The Delightful Home {Southern Screened Porch}

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2021

After five years of enjoying our porch, I’ve been working on a few updates this spring and summer!  To refresh your memory, or if you’ve just recently joined us, we originally had a deck in this space.

April 2009 106

February 2012 512

We used most of the original footings, moved the stairs, and ended up with this space – our new favorite in the whole house!

Our goals for the 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.  None of that has changed!

In the six years since we finished this space, I have updated it once (last year).  I added new fabrics for the curtains and pillows, a new painting over the mantle and two new arm chairs at the dining table.

French doors from the kitchen open up on to the sitting area. Our contractor built the fireplace as an exact replica of our den fireplace – right down to the antique bricks – and I ADORE it! The new oyster painting is by my Mother 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 gray blankets are from Ikea.  The mapped out coffee table and pin board frame were both DIY projects.

I originally picked up one yard of this gorgeous floral print when shopping for my foyer refresh.  I didn’t end up using it in there but hated for it to sit unused in a cabinet for no telling how long.  It was just enough for Mother to make me new pillow covers in the chairs and on the sofa!

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 kids crammed on its benches. The rainbow trout fish painting on reclaimed wood is a gorgeous piece by Angie Reuter, and is hung with dock cleats and nautical rope. The oyster shell lantern and shell centerpiece were DIY projects.  The arm chairs and side chairs are by Grandin Road. The urns are from Pottery Barn.

The DIY skirted table has smartly served as both a buffet for entertaining and for general storage underneath. Lanterns are from Home Goods, mercury glass shell from Pottery Barn and melamine tray is from Macy’s. The seeded glass wall lanterns are from Ballard Designs. A vintage refrigerator basket from Habersham Antiques serves as a magazine rack. The original upholstered chairs were replaced with these from Grandin Road.  Mother made the new curtains for me!

When not set up for entertaining, the buffet table usually has a few cups or shells, or a s’mores or apple cider bar.

Other 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 (discontinued)
  • Contractor – Shawn Reuter / SLR Construction / 706-254-0231

I recently wrote another post with my My Five Favorite Porch & Patio Decorating Ideas, if you’d like to check that one out as well!

We have used this porch more than any space in our home over the years for entertaining, relaxing and family time.  And we’ve never once looked back at the choice to do this over the master bathroom (that is still navy blue, ha!).

The Delightful Home {Dixie Delights Home Tour}
My Five Favorite Porch & Patio Decorating Ideas

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DIXIE DELIGHTS DELIVERED

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8 thoughts on “The Delightful Home {Southern Screened Porch}

  1. Love your porch and all the pretty new decor is so fresh. Makes it such an inviting space to enjoy.

  2. I remember when you had the porch built and I’ve loved seeing it throughout the years. It would be my favorite room too!

  3. Beautiful! Such an inspiring space; the DIY elements you added are so nicely done! Do you have an updated source for Angie Reuter art pieces? My fishing boys would love a piece similar to yours!

  4. We just recently moved into a new home with a screened in porch. I live in the south, as well, and am curious as to how you keep all of mother natures lovely pollen off your porch??? You have several “indoor” pieces outside, does any of it ruin in the humidity? Any helpful tips would be greatly appreciated. I have envied your porch for years and am so excited to have one of my own now!!!

  5. Your porch is a masterpiece! Every time I see it, it’s like watching an old, favorite movie…revisiting the favorite parts and searching for something I have never seen before! Love, love, love it!

  6. Beautiful! We are thinking of screening ours in, but what do you do about the rain? Does it get on your furniture?

  7. I have always loved your screened in porch. My grandma had one similar to this… hers was decorated a little bit differently- (think more 1950’s-60’s farmhouse) but it’s where all of the grandkids (and there were 26 of us!!!) would always have our holiday meals out on the screened in porch. I have so many memories of those days!!!

    We have considered screening in our back patio because of all of the mosquitoes but we we always go back & forth because of the pool, etc…. kids need somewhere to run and sit down in their wet suits in the case of a quick thunderstorm or just to sit in the shade for a bit to take a break from the pool. But it has crossed my mind MANY times. Of course, our back patio isn’t really furnished, except with a patio set and a porch swing, which is my favorite thing about my back yard, I love sitting on my porch swing on summer evenings. :)

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