trim as there are too many windows and too much trim. However, Now I want to look at storm doors! 😆 here’s the rest of house if it helps - our style is pretty Virginia colonial

Update: I had to make a choice this morning, they're going to start staining today. I decided to go with Provencial. I'm terrified of too much red (I think I'm traumatized by the RED floors that were here when I moved in...), and while I actually like Nutmeg the best in the swatches I think that a whole house of it is going to be too blah. Hope I made the right choice....'cause I'm going to be stuck with it. I'm not too thrilled with these flooring guys. They're pretty well known and highly regarded in this area, but they are *really* negative against water-based finish (they keep mentioning the downsides of it in conversation), even though I was very clear that is what I want and am paying for, they didn't put down good swatches initially (swatched over a rough sand, then re-did and water-popped the swatches), didn't topcoat the swatches -- I did that myself at 11:00 pm last night to help me decide). Couple other things, too, but all I can do at this point is just judge the final result/workmanship. From what I can tell so far, that is excellent (running in new wood, smoothing out transitions, etc) -- but we shall see when all is done...