Sunday, May 31, 2009

It's a Progressive Porch Party! (Rhondi's Porch Party)


Well, hey y'all! Welcome to the party! So glad you came! Come on up! Have a seat on the porch and sit a spell. I have some ice cold sweet tea or lemonade, if you'd prefer. I also have made my Aunt Agnes' recipe for teacake cookies, that are on the tea cart, allow me to make you a plate so you can eat while we chat.
Today it's all about porches. Rhondi is hosting a porch party today.
Allow me to show you some of my favorite porches. These porches came from one of my favorite sources of inspiration, Country Living (my other fav is Coastal Living, both of which showcase some beautiful porches). Come on, let's take a look around.
Oh! Take a look at this beauty!

I love the painted wood floors. The sisal rug. The porch swing invites one to relax. The colors are all American and summer! I love the outdoor curtains, which lend privacy and keep out blinding light.
This next porch is very classy with a french flair. It's simply elegant, not overdone and crisp in yellow, black and white. I love the hanging candle fixture.

I love this porch below. It is so homey and comfortable. It reminds me of my great aunts Lillian and Preston, who were the epitome of southern charm, like this porch is. White wicker, needlepoint foot stool and potted herbs and plants. It's southern living at it's best. When the outdoors are hotter than Haites, one needs someplace cooling and calming to recoup. This porch is just the place.
Now, think crisp. Think class. This next porch has both of those elements and more, with its blue and white color scheme. I love the candles on the railings.
What i love is a sleeping porch. My cousin Elaine has a wonderful one tucked away in the mountain in Mentone. The porch alone will sleep four in individual beds. I love the thought of being lured to sleep by the chirps of crickets and frogs. Watching the stars chase the moon across the sky. You can do that on her porch. To see her porch, click here.
If you don't have enough room for a sleeping porch, how about carving yourself some room for a nap on the porch with a hammock like this space below? It need not much room.
Allow the summer breezes to "make you feel fine and blow through the jasmine in your mind". This is the place for that!
The porch above is certainly an outdoor living space. Its traditional furniture arrangement is perfect for conversation while enjoying the views. Outdoor furniture is used, but softened with outdoor cushions. Treat enclosed outdoor spaces as you would outdoor, by using weather resistant fabrics. Though it is enclosed temperatures, sunlight and humidity will affect your fabrics. We all know about humidity. Especially here in the south. I mean, look I am glistening at the mention. We southern girls don't sweat, we glisten. LOL. Thank goodness for the ceiling fan above to stir the air!Anyway, What were we talking about? Oh! Porches! Back to the porch tour.....
So, you don't have a porch? Create an outdoor room/living space!

And enjoy the lazy days of summer.
My final porch is a special one. It belongs to my cousin Beckie, who lives along Lake Guntersville. Come up the path and allow me to show you her beautiful porch.
Watch out for kitties, they love the porch too!
Beckie's porch is flanked by gorgeous pillar columns. Potted plants also love this space, in indirect sunlight, they strive.
The porch swing was built by Beckie grandfather many years ago. While he is gone, his craftsmanship is still enjoyed by Beckie and her grandchildren, and future generations to come.
The rockers invite one to sit, sip, and relax as you take in the gorgeous views.
Can you see the view beyond Beckie and my mother? It's hard to resist staring at. The sun greets you here each and every morning. Just look at it.....
It's a slice of paradise. And certainly one of my favorite porches!
Well, honey, I certainly enjoyed you visiting. I always do. I love my friends. Now give me a hug before you leave and visit the other porches that can all be found at Rhondi's Porch party!
Enjoy!
Don't forget to come back tomorrow for our Summer Kick off Party! You are invited to join in too, you can find out all about the summer party here.
Finally, be sure to swing my my friend, Keetha's blog for some fun-vote for my Big Daddy in a good natured Father of the Year contest. It's not what you might think. My Big Daddy needs some votes...and apparently a boa and a scepter.
Now leave me a "roadmap" to your blog and I'll swing by soon, my friend! Bye, now!

33 comments:

Unknown said...

I think I want them all! Guess I will need more than 1 house!

Thanks for sharing!
:)Diane

Celestina Marie said...

Oh I enjoyed all the porches you featured for the party. So many great elements to inspire. I love that view at the end. What a great post. I so enjoyed meeting you and visiting your lovely blog.
I invite you to stop by my party when you have a moment.
Have a great week.
Hugs, Celestina Marie

Anonymous said...

Thank you. I have enjoyed all the beautiful porches.

Willow

Chandy said...

My goodness, Leigh, all those porch ideas got me dizzy with envy! LOL My patio is still a wreck as two of my babies are sick and indoor cleaning is still at its start stages. :-P

Ok, off to see what I missed in your blog.

Mari said...

I must admit to being a bit "green" over here! I don't have a porch although you gave me a few good ideas for an outdoor one. I love you cousins porch! Thanks for the tour. Now I'll go check out that Big Daddy vote!

Keetha Broyles said...

Folks seem to be having fun with my little Father-of-the-Year contest. Thanks for giving it a plug - - - and THANKS to Loser-Dork Dad for being such a good sport and playing along. (Not that he had any choice)

Marina Capano said...

Hi!! wow! I love so so so much! like a movies! fantastic!!!What a nice porch you have! You have a gorgeous and restful place to relax!!
amazing views, cute place, nice furniture and nice cat!
congrats!
xoxo

black eyed susans kitchen said...

I am always a sucker for white wicker on the porch. The table under the trees, all set up with the chairs is such an exciting look. Thanks for sharing these pictures.
♥, Susan

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Those are some amazingly beautiful porches!

Unknown said...

I love the welcome feel to those amazing porches.

Wishing you a fabulous week!

Blessings - Debbie

the wild raspberry said...

what a gorgeous view from beckie's porch!! breathtaking.
thanks for sharing all the inspiring porches~so lovely.
have a great day.
chasity

Chiki Cottage said...

So dreamy. Thank you for sharing...

Barbara said...

Leigh, Those beautiful porches made me want them all, but I prefer the coastal ones. Thanks for sharing, you have given me some ideas for our outdoor kitchen we are building at the lake.

Come and have a glass(your choice) with me.

Rhondi said...

Wow!! Those are beautiful porches and the view from the last one...oh my, it's heaven.
Thanks for joining the party.
Rhondi xo

Ribbonwood Cottage said...

Wow, where do I start. All the pictures are wonderful. Your whole tour is great. I love all the ideas I am getting today...and your post is wonderful, thank you.
Debbie

Carolyn said...

Those are all great porches you shared with us.
Carolyn

Fifi Flowers said...

Those are some GREAT porches!!!

Rue said...

Hi Leigh!

I love ALL these porches and patios, but I think your cousin has them beat... that view is amazing!!! Tell me the truth... does she have to escort you out of there, cuz she would have to if it was me LOL

(((hugs)))
rue

Stephanie said...

There's something special in each one! I had to save a couple for my inspiration folder!! I love your cousins place...that IS paradise!

Funny thing...hubby and I almost put margaritas in our Porch Party pics!

I enjoyed your Porch Party!

Beverly said...

That was wonderful! Thank you for your hospitality and for the tour through so many beautiful porches. Each one is spectacular.

Scooterblu's Whimsy~Rhonda said...

Oh, what wonderful inspiration! All of them are beautiful! ...including your cousin's! What a gorgeous view she has!!! ~hugs, Rhonda :)

PS..I'll be posting a thrifty treasure tomorrow and will be linking up to your event on Thursday. Hope you don't mind! :) I LOVE a bargain!!!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Leigh, I love all of these wonderful porches! They are great! And yes, I would love to meet you for lunch in St. Augustine. That would be a lot of fun. Our house there is a second home, and we have it on the market... but even when it sells (provided it sells before the next time you visit), I would still love to come meet you there! :-)

XO,

Sheila

P.S. I thought I had posted on here, Leigh, but I can't see that I did. Did I post in the wrong spot??? I have been doing some dingy things lately. LOL! ;-)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, and for the record, my father was a Bama graduate! He went there in the 1920's and was a Sigma Chi.

XO,

Sheila :-)

xinex said...

Oh Leigh, those porches are phenomenal! Love them all especially your cousin's, it is so relaxing and full of tranquility...Christine

Elyse said...

very inspiring and nice little stories, too.

xo

Gabrielle Mader said...

Hello,...just wanted to say Hi. I've come to visit all the porches at Rhondi's party. I love all the inspirational porches you showed and your cousin Beckie's. Well my inlaws are from Alabama..Foley to be exact and they love to fish too! Where are you at? We try to get over there when we can a get out out on the boat. Come by and see my porch if you have time..nice to meet you.

Kristin - The Goat said...

I have a 5th floor condo screened in porch that I've just ignored. Seriously ignored. I'm inspired by several of these porches :) That black/white/yellow one with the black wire chandelier is cool. It's totally not my style, but I'm drawn to it!

I can't wait to see who the winner is in the Father of the Year contest LOL

Bama Belle said...

MISSED YOU SO! The Princess is enjoying Sledge as well! I am so thrilled they have hit it off so well. She is such a lady you should be proud. Bama had quite the night at work, can't wait to fill you in on this LOL Bless his precious heart. He is adorable!

j said...

My porch may be the thing that I miss the most back home. When we finally buy or build, a porch will be my MUST HAVE item!

Poppedijne said...

Thank you for making me even more jalous of all the porches I have seen already.The ones you show are the picture perfect ones reminding me of lazy summerdays, white dresses and lady with time on their hands to drink tea and eat cakes.....Let me invite me to my garden party since we Belgians hardly ever have a porch you will have to do with a garden party. But you are most welcome.

Unknown said...

These porches are wonderful, they would be my favorites too. Thank you for sharing your favorites.

Karen

Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

All such wonderful spaces but the very first one, the one from Country Living, is my very fave. I remember seeing that porch pic a while back and fell in love with it...

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

I love me a good porch! I have that first photo from Country Living in my little inspiration book. In fact, last weekend I threw some bright blue and white pillows on the rockers, and added some red accents to mimic as best I could with what I have!