Screened Porch Update

This is long overdue! Really, we've been enjoying this space for a couple months. I still have bigger dreams for this space, but it's working great for our needs now.

Unfortunately, a lot of our yard is covered in poison ivy. Poor Brian has already gotten it several times. We also have a ridiculous amount of mosquitos. With the big trees and our very shaded and damp lot (we have moss everywhere!), Preston gets bit constantly. The porch serves as a big space for P to run around free of poison ivy and mosquitos. We are finding ourselves out there almost every day playing with his vast amount of toys - lawn mower, leaf blower, cars, trucks, etc. :)

Our screened porch used to be a garage. It is 20 ft x 20 ft, with concrete floors, screens along one side, and windows on the other. It was one of the things that made me fall in love with our house when we looked at it. I immediately envisioned our future children playing in it, celebrating birthday parties, and having friends over. In Memphis, you can actually use a screened porch for most of the year. Sold! Here is what it looked like with the old owners stuff:

The only thing is that it was really ugly. Like the rest of our house, it was in need of some TLC to make it really great. Thank goodness for Pinterest, and the ability to browse porch designs and find things I like.

Here is our patio before we started work... so sad. Toys everywhere, an old dirty rug, along with furniture randomness. And a really gross broken ceiling fan.

I knew we needed new pillows, the swing needed a new coat of paint, furniture, a new rug, a new fan, and other details to make it a fun place to entertain and a fun place for P to play. For Mother's Day, Brian ordered me an outdoor sectional. I went out of town for work, and came back home and it was assembled and everything! It was a cool surprise from Brian and Preston. :) Here is the new patio!

Those are screen french doors that go out to the backyard. Perfect for entertaining!

P has a little corner of the porch. Usually, he has lots more toys out here. I definitely picked up the porch when I took these pictures!

I love having the space to the right. When we entertain, we can set up card tables and have a drink and food area, and people still have room to walk. We also have a cute kids table we move out here when kids are eating at our house. 

Brian and my dad installed a new Hunter fan and it gives the room a lot more light at night, and love how silent it is.

I painted the swing one afternoon a bright coat of white, and then my mom made the pillows for it.

Best Mother's Day gift ever.

And here is a video tour with Preston using it as his playroom. :)

We love entertaining and spending time out here. One of my favorite things to do after Preston goes to bed, is for Brian and I sit out here, have a couple drinks, listen to music and talk about our day. We just love it out here.

My future plans include adding a bar area, a permanent TV for sports, hang some stuff on the walls, washable curtains, more pillows, a dart board, plants, maybe painting the walls, finding some art or cool old signs to hang out there, but I want to leave the exposed beams. Who knows. We may add some things as Preston gets older too that work for him. We lovingly call this room "the outdoor playroom" because it is for kids and adults - haha! One more big project off the list for now. :)