A Change of Porch Plans Again.. and Nantucket Green! ORC, Week 4

Hi! I hope that your week is going well!! I am currently on my 3rd change of porch plans at the Beach Cabin. But, things are actually starting to happen this week. Due to some other projects that we have in the works, the budget got a major cut. Also…. This.

Crew Jones is not helping to make the case for the wicker furniture that I picked out either. Granted, this is outdoor fabric and can (and will) be wiped down before we have others over. Still, as with white cabinets, it would be nice to have only one set of furniture that needs to be wiped down repeatedly. Also, outdoor furniture designers, please, please, please give us more options than sets that come with white cushions! Some of us have puppies that like to dig in dirt and then lounge, kids who like to eat bright red popsicles outside in the summer, and guests (fine, us) who like red wine and don’t want to worry about spills.

The Purchases

As a result of the budget cuts and muddy paw prints, we plan to keep the existing furniture but update it with new cushions. After a quick trip to Home Goods, I’m feeling good about the porch plan again. The porch will definitely be more “cottage” than “cabin” and I think that’s just fine. Navy and white is always a favorite color combo for me anyway. In the fall, we may throw some plaid blankets out there for the weather and style transition.

I mentioned last week that I took advantage of the McGee & Co rug sale. It came this week, and I love it! It also definitely has a beachy vibe to go with all of the other decor. You can find it here.

The Paint

I also picked up some paint and finally started painting. Given the change of plans and new decor, I was waffling about whether I really needed to repaint. Good thing I had already sanded. It was just what I needed to motivate me to actually do the painting. I started by spraying painting the porch swing and chain white. While I still want to switch out the chain for a rope, I figured that while I was spraying away, I might as well include the chain just in case I don’t find the right kind of rope in time. My mom had suggested painting the walls the same color as the trim and I think it made a subtle but significant impact by allowing the walls to fade into the background. The walls had a purple tint that was more pronounced in certain seasons, and I’m glad to have the calming green-gray instead. It is Benjamin Moore’s Nantucket Gray, and in the Historical Colors collection, which seems perfect for this early 1920’s cottage by the water.

I also plan to clean up the trim but just felt that I needed to get started, and painting was just the thing that I needed to get going. Also, I can clean trim much easier when the kids and puppy are around, but I had this window of time to paint while they were at school. Sometimes, you just have to adjust the order based on your life and what works best for you!

The Plan

I’m hoping to pick up a new/used coffee table sometime next week as well as some flowers. Last week, I purchased azaleas for our house and they are amazing! You can check out some more of my plant options and possible plans here.

I think that’s it for this week! Thank goodness that Week 4 was a turning point. Sometimes, I just have to stop planning and get started! Things are rolling now!!

Don’t forget to check out the other ORC Participants’ progress here!