Two Houses And A Porch
- gdonohue2263
- Sep 12, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 14, 2023
On June 17th, 1994, my husband and I threw our first porch party to celebrate the newly built addition. Twenty friends and family crowded around the 20 by 10-foot structure while savoring food and libations. The date was easy to recall because it was the same night OJ Simpson’s White Ford Bronco chased through the streets of LA. Now, thirty years later, I am glad to gather again, this time virtually with you, to showcase my newly decorated space proudly.
Wiped out by a massive chunk of ice during the winter of 1994, the dilapidated porch was the main entrance to my grandmother’s apartment in my two-family home, an ideal arrangement to help manage her care. Situated off the kitchen, I traversed this precarious passageway numerous times daily. I was coming back into the kitchen, and as usual, I pushed the ill-fit door firmly shut, and then woosh - the ice fell off the side of the house and took the porch with it. I was a bit shaken and grateful that I was not hurt. The insurance company quickly approved our claim. With the check in hand, we hired Tyler Rasmus, an incredibly talented Victorian Home restorer, to do the work. To my delight, the newly designed porch would have a larger footprint, a high ceiling, cornices, and a reclaimed butterfly design from the 1930s, perfect for entertaining family and friends.
My porch has undergone several decorative transformations, mostly with upholstered cushions and area rugs. I purchased the five-piece ornate wrought iron set at one of Ronnie Seifert’s auctions from a woman going into nursing care. My mom and I walked through her house and noticed the set on her side porch. After a brief bidding war, we loaded the pieces into our truck and placed them on the patio. They were a beautiful shade of light blue and fit in perfectly with the Victorian style of my house.
The upholsterer told me that new foam cushions were needed, so I chose 5-inch thick, dense seat foam to avoid the feel of the underneath slats, as well as a 4-inch back seat cushion. Before this remodel, I chose a beige and white check design from the now-closed Waverly store in Adams, MA, along with a modern outdoor rug from the Home Depot. Weather worn and stained, it was time again to freshen new cushions.
This March, the third time around, I decided to reupholster the eight-cushion set myself. I shopped at several stores but could not find what I wanted. I then went into my attic and looked at older samples gathered from the Waverly outlet to understand what would work. I found my old guest room drapes, given to me by my Aunt Harriet, of blessed memory. There were six double-wide, lined pinch-pleated panels. The pattern was a lovely yellow floral, just perfect for my porch. I rip-stitched all the pieces, including the zippers, and carefully cut fifty-six pieces needed to do the job. I arranged the pattern so that it was centered. It had a large repeat, so it was quite a job to seam the pieces flawlessly. But I did it. It was so worth it in the end. It cost me nothing except cording, spray glue, batting, thread, and fabric fray.
Upholstery is a job that requires patience and the will to finish. It is not for a generalist. It would be best if you were exacting, and the process can be a dibble. Zippers are the worst and will keep you awake at night to find alternatives. If you succeed, though, the satisfaction of doing a good job is worth it. After wrapping them in batting to smooth the corners and filling the foam in place, I finished. It took me two weeks or so. The cushions are so lovely, and I am very proud of my meticulous, successful work. It was time-consuming to get it just right. If you decide to do this kind of work, take it one step at a time and be kind to yourself. I recommend a good book with step-by-step instructions. I used Singer's Sewing book and scanned several videos, but I kept returning to my book, pinning the pattern to get a perfect match.
Armed with new cushions, now was the time for me to pull the room together, but the porch needed painting. So my husband Paul and I got to work. He power washed, and I painted, choosing Benjamin Moore Coventr Gray for the butterflies and Distant Gray for the trim. We chose gray tones to keep with the light gray house. But I love color, so I decided to paint the furniture to match the yellow in the cushions. I tried several samples to get the color right. Benjamin Moore Yellow Topaz was perfect, creamy, jewel-toned, and lovely. My husband Paul devised a painting station with plastic tarp protection in our backyard and sprayed the entire set with two coats. It was neat, and it took only one day to complete the job. I was so pleased with the look, so was he.
I looked around for a new rug but discovered an oval green braided rug in my husband’s office that I once used in my kitchen. Not just a solid color, the carpet had multi-colors of pink and yellow woven into the design. It was a great fit and needed no adjustments. The colors of the rug were green, pink, and golden yellow. I could not have asked for anything better if I tried. It was a country charm, just right for my Victorian home in Hoosick Falls, NY country home.
Rummaging around my house for hidden treasures is the foundation of what I love to do - to take existing items and furnishings from my home and use them to decorate a new space. For summer, I like to take floral arrangements from lesser-used rooms to enjoy them in my entertaining areas. For example, I arranged silk peonies in my cherished crate and barrel planter accented with a Benjamin Moore Berry Fizz painted base. Don't get me wrong, I love to buy new when needed, but I often find what I need when I look around the house, attic, and basement. With numerous paint samples in my basement to choose from, I make it come together. After thirty years of living in a space with family heirlooms passed down from generation to generation, it is the kind of decorating that works for me.
I found an old stone sifter I painted Berry Fizz to add to the tabletop—filled with charming bird coasters for hot beverages. Berry Fizz is one of my favorite colors. I love a mix. Any time I can add color, I do; it just speaks to me. Vases, flowers, pitchers and candlesticks. The more, the merrier for me. A mix of natural and silk flowers keeps that color consistent. I filled my window boxes with pink begonias, which adds another dimension. Every spring, chickadees enter my birdhouse, custom-painted Benjamin Moore Beau Green: the vintage birdcage houses, wooden bells, perches, and ladders. I painted each trinket with bright colors to highlight their unique features. Occasionally, a hummingbird comes to call if we are lucky.
With leftover paint from my guest room. I used Benjamin Moore French Toile Blue to hide the faded green window boxes. In my basement storage, I finally found a use for the single brass candle sconce just right for the middle post. It adds a nice touch during the evening. I purchased modern Possini wall sconces from Lamps Plus that cast a two-toned soft glow. My husband adroitly installed them. We enjoy lighting candles at night for a peaceful feeling, utilizing the small occasional tables for drinks.
I was going to paint the worn-looking mahogany floors, but a friend told me that painted floors were not ideal because I would never get all the paint out if I wanted to return to the original look. I took her advice, mainly because the mahogany color matched the two custom-made screen doors that flanked the space. On closer inspection, the doors also added a worn, comfortable charm—Miles Lumber in Shaftsbury, VT, crafted them thirty years ago, and the doors are still solid.
Two Houses and a Porch
If you have read this far and are wondering about the title, I will end this post with a cute car metaphor, a story as near and dear to me as my sister Amy. Years ago, I was reminiscing with Amy on my porch about an old boyfriend from Dallas, Texas who drove a Porsche. He was an air traffic controller who owned two houses, a grand home near the Dallas Ft. Worth airport, and a rental property inhabited by my older sister, at the time of our hook-up. We dated for a few months as he was a lovely man. As the saying goes, he was a good catch.
Fortunately, I met my husband Paul shortly after that, fell in love, and moved back to Hoosick Falls, next door to my parents, my childhood home. As Amy and I continued to talk, I pondered, if I had married the air traffic controller, I’d have two houses and a Porsche. Quick as a wit, Amy quipped, Gayle, you have two houses and a porch. I laughed so loud. She was right. I had what I wanted right here in Hoosick Falls, plus my wonderful, handy husband!
My porch is as fancy as a high-speed sports car, and when I create a new space, it is as exciting as a high-speed car chase. Ready to entertain family and friends, my porch has lots of mileage left. No Porsche or White Bronco; decorating does it for me.
If you need help decorating your home with existing furnishings, please call
Gayle at 413-884-5684 or visit my blog for more inspiration at gayle donohue.com.
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