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Thursday, May 2, 2013

Your Home's Fornt Door

5  Front Door Ideas

It's the first thing your home buyer sees when they visit; use these decorating tips for your door and you'll make a statement from the start.  Southern Living Magazine 

Decorating Your Front Door
 
 

Front Door Idea #1. Go Bold
When you are choosing a color for your front door, pick something unexpected that makes you happy. Here, a bright teal paint (Quarry 1342 from prattandlambert.com) gives a fun pop of color to the traditional four-panel door. Who says it has to stay the same color? Change it with the seasons. After all, paint is an easy, inexpensive pick-me-up.

Front Door Idea #2. Choose a Single Color
Inspiration is everywhere! A pair of lemon-yellow wellies inspired the palette of these pansies and tulips. Choosing one shade that contrasts with the door color helps your containers stand out from the street.

Front Door Idea #3. Mix and Match PotsPlacing containers is key. White planter boxes flanking the walk lead you to the front door and lend a more formal, symmetrical look. Because the galvanized buckets aren’t the same height or style, they would look wonky if they were flanking the front door. Positioning them to one side concentrates the color.

Front Door Idea #4. Add a Little ShineGive your door a face-lift by simply updating your hardware and door knocker. There are a lot of new options out there to suit any taste and price point. These from rockymountainhardware.com are bronze and lend a golden glow.

Front Door Idea #5. Replace Your Doormat
A grass mat is classic and casual, not to mention affordable. Find a few different styles, and switch them up when the mood strikes you.

Your front door is the first thing your prospective home buyer sees.
These tips will give you some quick and easy ways to get them inside.
Contact me for other great ideas to get your home to show it's best so
you can get a Sold sign in your yard before your neighbors down the street.
 Pat

919-469-6530  www.TriangleNC.com  
 
          

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Decorating ideas for big or small porches


I just bought a new house and I now have a front and back porch as well as a small patio.  I need ideas on how to make these spaces a standout.  In searching around the Internet I came across
Southern Livings great porch photos. 
I thought you might enjoy them too.
Have fun with your outdoor living space.  Pat

Style Guide: 61 Breezy Porches and Patios
Patios and porches are an integral part of Southern culture. These classics are inviting and inspiring.
Appalachian Round Porch

Appalachian Round Porch

A drink ledge around this circular porch gives you a place to sip a cup of cocoa or favorite brew. Hanging candle lanterns can be lit during evening outdoor entertaining.

Bright Red Porch

Bright Red Porch

Red is the defining color throughout this outdoor space. Using a single hue is an easy way to tie the look together. Extra pillows add color and comfort.


Bungalow Porch
Photo: Tria Giovan

Bungalow Porch

An extra-long porch swing anchors this porch space and, at 7 feet long, invites stretching out for long afternoon naps. The swing is hung the swing by ropes to give it a more natural look. A brightly patterned outdoor rug pops against neutral tones.
 
Candle-Lit Patio

Candle-Lit Patio

This freestanding patio fireplace creates an instant cozy gathering place. The mantel is decorated with a row of tea lights for extra sparkle when the sun goes down.


Candle-Lit Porch
Photography: Laurey W. Glenn

Candle-Lit Porch

For year-round lounging, this enclosed sitting area boasts candle chandeliers and a fireplace. Filling the fireplace with candles instead of firewood is a great idea for adding light and charm in warm summer months.

Charleston-Style Piazza
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Charleston-Style Piazza

This porch is filled with comfy wicker furniture in traditional Charleston green, recognizable by its almost black color. Materials, such as wicker-looking resin for the frames and outdoor fabric for the cushions keep the space low maintenance. A few luxuries, such as pillows and throws can be quickly pulled inside when the weather turns bad. Iron-base tables with honed marble tops are the perfect sidekicks because they combine simple lines with elegant materials.
Classic Charleston Porch
Photography: Laura Moss, Styling: Natasha Louise King

Classic Charleston Porch

On this porch, or piazza, classic white wicker is dressed with zesty pillows. Together, the classic white wicker and the modern India-inspired motif are marked by striking color, natural textures and materials, and classic Southern design with a modern, upbeat edge.
                        


Classic White Porch

Classic White Porch

Hanging ferns area a classic look for any Southern porch. Container gardens and a lush border add color to this space.

Coastal Front Porch
Laurey W. Glenn, Robbie Caponetto / Styling: Matthew Gleason

Coastal Front Porch

Two woven rockers, positioned next to the stucco fireplace on the front porch, create the perfect place to unwind on a warm summer night.


Colorful Coastal Porch
Photography Laurey W. Glenn / Styling Leigh Anne Montgomery

Colorful Coastal Porch

This screened porch has a sofa swing. It’s a great place for reading a book. The space is furnished with DIY furniture painted in bright colors.
                           


Colorful Potted Porch

Colorful Potted Porch

Brighten up your porch by accenting with colorful containers of foliage and flowers.


Cozy Brick Porch
Jean Allsopp / Styling: Buffy Hargett

Cozy Brick Porch

Composed of a brick chimney, mantel, and firebox, this exterior fireplace is covered with stucco. This touch not only distinguishes it from the surrounding brick walls, but it also makes a focal point. The hearth is raised for additional seating. Plus, by centering the fireplace between a brick opening and the exterior living room wall, it provides a nook for firewood. A gas starter takes the hit-or-miss process out of starting a blaze.

Cozy Side Porch
Photo: Tria Giovan, Styling: Olga Naiman

Cozy Side Porch

Inspired by Charleston side porches (called piazzas), this outdoor-friendly furniture arrangement provides a great place to socialize with neighbors or to take in the fresh air while reading a book.
 
Dining Porch
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Dining Porch

French doors open directly from the kitchen to a front porch dining area that acts as an extension of this home’s interior. It’s an inviting place for a morning paper and evening entertaining alike.


Entertaining Patio
Photos by Jean Allsopp

Entertaining Patio

This pretty patio is adjacent to a small storage outbuilding that can easily be transformed into a bar or buffet for patio parties.


Entertaining Porch
Photos by Jean Allsopp

Entertaining Porch

Deck out your screened porch for dining. Overlooking the woods and lake, dinner music is the chirping of birds and the splash of fish. The tin roof and vaulted ceiling overhead make light rain most delightful. Add seasonal sparkle with a string of your favorite lights.

 
Entertaining Porch
Photo: Tria Giovan, Styling: Olga Naiman

Entertaining Porch

A patterned accent rug adds visual interest to this entertaining porch finished with brick pavers and stuccoed walls. A grill is set in a custom cabinet. A retractable keeps it all in the shade, which is always welcome during Southern summers.


Garage Patio Transformation
Laurey W. Glenn

Garage Patio Transformation

This deluxe patio room actually used to be a rundown garage. To feel more intimate, the large, open space needed to be divided into rooms. Large containers of lush plants are grouped at varying heights to give this outdoor retreat scale.
Garden Patio
Photography Ralph Anderson / Styling Rose Nguyen

Garden Patio

An outdoor fireplace, decorated with items that the homeowner acquired in his travels through the Southwest, dominates this sunken garden patio.
Georgia Brick Porch
Photo: Tria Giovan, Styling: Olga Naiman

Georgia Brick Porch

An extra-large bed swing invites lounging on this porch. Vintage salvage items add character to the space.


Gracious Side Porch
Photo: Tria Giovan, Styling: Olga Naiman

Gracious Side Porch

Lined with handsome box columns and accessible to the indoors through pairs of French doors, this side porch functions much like an interior room, complete with comfortable seating and durable outdoor rugs. This gracious extension of living space contains a teak dining table for informal meals.


Historic Blue Porch

Historic Blue Porch

This porch ceiling is painted blue for a playful nod to traditional Southern Haint Blue. A fan keeps the area cool on warm Southern days, and curtains add privacy to the space.


Jazzed-Up Porch Doors
Photography Van Chaplin, Laurey W. Glenn, John O'Hagan

Jazzed-Up Porch Doors

These solid-panel shutters add color to the porch and offer extra protection for two pairs of porch doors. The shutters fold back flush against the wall when opened.


Laid-Back Porch
 

Laid-Back Porch

An extra-deep porch swing makes lazy Sunday afternoons on this porch a must. The small pops of subdued color provide the porch a laid-back, beach-like atmosphere.
Live-In Back Porch

Live-In Back Porch

This 35-foot-long by 9-foot-deep back porch respects Southern porches of the past by using traditional shading devices such as a trellis at one end. Comfortable rattan chairs, cushioned in red, yellow, and green, add cheer to this outdoor living room. Ceiling fans help cool the space during sultry summer days, while three copper-finish lanterns contribute to the ambience.


Luxurious Porch
Photo: Courtesy Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House, Inc.

Luxurious Porch

Durable accessories and furnishings give this porch a cozy living room feel. Patterned pillows and a faux zebra-skin rug are paired with natural colors and textures for a striking effect.


Modern Patio
Photography Charles Walton IV / Styling Scott Martin

Modern Patio

This two-level modern patio extends the family’s living space to include an outdoor dining room. Modern planters mirror the clean lines of the house.


Natural Screened Porch
Photography: Laurey W. Glenn

Natural Screened Porch

This comfortable screened porch is sparsely decorated, making the surrounding woods the focal point. It’s a perfect place for enjoying the weather and nature. Stylish contemporary white chairs are a great alternative to outdoor furniture.

Natural Woodland Porch
Photos by Jean Allsopp

Natural Woodland Porch

Outdoor furniture rests comfortably on this back porch. This durable design blends with indoor decor, such as the Tiffany lamp and rag rugs made from recycled blue jeans. Quilts are at the ready for chilly evenings. Bedroom windows open onto this serene space to catch the sound of Whisper Creek.
Outdoor Dining Porch
Photos by Jean Allsopp

Outdoor Dining Porch

Designed for entertaining, the back porch offers indoor comforts and outdoor style. A teak dining table and casual seating encourage leisure time and easy conversation.
Outdoor Living Porch
Photography Van Chaplin, Charles Walton IV / Styling Buffy Hargett

Outdoor Living Porch

This space mirrors both the function and the layout of an interior living room. An outdoor sofa and club chairs are arranged around a central hearth.

Party Patio
 

Party Patio

Cushy, deep seating with clean lines makes for a comfortable place for hanging out, while sheers suspended from supports create the ultimate chill zone


Patchwork Quilt Patio
Ralph Anderson

Patchwork Quilt Patio

This patio was created from recycled materials. Just as a quilter sews together fabric pieces, these homeowners married stone, brick, and cobble to create a charming space.

Covered Personal Patio
Photography Van Chaplin

Covered Personal Patio

A portable cabana provides a place for reading and visiting on this patio.
 
Game Inspired Patio
Photo: Ralph Anderson

Game Inspired Patio

Chess pieces the size of children await visitors’ opening move on this game board patio.


Patio Living Room
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Matthew Gleason

Patio Living Room

This unique patio includes a pergola with a retractable canopy of outdoor fabric that is great for protection from sun and rain. Comfy seating is centered around a fireplace and creates an outdoor living area that is great for parties and entertaining.


Arbor Covered Patio

Arbor Covered Patio

Four 6 by 6 posts across the front of this patio arbor give the structure a substantial feel. Two lattice panels, which support Armand clematis vines (Clematis armandii), provide a sense of enclosure.


Dining Patio
Laurey W. Glenn / Styling: Leslie Byars Simpson

Dining Patio

Classic hydrangea blooms take center stage around this neutral-toned patio dining space.
Planed Patio Perfection
Outdoor rooms change over time. The homeowners built this arbor the first year they were in the home. When the wisteria covered the top, they realized it was a great room. The garden's structured design plays off of the free-form look of the wisteria.

Planed Patio Perfection

Outdoor rooms change over time. The homeowners built this arbor the first year they were in the home. When the wisteria covered the top, they realized it was a great room. The garden's structured design plays off of the free-form look of the wisteria.

Polished Outdoor Room

Polished Outdoor Room

Thoughtfully chosen fabrics for the upholstered outdoor furniture give this porch polished appeal. Touches of burnt orange play off of the undertones in wood details.

Porch With Privacy
Photography Van Chaplin, Laurey W. Glenn, John O'Hagan

Porch With Privacy

These shutters not only add interest and texture to this house, but they also offer privacy and protection from the elements. They can close off the porch or be opened to let in the Gulf breeze.


Pretty Back Porch
Photos by Jean Allsopp

Pretty Back Porch

This covered porch is large enough for a pair of chairs and is framed by outdoor draperies that pull closed for shade. This welcoming spot is the perfect place for morning coffee. Adirondack chairs with cutouts of the South Carolina state logo―a palm tree and quarter moon―give this Lowcountry cottage even more sense of place.


Private Porch

Private Porch

Louvered shutters add a little privacy to this porch space and fresh apple green accents punch up the color scheme.

Raised Patio

Raised Patio

The vaulted pitch of the arbor mimics the lines of the garage roof behind it and makes the garage more background than feature. The brick chimney helps to draw the eye up, creating height and keeping the attention on the fireplace, which features a mix of fieldstone and brick for added interest. The entire seating area is elevated, improving views of the surrounding property. A ceiling fan under the arbor assures year-round comfort.
Reclaimed Porch Doors
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn

Reclaimed Porch Doors

Mix reclaimed materials to get the look you want. This homeowner combined cypress siding from an early-1900s Sears Craftsman painted green, wood from a 100-year-old barn, and wrought iron fencing to create the porch’s sliding doors. The doors slide on a new track, but the rollers are antique meat-hook wheels from a meatpacking plant.


Screened Family Porch

Screened Family Porch

Comfortable lounge seating makes this screened porch a perfect place to relax and take advantage of the summer breeze.
Screened Porch With Style

Screened Porch With Style

Decorate your porch as if it’s a room in the house. This porch is decorated with pieces that flow with the rest of the furniture in the house, aiming for a collected-over-time look. A stone-and-iron table pairs with wooden chairs. Rattan wicker chairs sit underneath copper lanterns.

Screened-In Comfort

Screened-In Comfort

Cozy seating areas all around this porch keep the conversation flowing. A porch swing turns into a favorite reading nook with a warm throw and cushy pillows.
Second Floor Porch
Laurey W. Glenn, Robbie Caponetto / Styling: Matthew Gleason

Second Floor Porch

This second-floor porch has a sense of privacy, with solid railings and overhanging eaves. The designer chose dark woven furniture to create casual seating areas on the house’s porches. The cushions, in aqua, green, and white stripes, are a nice compliment to the colors of the sea. The woven frames are made from durable resin to stand up to the corrosive salt air.
 
Simple & Chic Porch
Photo: Howard Lee Puckett

Simple & Chic Porch

This porch is furnished with stylish, weather-resistant pieces. This long trestle table’s crisscross base mimics the diamond floor pattern, and the white finish maintains a minimal look. The chairs, made of clear-sealed metal, add a touch of industrial chic, and they stack for easy storage. A hanging lantern add a touch of elegance.


Simple Porch

Simple Porch

This second-floor Gulf-front porch with two Adirondack chairs facing the water is an ideal spot from which to watch the sun rise and set. The horizontal rail, rather than conventional vertical pickets, provides a seamless view.
 
Sleeping Porch
Photography Van Chaplin / Styling Cari South / Assistant Stylist: Katherine Eckert

Sleeping Porch

Wooden daybeds, treated to withstand outdoor use and outfitted with pillows, let this open-air area function as a sleeping porch. Fabric shades sewn from a weather-resistant fabric can be raised or lowered between the porch posts.
And to make activities mosquito free, this porch and all outdoor entertaining areas are equipped with tiny spray heads mounted in the ceiling. The system dispenses a mist of nontoxic chemicals that repels insects.

Small Side Patio
Ralph Anderson

Small Side Patio

The pebbled border adds texture in this cozy side-yard path and patio. A pair of planters and a bench half-way down the path breaks up the space.

Stone Porch
Laurey W. Glenn

Stone Porch

Randomly placed stepping-stones crafted from local granite lead to this front porch’s wide steps. Hand-hewn posts and railings, along with graceful brackets, are crafted from regionally harvested locust wood to further enhance this cottage’s connection to the land. Local fieldstone clads the porch walls.

Stylish Porch Foyer
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Stylish Porch Foyer

This front porch doubles as the foyer for this coastal-style home. It is decorated with lamps that look like sea-weathered wood, sisal rugs, and throw pillows with wavy and coral-like patterns inspired by the Atlantic Ocean.
Sunny Screened Porch
Laurey W. Glenn / Styling: Anne Turner Carroll, Scott Martin

Sunny Screened Porch

The textures and colors of the furniture and flooring in this porch were chosen to complement the Spanish moss-draped live oaks outside. Its roof, consisting of translucent plastic panels attached to wood framing, mimics the hut’s roof and provides both natural sunlight and views of the area’s marshlands.


Sunset Porch
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Matthew Gleason

Sunset Porch

This second-story porch is an extension of the master suite and offers a great view of the sunrise. A copper light fixture complements the warm wood accents.
 
Tranquil Stucco Porch
Laurey W. Glenn / Styling Leigh Anne Montgomery

Tranquil Stucco Porch

This porch wall contains the fireplace, cabinets, and a wood storage cubby. This gives the porch a main focal point, and it screens it from neighbors and the harsh sun. Fresh-cut firewood is stacked high to add texture and contrast to the white stucco wall. There’s no worry about running out of wood before the end of the night.
Vintage Brick Patio
Photo by Laurey W. Glenn

Vintage Brick Patio

The brick in this patio came from buildings that were torn down in the area. The biggest problem with using antique brick is that the sizes aren’t uniform. That can make it tough to lay out a patio, so set the brick in sand, rather than concrete, to give a relaxed and aged look. The sand also helps level odd-size bricks.

Front Porch Outdoor Dining
Photos by Jean Allsopp

Front Porch Outdoor Dining

Outdoor furniture sets the scene for front porch dining. Transitional styling—simple lines and natural teak—make the dining set at home anywhere, including the primitive exterior of this Cottage.
Texas Zen
Photo: Ralph Anderson

Texas Zen

Inspiration for this deck was drawn from a trip couple Michael and Patti Rogers had taken to Bali. “We fell in love with the architecture there and wanted to find a way to re-create it here while still being true to this region,” Patti says. The couple calls the resulting East-West fusion “Texas Zen.”
I hope you this gave you some inspiration.
Sometimes just seeing a a photos can get your ideas flowing.
 
If you are thinking about buying or selling a home this year, give me a call.
I can give you some great buying and selling tips to save you money.
Visit me on-line at www.TriangleNC.com or call me at 919-469-6530  Pat