home design series | front porch
it’s time to dust off our rockers, grab an iced tea and sit a spell. ‘cuz my front porch is officially open for the summer. those april showers bring may flowers. so it’s that time of year to share a few front porch decor ideas for spring. many of you know the front and backyards had a recent design overhaul. it’s important to me to utilize every square inch of space inside and out when it comes to your home. there’s nothing better than lounging outside on a lazy saturday afternoon sipping a cold glass of sun tea. so today, i’m sharing the front yard. welcome to the home design series the front porch.
first stop is my local nursery Cofer’s, to load up on a few plants. there are three window boxes on our porch just waiting to be spruced up for spring. along with a planter and urn. and the front door needs a spring wreath. come along with me as i go plant shopping.
home design series | front porch
last year the birds desperately tried to build a nest in my wreath! i can’t tell you how many times i opened the front door only to have mama bird fly in… this year i am vigilantly patrolling this particular zone.
come on in and sit a spell on my front porch! how cute is this summer-ready ootd? a dark rinse denim shirt from Ralph Lauren goes with everything as it acts as a neutral. today, i pulled on a pair of preppy shorts from J.Crew complete with embroidered tennis rackets. i’m wearing a size 8. the length is 7″. white mules (old, similar here and here) from J.Crew are just the ticket with this outfit but a pair of white sneakers would look adorable too.
my gardening tools are toted back and forth from backyard to front with ease. love this nine-piece set that has all the basics tucked inside pockets. a pair of waterproof garden clogs are a must-have. when i’m finished slogging around in the mud i simply spray them down with a water hose.
garden tote and tools | gardening clogs
hydrangeas are one of my all-time favorite plants. there are several planted along the sidewalk to our front door.
shorts | shirt | similar shoes (old, similar here and here)
the solar lights along the walkway are from Wayfair.
two new dogwoods and one Japanese maple grace the front yard.
gardenias and azalaeas.
shorts | shirt | similar shoes (old, similar here and here)
a proper southern porch needs a rocker or two. maybe three since i have three boys. the green nantucket rocker was purchased from Grandin Road. the bunnies are also from Grandin Road, as well as most of my outdoor decor, including the planters, wreath, and faux boxwood. this is my one-stop-shop for the cutest outdoor decor. ugh! the black rockers definitely need a coat of paint. add that to my honey-do list!
the outdoor pillows are from Williams Sonoma
the railing planters are from Home Depot.
shorts | shirt | similar shoes (old, similar here and here)
a Boston fern always hangs on my front porch. this one will triple in size by the end of summer.
thanks for stopping by today! i hope you enjoyed the home design series the front porch edition.
What a wonderful, welcoming front porch – even for birds 😉 I adore your painted rocking chairs. They are so comforting and evoke such great memories.
nothing better than a front porch big enough for rockers!
You have a beautiful home. Love all your new decorating and home decorating changes. Since I live in Minnesota will have to wait for 3 or 4 weeks yet to buy plants and potted flowers. I can hardly wait, but it is still getting down to 27 at night and high of 40’s this week. Enjoy your beautiful weather.
i used to live in the land of 10,000 lakes. mother’s day was always the sweet spot to start gardening. now that i’m down south it’s easter. but i sure do miss my peonies from my MN days!
Hi Beth!
Great post today. Such a fun and colorful porch. Who doesn’t love a great porch?! Love the bunnies, thanks for sharing where you purchased them.
Sharon
there’s is nothing better than a porch on a hot summer day!
Love your yard.
it turned out well! can’t wait to share the backyard.
Love your outfit Beth! I will def. have to get a pair of those garden shoes. Being able to hose them down is fantastic and they look as if they have good foot support, which is hard to find in this sort of shoe.
I think you have struck hair gold. I tried a Judy Dench/Jamie Lee Curtis hair cut when I was transitioning to grey, but my hair doesn’t work with that style. It’s perfect for you in that you have just the right amount of natural curl/body. I really like the wispy side swept bangs on you. Perfection 🥂
you will love these sloggers, andrea! so easy to take care of just like my hair!
Although I LOVED living in the Midwest, I cant tell you how excited I am to be moving back to GA! Just found you last week – love your posts. And boy was I shocked to discover you live in Athens, GA! My hometown. I’ve really enjoyed taking advantage of the beautiful flowers I grew up loving. I can’t wait to get my front porch ready in our new home – and my back porches as well. Thank you for the inspiration.
i hear ya! loved growing up in the Midwest but i’m loving all things Georgia especially Athens! lucky you
to grow up here!
It’s coming along beautifully! Always love your rabbits. I’ve just repainted my white porch with lilac and yellow accents in pots and chairs. Thinking what flowers to put in my pots.
Love the outfit.
i think the rabbits are my favorite part of the porch! happy gardening!
Sloggers are the best garden and rain shoes!. I have some that are 15 years old….I can wash them out including giving the insole a good scrub, dry them out and put the insole back in place…and they come out just like new. You are showing the shoes…they also make clogs and boots. Their prints are fantastic and there is something for everyone
definitely a big fan of sloggers! thanks for sharing there are more than one type.
littleonetc@hotmail.com
Hi Beth
I would like to say I would never think to put my denim with shorts. I looked at it a little bit until comfortable to say I like. Thanks for all your wonderful ideas. I wish my porch was as big as yours. Envious!
i’m so glad the combo grew on you! thanks for stopping by.
As always, beautifully done! Re the birds trying to build a nest in your wreath: one fall I was taking down my summer wreath when I felt a sharp pain in several places on both arms. I was wracking my brain trying to figure out what could be sharp on the wreath as I walked inside, still carrying it, and when I set it down on the floor I discovered the source of my pain: wasps had built a nest in the wreath, and now they were in my house! I’m not allergic, so no serious damage was done, and I managed to get them back outside, but I’m ever vigilant about my wreaths since that happened!
thank goodness you’re not allergic! but a wasp sting is quite painful. so thankful all turned out well.
Lovely everything. Thanks so much for sharing your life with us! ~
always love to hear from you girlfriend!
Hola buenas tardes Beth, te sigo hace ya varios años, me encanta ver tu casa, es hermosa, tu jardin esta muy lindo. Gracias por mostrar parte de tu casa. Saludos desde Chile.
hola, Ximena! muchas gracias por pasar por mi casa. mi casa es su casa.
Try putting a clear plastic plate in the open part of the wreath. It will keep the birds from building a nest and you can’t see the plate!
thanks for sharing! great tip.
Absolutely love your hair! Cute, fresh you look beautiful!💐
thanks, barb! i am loving the new ‘do’ too!
Love your front yard, is soo calm and peaceful!! beautiful combination of flowers, everything is pretty
and we all need a sanctuary to retreat to.
Your new hair do is fabulous!!!
thanks, nancy! and it’s so easy to take care of.
The new Do really is you! It’s fabulous! Just love it!
mr. style LOVED my hair this way! he’s smiling that i finally went back to it.
Beth,
What a beautiful, welcoming porch! I can almost taste the iced tea. Thank you sharing with us!
Pam
wish you could stop by and enjoy an iced tea with me!
Love your decorating and your hair! You always look beautiful!😇
thanks, lisa! i am loving the new summer ‘do’!
Hi Beth,
Your front porch really looks beautiful, as well as your garden. Give yourself a HUGE pat on the back. Your vision is so “right on,” it sure helps when your taste level is excellent, and you know how to spot things and put your pieces together to create a look. Everything looks so inviting, the rocking chairs create such a welcoming,
cozy and safe feeling. Your entire property is gorgeous.
thanks, katherine! i am absolutely over the moon with front porches. how lucky am i have an inviting one to share an iced tea
with friends and family.
Lovely post. It was in the low 40’s here today. No gardening yet.Probably in another 3-4 weeks(MICH). But I enjoyed seeing your green things. Is the wreath on your door a faux or real? Where did you get it?It looks great. You have a very nice landscape. Love the rockers. It is the chair everyone heads for. We are supposed to get frost here in the next 2 days. Right now I wish I were in Georgia!
the wreath is faux from GrandinRoad. what is not to love about a rocking chair on a front porch? it’s always the simple
pleasures of life!
Oscar seems to relish the fresh new season, too! I understand what you mean about missing peonies. I’m a lifelong Minnesotan turned Arizonan. On an up note, we both get to experience new gardening techniques and varieties.
you are so right about new gardening techniques! and the desert has its own special charm.
How fun to see beautiful spring in Georgia. You have no idea how I’m longing for this to happen in Northern Wisconsin!!
i remember my days up north and how fickle april could be! spring will be here before you know it!
Your front porch is the epitome of Southern. Great job! We’ve had birds try to nest in our faux lemon leaf wreath. Drives our Calico crazy. A super large bow seems to deter them. Thank you for sharing all your wonderful ideas!
thanks for the suggestion! and thanks for being here.
Hi Beth, Love your new garden and the porch chairs — also your spunky new hairstyle. Cheers, Helen
thank you, helen! i am loving both!