04.15
2011

Playing With Color On The Porch

It is so nice having the back porch cleaned up! We have eaten dinner out there every night this week. The weather has been beautiful and it is so peaceful eating out there. The only problem is keeping Lillie in her seat. Every time any animal or bird makes an appearance she wants to go play with it! When we first moved here two and a half years ago I had so much fun decorating the porch. That first year I decorated it year round but these past two years I have pretty much completely ignored it from November through April and by the time I go out there in April it has needed a MAJOR cleaning. The last two springs I was able to get away with just washing all of the bedding and pillows and and sweeping and stuff. This year, though, most of the pillows were starting to get really really grungy looking! I ended up recovering the two large chairs over by the armoire (which aren’t shown in this post but I will show you once I finish that side of the porch) and a bunch of the pillows on the daybed. I also removed the little skirts on the chairs at the table as the fabric on them was starting to look quite dull and faded. As usual, I didn’t want to spend much money so I tried to use things I already had. I had a couple yards left of the blue toile fabric that I had used in our last house and decided it would be nice to add a pop of color out there and it would be a great starting off point!

 I still have to finish the other half of the porch, 
but for now here is the half that has the table and daybed:

 I actually HATE the teal plates but I went all over Williamsburg looking for a pale water blue set or a patterned black and white set but had NO luck so just got these four in a pack from Target for $9.99 hoping they would be okay. When I got them home I decided they were WAY too bright for me (which I already knew) but I can’t find the receipt anywhere so I guess I am stuck with them. As soon as I can find something more muted, though, they will definitely be replaced.
 
Pretty much everything else I already had except for the lacy white dessert plates. 
 
I couldn’t find any extra napkin rings so I just tied an ivory ribbon around the napkins and then glued an egg onto the top of the ribbon. 
 
 
Underneath the napkins are these fun little plates:

I got these little white plates at Pier 1 and LOVE them! I put a little vinyl silhouette of Jane Austen in the center of each one to add a little interest. I had planned on putting a silhouette of a bird on them but have been in such a Jane Austen mood lately decided to go with her silhouette for now. I will probably switch her out for a bird silhouette later this summer, though. 

When I made the silhouette pillows last week the ink looked WAY more muted in the bottle. Once they were printed and dried though they looked sooooo bright. I tried to make myself like them and left them out for a week but in then end I think they are just a little too much for me.

Today I switched them out for black silhouette pillows and like them so much better! 
 (Now I just need to find something to replace those teal plates),

I can’t wait for my little munchkin to hurry up and get here! As long as she doesn’t arrive this weekend I plan on finishing up the other side of the porch and will show you those pictures and I also have an Easter wreath I want to make and if I get to that will post it along with some downloadable Easter printouts like the “He has risen” one that was in our Easter decorating post. Of course, I would much prefer she does decide to arrive this weekend =), but with my luck I am sure she is going to make me wait as long as possible!

I hope you all have a fabulous Friday!

An Easter/Spring Wreath and He Has Risen Download
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52 thoughts on “Playing With Color On The Porch”

  1. love the colours simple & beautiful. I love the way you have styled the table it looks very pretty & that seating area looks lush, I love the pillows.
    Love what you have done with the photo images although now Im feeling slightly broody (shhh dont tell me mine lol)

  5. You porch looks great! I really need to work on my outdoor spaces. I'm so busy working on the inside that the outside looks like a ghetto.

    Do you ever get tired of being so fabulous all the time?

  8. I actually love the teal plates but FYI…I have seen some really pretty blue plates at the Dollar Tree…not too bright and not too washed out. For a $1.00 each, you can't go wrong!

    XOXO!
    Judy

  9. totally jealous!! i wish i had a porch to decorate!! i love the teal blue plates i think with the white plates on top it takes away from the color more! but then again i love bright colors for spring and summer! our playroom is actually that bright teal blue color if that says anything! lol i love how you decorate i wish i was that talented!

  10. i also like the teal plates and with the blue silhouette pillows in looks great! must admit i love the lace white plates better 😉

  11. Love love love your porch. You have given me just the push I needed to get my patio spruced up. You have such talent!!
    Remember to take it easy these days…
    xo
    Kathleen

  12. Beautiful! Just a thought….I know you couldn't eat off of them…but could you spray paint the teal plates a pale blue? It would save $$ but give you the color you want for decorating.

  13. I am just loving your Spring porch, Jennifer! It looks amazing, as always and just like the rest of your decor! I adore the teal plates and think they add the perfect amount of pop, but i know how it is when you have that "idea" worked up in your head of the final look. I can't wait too see more of your Spring/Easter decor…and of course that sweet baby girl when she arrives. Hope you're doing great!

  14. what a doll she is!! so sweet and so healthy looking…

    and your porch is beautiful…

    you know: if you don't like your plates that color, you would color wash them and heat set them in the oven – I haven't ever done it – but have 'read about it'

    I think they look great – especially if you had the same color pop somewhere else – like with a little lantern hanging down by the daybed –

    what a great room you have…
    xo+blessings,
    Anne Marie

  15. Jennifer… you do know your porch is prettier than my living room, right? i mean, shoot, i'd eat out there very night too. 🙂 i'm adding "big ol' screened in porch" to the must-have list for our next home. ha.

    as for the teal plates… if you still have the box they came in, Target can look up your purchase with whatever credit/debit card you used. does anyone use cash anymore? lol. so unless you did, you can return the teal plates and get some pretty pale blue ones for half the price at dollar tree like someone else mentioned above. 🙂 win. win.

    i hope you're feeling great and taking full advantage of every day you have left with your baby girl still growing inside of you. i remember holding onto those last days since they'd never happen again. not with the same child, at least. 😉

    have a lovely weekend!

  19. I love how you did your porch it's beautiful. And I love the teal plates I think it gives it a nice pop of spring color.

  21. Love the pillows with the black silhouettes, they look way better than the blue ones, and those lacy plates, to die for. Beautiful.
    XXX Ido

  22. Your porch is gorgeous! Lovin' the pitcher, lovin' the daybed and table, lovin the egg napkin rings…I love it all!!

  25. I actually love your teal plates! Your patio looks gorgeous! Would you be willing to do a post on how you put the vinyl on the plates? I have been wanting to try that 🙂

  27. Hello! I found your blog through Chez Fifi. At first I felt kind of dumb checking out your website since I do not have kids, but I fell in love with the babydoll carriage your daughter was pushing. So, I decided to give it a whirl (I thought maybe you sold the carriage on your website.)Anyhoo, your lovely decorating has me hooked. I look forward to future posts, & one day when I have kids I can buy some of those too too cute tutus. 🙂

    XoX Sandy

  29. I absolutely love it. I am starting a porch redo myself but, due to our miserable Oregon weather, I am on hold. I'm jealous that you are actually already eating outside. However, your porch (for that matter … entire house) is so gorgeous. It invites a person to come and sit for awhile.

  30. Your porch is so cozy and lovely, I would dine there every night too (especially if the weather was nice, which it hasn't been here!) I love the photo edits especially Ginger's (and cute is that name??)
    happy weekend~
    ~michelle~

  31. I am so loving your porch, I can see why you eat out there every evening! It is really too cold here to do anything fun like that yet. The daybed looks so comfy and inviting!

    I like the teal plates but you have layered everything so nicely, it's just a small pop of color. Your table looks so sweet, I love the nakins with the ribbon and egg and I really like your quilted place mats. Everything is lovely, Jennifer!

    Thanks for a great post, I am a new follower. Oh, I saw the pictures of Kim's granddaughter on her blog earlier this week. You did a great job and that baby is adorable!

    XO,
    Janie

  33. Woman… do you ever sleep?!? You are amazing. Your porch is just gorgeous! I am going to kidnap you and make you decorate my house. I will kidnap the girls too and play with them while you decorate, of course! Take care and get some rest! You are about to have a baby on Easter!!!! 🙂

  35. It looks so beautiful! I love the pops of blue. I have been searching for the last couple weeks for robins egg blue dinner plates but to no avail either. I do like your teal and love how you've layered them with the pretty doily plates. Your porch is wonderful. What a pleasant place to dine and relax! I'm excited for your little bundle to arrive! I bet Lillie is very excited.

  37. stunning! absolutely stunning!

    hope that baby comes this weekend! i think i picked today for the big day!!!! fingers crossed, for your sake of course!

  38. I love your porch decor! Looks like a relaxing place to stop and enjoy breakfast or lemonade or read a great book on the daybed.

  41. Your porch looks beautiful! Have you ever tried spray painting plates? I have seen it done on people's blogs. If those plates are like a charger, where you would never want to eat off of them, that might work! Paint them your favorite light blue. Personally I think the pop of color looks very nice, but I get where you're coming from, too. I LOVE your decorating style.
    Have a beautiful Monday!
    Hugs, Cindy

  42. Hi Jennifer!
    Your blog is just lovely! Your porch looks beautiful….I'm really liking the pop of bright blue with all the soft white…just right! FYI…I have returned items to Target after losing my receipt…they gave me a store credit rather than a cash refund.
    The photos you edited are precious!
    Wishing you a speedy delivery…and a happy healthy new baby girl!
    I'm your newest follower…can't wait to come back for another visit!
    Have a Magnificent Monday~
    ;-D Kathleen

  43. Jennifer your porch looks beautiful. Oh how can picture sitting there listening to the birds and having a cup of tea. It is so charming. I love the blue plates by the way.
    Another lovely post. Hugs

  44. oops, sorry I left out how "I" can picture. also forgot to mention I'm having a giveaway at my blog to win a gorgeous dress. I hope you'll stop by and enter 🙂

  45. If you're looking for something a bit more neutral check out the Riverstone Stacking Plates I have on my website! let me know if this is something you'd like! evelyn.willowhouse.com

  46. Hi Jennifer!

    I have just discovered your blog…must have been living under a rock, as someone said. Such GORGEOUS photos & ideas!

    I am your newest follower & I'll be here looking through all you older posts for at least an hour more. Outstandingly beautiful!!!

    fondly,
    Rett

  47. Seeing your gorgeous tablescape makes me yearn for spring. I woke up this morning to four inches of snow! The last time I checked, it was April, but that's Michigan. So glad you're having lovely weather.

  48. girl – don't know if it's an option for you or not, but if you paid with debit/credit at target, they can probably look up your plates & you can still return them…just a thought!

    gorgeous as always!!

  50. I love your porch! As far as those teal plates, I think they are the perfect pop of color with all the white.

  51. Oh, I have a daybed that I was planning to get rid of. Now, I am rethinking that! Don't let the teal plates bother you! I think they are great and not too overpowering at all!

  52. Hello, I'm brand new to the blog world. I stumbled across your site thru Addicted2Decorating (I think) Anyway, I absolutely love, love your porch. I also think the teal plates look great (and I haven't read all the comments) but why not just paint the plates the color you want?

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