Friday, July 15

Updating rather than upgrading

One of my favorite spaces in this house is the front porch. In fact, one of the very first things I wrote about when I started my blog was how I treated my porch as an outdoor living room.

I love decorating it for different seasons and holidays.



While I still love my porch, I'm no longer fond of the cushions on my porch furniture. I liked the red and gold stripes when I chose the furniture years ago. And the cushions are still in excellent shape--there's absolutely nothing wrong with them except that I've grown tired of the red and gold. So I found myself really wanting to replace them with some nice neutral cushions.

But wait--there are other things to pay for right now. Medical bills from Jack's open-heart surgery, two kids in college--you know how it goes.

So I had a choice: be grumpy about keeping my old cushions, or be grateful that I have cushions. To tell the truth, this seems to be a choice that I face about almost everything in my life: to be grumpy or be grateful.

I decided to try being grateful. Before long, it occurred to me that I could update the look of my old cushions by adding a little blue to the mix. I stumbled upon some old pillows that I sprayed with Scotch Guard so that I could use them on the porch. I found an old blue and white planter and potted a cutting from my golden pothos plant. I ran across a couple of blue and white tealight holders from Dollar Tree. And I found this little table at Goodwill for $5:



A coat of blue spray paint, some distressing, and a little walnut stain later, I had another blue accent for the porch.


So here's how the porch looks today, after spending $7.00 and a little time:





Up-to-date, enviably fashionable? No. But fresh enough to make me happy with it? Yes. I've found that the grateful me is much easier to please than the grumpy me!

What do you think? Do you like the touches of blue on my porch? Do you have spaces that could do with a little updating?

I'm joining these fun parties:



21 comments:

  1. Love your porch and the new blue touches are just stunning. You could even do a slipcover for the ottoman very reasonably, or spray paint a tray if you want more blue. I am with you, trying to decorate with the grateful approach. I think it is fabulous. Hugs, Marty

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  2. Amazing what a touch of color can do....FABULOUS! Love your attitude!

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  3. What a great attitude to have. I truly believe happiness lies in the little things. :)

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  4. Wow, I know that feeling!! Thus far, I've not re-decorated my living room although I have the perfect plan. Soooo, I may have to face a little compromise just for now. Thanks for being REAL and reminding me of gratitude in decorating. Its big in other parts of my life, but I've never applied it to furnishing a home. See...you really inspired me to be a better me!!!

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  5. I think it looks great...and you have a great attitude! Trying to remember the grateful thing myself. :)

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  6. I just love this post Richella! Sometimes I even think it isn't whether we "can" spend money on something but rather "should" we, you know? It's all that good steward stuff we are supposed to be doing, huh? LOL! I think your porch is absolutely gorgeous and I really love the red and gold and the blues just give it a lovely summer-y feel. Thanks so much for sharing this one at Inspiration Friday!
    Vanessa

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  7. I just loved it that you could still use your outdoor living room even with the winter themed decor! Now that is one more thing to add to the grateful side of the picture. Love your style!

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  8. Love your porch~ how pretty it is and I am loving the blue touches you have added! Stopping by from Shabby Nest today- stop by and say hello sometime! :)

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  9. The blue really adds a nice touch! I know how you feel about being grateful for what you have...I've had to take stock of all that I have. It helps just to stand back and appreciate it. Your porch is beautiful!

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  10. The blue really adds a nice touch! I know how you feel about being grateful for what you have...I've had to take stock of all that I have. It helps just to stand back and appreciate it. Your porch is beautiful!

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  11. I love your striped cushions, and I think it's a great idea to bring in splashes of other colors. I like the blue, you could always add more blue in pillows:-)

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  12. I agree with Allyson...I love your porch! I think it's pretty no matter what you've put on it! : )

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  13. Hi there! I recently discovered your blog and I love it! In fact, I'm your newest follower! I just started my own blog this week. I love your porch. The blue goes perfectly. You have a great attitude...I'm constantly telling myself to be grateful for what I DO have instead of being grumpy over what I DON'T have. :)

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  14. Richella, I'm so glad you were able to find a solution for your scarred furniture from my post! Have a great weekend!

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  15. Looking good Richella! I like your touches of blue. I have a question...Do your lamps blow over when it is windy? EVERYTHING blows off of our porches and patios here in Kansas. Wichita is a windy place.

    I'd love to decorate mine...but they'd just get messed up each time the wind blows. I have found planters and flowers across the street underneath neighbor's cars!

    So, I will just enjoy the pictures of your porch! (smile)

    Love, Linda

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  16. LOVE it! Think if you have the resources, you could add more blue!

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  17. Your attitude is one that we all need to remember. I definitely am guilty of being grumpy when I should be grateful.

    I like the touches of blue that you added to the porch. Your little table will be handy to hold a glass of tea while you are sitting out on your porch enjoying it. I like that you have floor lamps out there which make it look even more like a room.

    To tell you the truth, I still like red and gold and have a lot of it in my house.

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  18. Richella, I love your porch. My front porch could use a little updating right now too. My swing is on its last leg, so to speak. However, with Catie starting college this year I must work with what I already have.
    Speaking of college, Catie's orientation is Monday and Tuesday too! Maybe we will run into each other on campus. I think I would recognize Preston anywhere so tell him that If a strange lady or girl calls his name, It might just be me or Catie. :D

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  19. Your porch is gorgeous and your post is very insightful. I'll remember that ... be grumpy or grateful.

    Your adding blue to your already beautiful room looks fabulous !! Love the table you found to paint. Great updating !! xo

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