The Southern Porch Screened {Before & After}

UPDATED 2017 PORCH >> CLICK HERE for recent changes and sources!

AS SEEN IN:

BHG-April-2014-Cover

 

Ever since we first finished the porch last year, we hemmed and hawed over whether or not to screen it in. That was the original intent, after all, but we loved how open it was without the screens so much that we put them on hold. But then flies kept eating our food and the mosquitoes kept eating us and the moths kept flying in the house… you get the gist. One thing’s for sure about the South – it’s nothing if not buggy. So, after polling y’all and our friends and pretty much anyone with an opinion, we finally did it! Our only regret is not doing it a year ago! The screens are wonderful and nearly disappear.

Now, to make this a proper before and after, we originally had a deck in this space off the back of the house…

April 2009 106

February 2012 512

This was the look without the screens and before the paint.

July 2012 907 copy

…and now this is the new screened look. They are much more visible looking in than looking out.

July 2013 182 copy

The porch has a hip style roof in Owens Corning onyx black shingles to match the rest of the house. We went with 32” “x” railings that remind us of many Tybee beach houses and 10” wrapped columns placed 8’ apart to allow for open views. I adore the horizontal boards that our contractor used in place of where we used to have lattice work.

July 2013 186 copy

July 2013 184 copy

We widened the stairs going up to the porch to fill out the space between the house and the fireplace. Pots and glass water globes are from Target and battery powered lanterns from Wal Mart. I always plant potato vine in my pots because it’s pretty much the only thing I can keep alive. The vinyl screen door is from Home Depot. I would love to have one made with the diagonal cross on the bottom but that’s a project for another day.
July 2013 183 copy

July 2012 913 copy

From just inside the door, you can see that the screens are barely there! WE LOVE THEM! Our goals for the new porch were to have ample dining space, a sitting area with room for games, music, a fireplace for the winter, a fan for the summer and a buffet table for serving and storage.
July 2013 227 copy

Double french doors from the kitchen open up onto this part of the porch. Our contractor built the fireplace as an exact replica of our den fireplace – right down to the antique bricks – and I ADORE it! The oyster painting is by Angie Reuter and the plates are from Anthropologie. The sofa, chairs, baskets, curtain hardware and glass jars are from Target (I added chalkboard labels with leftover chalkboard vinyl from my kitchen project). The garden stool, coral and mercury glass demijohn are from Home Goods. The fan is Harbor Breeze from Lowes. The mapped out coffee table and pin board frame were both DIY projects. The egret pillow is from Jolie Marche on etsy. Mother made the zig zag pillows with burlap initial monograms and the curtains!

July 2013 203 copy
July 2013 231 copy

July 2012 928 copy

July 2013 207 copy

July 2013 244 copy

July 2012 931 copy

July 2012 926 copy

July 2012 184 copy

July 2012 183 copy

July 2012 925 copy

July 2012 956 copy

July 2012 957 copy

July 2013 254 copy

The other side of the porch serves as the dining area. I fell in love with the Avignon table on clearance at World Market because I could envision a whole gaggle of littles crammed on its sweet benches. The rainbow trout fish painting on reclaimed wood is another gorgeous piece by Angie Reuter, and is hung with dock cleats and nautical rope. The slipcovered chairs, oyster shell lantern, shell centerpiece and mercury glass hurricanes were all DIY projects.

July 2013 232 copy

July 2013 251 copy

July 2013 216 copy

July 2013 217 copy

July 2013 258 copy

July 2012 176 copy

July 2012 283 copy

July 2012 174 copy

July 2012 945 copy July 2012 947 copy

July 2012 196 copy

The DIY skirted table has smartly served as both a buffet for entertaining and for general storage underneath. Lanterns are from Home Goods, aqua cups are from Target and melamine tray is from Macy’s. The seeded glass lanterns are from Ballard Designs and the mercury glass shell is from Pottery Barn. A vintage refrigerator basket from Habersham Antiques serves as a magazine rack. The chairs were recovered and appliqued by Mother and myself.

August 2013 403 copy

August 2013 401 copy

July 2012 950 copy July 2012 958 copy
Sources:

  • Paint – Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (walls and brick fireplace), Benjamin Moore Quiet Moments (ceiling), Benjamin Moore Rhine River (doors) and Benjamin Moore White Dove (trim)
  • Rugs – Indoor/Outdoor Leopard in black by Ballard Designs
  • Fabrics – all by Premier Prints in Village Blue (Chipper, Zig Zag and Towers prints) – I ordered from various sites and paid under $8 a yard for each
  • Contractor – Shawn Reuter / SLR Construction / 706-254-0231

With that, it’s high time for me to hit the porch with a sweet iced tea!
xoxo

Excited for the features at Elizabeth and Co., Be Inspired, and Our Southern Home!

41 thoughts on “The Southern Porch Screened {Before & After}

  1. I can say I am so jealous. It is beautiful and cozy and grand.
    What do you do in the winter? so you have storm windows? I have been planning something like this but I have to convince my hubby. Dianntha

  2. Wow! This is not your average screened porch. You have decorated it so beautifully with so many special touches. I love, love everything! If I had such a place, I'd never want to go inside!

    Cindy
    Cynthiasvintageinva.blogspot.com

  3. I love any peek we get at the porch – and I can totally see (especially being in GA) how the screens make an already perfect space even MORE enjoyable! xo

  4. I have been trying to catch up on your seventeen-gazillion posts in the last couple of weeks. (How in the world do you do it??) Anyway, I saw your whole beautiful house tour post at How I Found My Style. Yours truly is Southern Coastal. I kept looking at your new exterior railing and wondered where the inspiration came from. Now I realize from your post here it was Tybee! Oh yes, now I recognize it from the porch in The Last Song! Beautiful job as always, Amanda!
    Oh, and I also want to move into the carriage house where you stayed in Rosemary Beach! :)

  5. Your creativity and talent is astounding. Your porch is such a beautiful space and I am sure you family loves it! Love the screens and so glad you are enjoying. Does it get very dirty?

  6. I absolutely adore your back porch! You did an amazing job decorating it as well. Ours is open as well, but after all the rain this year and bugs…I am contemplating asking hubby if we can screen it in sometime soon. It would also allow us to let the pooches out without them getting into the yard on rainy days, or having to chase them while we are eating out as they love to keep us company.

  7. I can see why you adore that porch…it is amazing! All your special and personal touches make it even more special. Sometimes I wish we had screened in our porch instead of having it glassed in…sounds funny I know but I really miss having a screened porch!

  8. Amanda, I always enjoy when you give us a tour of your lovely porch! You must be loving those screens now that they are up! It looks like you can barely see them from the inside and being able to stay out there on buggy nights must be wonderful!
    -Shelley

  9. You have terrific taste and beautiful style Amanda! Yours is still the only blog I follow regularly.
    ~Angie in Clarksville, TN

  10. Just found your blog through The Lettered Cottage. Your porch is amazing and just so relaxing. I love it and am sure you'll enjoy it thoroughly. Gotta have a screened porch in the south!
    What a great space and all your touches of styling are so beautiful. I can't wait to look through the rest of your house on your blog and add you to my blog roll.

    Betsy

    West of the Square Designs

  11. I came across your blog on Blissful and Domestic and immediately fell in love with your porch! You have decorated it so nicely, I want to hang out in it all day, every day!

  12. Oh my goondess! I love it! The map coffee table, white brick and leopard print rug are some of my favorite details! We may be buying a house with a screened porch soon, I'm curious what type of screens you bought? The ones in this house would have to be replaced and I love how clear your's are when looking out! Thanks!
    – Lora @ Craftivity Designs

  13. Oh my goodness–I LOVE this porch! What an amazing difference! I love how light and airy the whole porch looks!
    Would you mind to link this up to my blog hop? Our readers love to see DIY projects like this! Just click on the "Carrie This Home" next to my picture and it will take you right to the hop. Thanks so much!!!

  14. I know what you mean about the bugs in the South! Spending time outside is a lot more pleasant with a screen porch. Your porch is one of my all time favorites and I appreciate you sharing it at the Open House party.
    xx,
    Sherry

  15. I just saw the article on your back porch in Better Homes and Gardens and I have to say that your porch is beautiful! My wonderful husband has just built us a table and we are trying to decide on what color to stain/paint it and your dining table on the porch is just perfect. I looked through to see if I could see the colors that were used but didn't. Can you please tell me what color you stained the top and painted the bottom? Thank you so much. Karen-Tupelo, MS

  16. Love, love, love the space that you created! Could you tell me the length and width of the porch? Thank you!!

  17. I had saved this post so I could reference it when rebuilding my deck. Can you give me some information on the horizontal boards used for the underpinning? I love that look but do not know what to request. Many thanks, [email protected]

  18. Your oyster shell chandelier is gorgeous I took your inspiration to make my own version. How many strands with the number of shells on each is on the bottom of your light?

Leave a Reply to Harold Cook Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *