Rainy Day on the Porch

I promised you a long time ago I’d finally reveal our porch area to you once it was done.

Over the weekend as it rained all day long, I decided to tip toe outside in my socks and show you our finished covered porch area.  I know I should’ve picked a sunny day but there’s something about the rain that makes me want to grab my camera and shoot and something about wet grass that makes it greener.

I had our handyman paint our cement with Behr cement paint called “Fresh Cement”, appropriately enough.  Outdoor rug from Ballard Designs, and bamboo shades from Home Depot.  We needed the shades since our porch faces South.  It’s amazing what some shade will do to cool down your home.

A few weeks ago we had a serious freeze here in the desert where it went below 30 degrees.  I know some of you in other parts of the country think we’re such weenies about the cold, and we are, and so are our plants!  So ignore my totally frosted dead basil that needs to be replaced and our citrus babies are trying to recover from shock.

I fertilized our grapefruit tree a few months ago.  Can you tell the spots?  It cracks me up when I see the darker green grass and the patches are always an inch higher than the rest just a few days after we mow.  You should fertilize your fruit trees and shrubs a few times a year – early spring and fall.  We use the fertilizer sticks from Home Depot and pound them into the ground.

Mr. Wonderful and I went on a few tropical vacations during our first year of marriage.  I saw a glass shadow box in an Arcadia home that displayed seashells when I worked as a stylist/reporter at The Arizona Republic and I wanted to replicate it one day.  I bought the glass shadow box from West Elm (similar here and here).

I also made the coffee table myself – cut the wood slabs at Home Depot, secured with a board underneath and applied a stain to it.  First, let me tell you that I thought the boards were $10 each, not $10 per square foot!  When I checked out I nearly choked at the $80 cost. Guess even my taste in wood is expensive.   I found the coffee table frame for $10 from Craigslist which was originally bleached pink wood and took some spray paint to it.  I love that it looks like rope.

Remember the DIY succulent urn I made for our dining room table?  Well it died within a month.  Whoever said succulents can’t be killed totally lied. These are the lone survivors.

A white custom iron gate with trellis made by Moon Ornamental Iron was the Mr.’s idea.  If you need anything gate wise, call them.  Mr. Moon is so nice, honest and amazing!  We have another gate about 10 feet behind it that goes into the neighborhood alley.  We might do compost back there one day.  Again, you can see where I fertilized our other fruit trees.

The west wall is just awaiting me to plant some  jasmine and vines up the training wire I had our nifty handyman Dennis create (you can see the wire faintly).  We have a spacious storage area that houses my photography props, our tools, my bike, you get the idea.  There are 5 commercial shelves in there that are incredibly organized and labeled.  I k now you don’t need a backyard tour since I photograph in it all the time (here, here, here, here, and here).

I was scouring Craigslist for wicker chairs.  I found a table that looks like cut wheat.  I gave $65 to the Mr. and told him to call a phone number and head to Sun City (also known as old folks city).  He came back with the side table and the braided side chair and ottoman and said, “What is this??”  A little spray paint and a new foot cover I sewed myself, zipper and all makes it complete.  He was pretty impressed.

I love the coastal look, can you tell?  Which reminds me, I need to subscribe to Coastal Living magazine.  So the hummingbird feeder –  it is sugar water.  For every 2 ounces of water, add 1 tablespoon of sugar.  I microwave the water first and then add the sugar so it easily dilutes.  Ricki came over and was horrified I was feeding them the “red stuff” and I was confused – I thought they were attracted to red?  So since then I switched to giving the little guys the organic feed.   I still have some of the red powder and am using it with our additional hummingbird feeder since we have a bully of a hummingbird who chases the other guys away.  I am using the red sugar to attract some new friends until they get used to fact that it’s there.

Garden wellies, humming bird feeder, outdoor lamp, fire pit: Target / Headboard bench: Rust & Roses / Cushions: Pier 1 / Bee Pillow: Ballard Designs / Turquoise fan: Pottery Barn Teen / Outdoor wood clock, iron southern bird: Wisteria / Hammock: Overstock (shown, similar) / Braided rug and oversized magazine basket: World Market / Turquoise serve cart: IKEA / Atlas Pillar Holder: Z Gallerie / Steel potted shelf: For the Love of Old / White Tabouret Stacking Chairs: Overstock / Chair cushions: Pottery Barn (similar) / Adirondack chairs: Ace Hardware / Nautical sconces: Lighting Universe / Metal Stool under fan: One Kings Lane – Sign up today on OKL for a $15 credit for purchases of $30 or more.

Diana Elizabeth says this house was previous wired for outdoor entertaining, partying and speakers.  She needs to figure out what connects to what and then they can set up for the music to be blaring in the backyard as she gardens!