Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Grand *Porch* Details


 What a lovely day we had today.  
Here in Northern Illinois, you just can't beat sunshine and temperatures in the fifties in January!  
I was able to read (blogs on my iPad) out on the porch today!  
It was pure heaven.  A true cabin fever reliever!  
I soaked it up eagerly, because I know it can't last.

Careful observers may recall that we remodeled our porch several years ago.  
You can read about it here.
I swore at the time that I wanted a good old fashioned screened porch, not a sun room.
We designed the porch using custom wood storm doors that we ordered online.  They came with storm window inserts and we thought, what the heck, the storms might keep the porch cleaner over the winter.  Well, we put them in for the very first winter and we have never taken them out!  So much for the screened porch thing.  The screens sit, unused, in the basement. We get so much more use out of the porch with the glass inserts- it stays much warmer for three seasons, and it stays much cleaner year round.  For someone with allergies, it's nice to feel like you are outside, but without the pollen.
Today, I took some interior photos to share with you. 


On fair days, you will often find me sitting in the little rocker below.
I'm kind of like Goldilocks - only brunette and slightly older- and this rocker is just right.  
I can sit there and survey the neighborhood, keep an eye on the front door 
and the bird feeders  (Hello, Gladys Kravitz)
 and never have to budge.
Today was one of those days.
(After I went for a long walk with a good friend and our happy dogs...)



We like to "dine" out on the porch as often as we can.  
With a little space heater, we can be out here in three seasons, and sometimes four!


 
This buffet cabinet was made for us by - can you guess - my talented friend, Ed!  
Remember Dr. Ed?
He does some pretty nice work.  


 We needed a large serving piece for this area and I shopped around for one but couldn't find exactly what I wanted.  For Christmas that year, Mr. Grand suggested I design a cabinet just the way I wanted it and have Ed build it!  Now, that's my idea of heaven.
I have often thought that if I won the lottery,
I would sit around designing things that Ed could make for me.  
So I designed a cabinet and Ed made it real.

 It's almost six feet wide and three feet tall.  
We wanted something that could handle a crowd.



I love the beaded edge on the doors and drawers
and the way the diamonds insets are glazed.
Bravo, Ed!


The mirror is by Ralph Lauren.  
I love the texture of the weave and all the detail on the edges.



Do you remember the Chandelfan?  I found the chandelier at the flea market and really, really wanted to hang it out on the porch, below the ceiling fan.  Our trusty electrician said "No problem!".


Can't wait til it's warm enough to need the fan again!

Until recently, I wasn't quite happy with the pillows I'd made for the porch.  
I like the fabric and  pom-pom fringe and the color,
but something about the proportions always bothered me.  
Then, (thank you, Blog world) I read about Karate chopping your pillows to give them a crease.



So I gave 'em a good chop and now I think they're just right! 


Do you Karate chop your pillows? 
Did everyone but me already know about this???




Thanks for visiting the Grand porch with me!


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28 comments:

  1. what a beautiful space!
    I especially love the buffet and chandy.

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  2. This space is awesome! I absolutely love that buffet. It would be super cool if would come by today to enter my giveaway for a $50 Lowe's gift card and to link up to my very first party! http://thespacebetweenblog.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/imagine-the-impossibilities-link-party-1/
    Karah @ thespacebetweenblog = your newest follower

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    1. Done! Thanks for the invite and good luck with your first party!

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  3. What a lovely porch! I can taste a summer salad at the table already, plus viewing the bird feeders - my "little friends".... cw

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  4. Oh, Ed would be my new best friend. That piece is so lovely!

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  5. What a beautiful porch! I can see why it's a favorite spot. And, I love the buffet!

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  6. We are going to glass in our screen porch also. We have a lot of trees and it's hard to keep clean. Love your furniture! BRAVO Dr. Ed, great job on the buffet! Also the first time I've seen a ceiling fan with a chandelier. Thanks for posting!

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  7. Erin,
    Thanks for the kind words. If I don't win the lottery, then I hope you do.

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  8. Thanks, Dr. Ed! Sounds like a Win, Win to me!

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  9. Oh my gosh...send Dr. Ed to my house! Absolutely gorgeous. I think I would be out there all day!
    -Shelley

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  10. What a beautiful porch, Erin. I can see why you'd want to spend time there, screens or no. :)

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  11. Your porch is beautiful and has so many functional and pretty pieces. Love the chandelfan and Dr. Ed made a gorgeous sideboard. I love the proportions and rich of colours of both the sideboard and mirror. I would certainly spend lots of time there too.

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  12. Love it. Love that piece of furniture. It is just beautiful. We use
    our outdoor patio a great deal and serve meals quite a bit out
    there during spring and summer. I have found that I do need pieces
    of furniture since it is like a dining area, you need to store certain things
    that get used daily. Love your arrangement, I agree with everyone.
    Spending the day out there would be heaven!
    Blessings,
    Debbie

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  13. It looks like a great place to spend time. Thanks for sharing.

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  14. WOW!! This is a stunning reveal!! Enjoy!

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  15. Love the Gladys Kravitz reference. You don't hear much about her any more.

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  16. what a gorgeous piece! you've got some talented friends!

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  17. What a wonderful space!!! I would love to have a place like that to soak in the sun! Sounds super cozy! Mr. Ed is very talented. I am your newest follower. Hope you can visit me sometime too:)

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  18. It is indeed a grand porch! Thank you for sharing your wonderful post at Potpourri Friday!

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  19. Love the chandelfan and you are so lucky to have that beautiful cabinet that you designed come to life! Thanks so much for joining our Impossibilities Challenge. New follower!
    Kelly

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  20. LOVE the diamond detail, something you don't normally see and beautiful.

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  21. So very pretty. That chandy fan is crazy creative! I'm in IL too ... Chicago to be more precise, not too far from Wrigley Field...

    Thanks so much for linking up to our Impossibilities challenge!

    Linda
    itallstartedwithpaint@gmail.com

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  22. Had to come back for another look!!

    Thanks so much for linking up to the challenge! Karah

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  23. The buffet is stunning...and I love the way you staged everything. beautiful.

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  24. Gorgeous buffet! Ed did a great job! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  25. your room is gorgeous- i love that buffet, too! and the pillow pom poms are adorable!

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  26. Super cute pillow Erin!!! I love the fabric too!

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  27. Oh your porch is gorgeous, GORGEOUS! Thanks for visiting me and letting me know about yours, I always love to see a great sun room or sunporch. That chandlefan is hilarious and too awesome, I might have to copy that! If you ever want to share this (or anything else) at my History & Home link party, please feel free, would love to have you join. (Tue-Fri weekly) Take care - Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com

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