My Favorite Space in Our Home

 

I am excited to share one of my favorite spaces in our home and what I think makes this space special and “home” to me. I was asked by Porch.com to be part of their #loveyourhome blogger series recently, and am honored to share it with you today!

When we found our house and lot 13 years ago in a northern suburb of Atlanta, two of the key selling points of the house for us were the wrap around porch and the large yard. We had 3 little boys at that time, ages 7, 3 1/2, and almost 2. The wrap around porch was really what did it for me though. Living in the South, porches are a way of life for about 9-10 months of the year. Summers are hot and humid, Fall is just right, Winters are usually pretty mild ( except for last year and this one!) and Spring usually teases us for the first bit with back and forth temps, but starting around March or April, it’s almost porch time again in Atlanta with beautiful Spring weather and warmer temperatures.

Our porch is special to me for many reasons. One of those is that it is a great place to talk and catch up with family and friends, but it is also a refuge and place to be quiet with your thoughts. I love both of those depending on the day or what’s going on in my life. 

Our porch is made up of 3 parts: a front porch, side porch, and back porch/deck area. I have each of those divided into entertainment/activity zones. The front porch has rocking chairs and a table between them, the corner of the front and side porch has a loveseat angled for talking with people sitting in the front rocking chairs or side chair, and the long side porch has 3 areas: single wicker seating next to a table, a table/eating area with hanging candelier to define the space, and another seating area with 2 chairs and a table in between. The back porch is where we grill and have some copper tiki torches for outdoor entertaining. I found that dividing these parts into zones helped the long area work much better and look more aesthetically pleasing.

Our porch has seen happy and hard times, heard secrets and future plans, and has seen changes in seasons weather related and in our lives. 

Our 2 Weimaraners also love time spent on the porch, looking at the birds, squirrels, and passing neighbors. It is a joy to hear the birds sing and the fountain burbling with these precious canine friends! They are such loyal companions and we learn alot from them about slowing down and enjoying life’s simple pleasures.

Our porch has been the backdrop for annual first day of school pictures of our sons, school dances, proms, birthday and graduation ceremonies, as well as Halloween costumes with friends and family Christmas pictures throughout the years. Traditions were formed over the years with different holidays and occasions on this porch, too.

Jones Soda in bottles became a birthday party tradition with my boys and their friends over the years:)

Holidays have been celebrated and many meals have been eaten and shared with friends and family in this favorite space of our home over the years. I have loved talking with my parents while rocking on the porch and having lunch or dessert and coffee with them.

Paint colors and fabrics have changed, as well as shutters and front door colors. We started with a Charleston Green front door, followed by a rosy red called La Fonda Geranium Red, then Caribou brown, and now Mermaid Net by Behr. ( to read more about our porch Summer Makeover, click here )

 

We have watched sunsets, snow, rain & ominous clouds, and beautiful sunny days from our porch throughout the changing seasons.  

Our family has brought back shells and natural beach finds from our favorite beach location, St. George Island, Florida to use as decorations on the porch over the years. That’s really special, too, because we have been visiting there since we moved into this house 13 years ago. Each shell and natural piece tells a story on the porch. I even have a succulent plant that I got on the way back from a trip to the beach almost 11 years ago that is still living and producing multiple new plants each Spring!

Even nature enjoys our porch each year. Every year as soon as I put new ferns out, the birds claim their nesting territory. Aren’t Robin eggs just beautiful?

Our porch has fed my creative soul through projects with my decorating business and blogging, as well as for my gardening passion. ( to see more porch table settings, click here )

This favorite space has been a source of rest and relaxation for my husband, me, and our hounds……

And a place where sometimes dogs forget they are dogs……:)

I have had recurring dreams over the years of us moving and leaving this house and every single time the one thing I miss and feel sad about leaving is our wrap around porch. I’m not kidding! I have shared this with my family and friends and there is some type of physical and emotional attachment to this space for me.

Through the seasons and over the years, our porch has been a source of comfort and joy and we consider it our favorite space because of all the sweet memories it has brought us. We have watched little boys turn into young men and head to high school and college, share life’s blessings and burdens with friends and family, receive wisdom and attempt to give it, and have spent many quiet moments with God in this space. It has been a spot for first kisses and guitars strummed and games played. This space has been so much to so many. It is our refuge, our favorite space, our porch. 🙂

( If you’re interested in more of my projects and inspirations, visit my Pinterest boards, Instagram page, or Facebook page 🙂 )

Thank you to Porch.com for letting me share my favorite space with you today! To find home professionals in your area, find home inspiration or professional advice, check out their amazing website today! Also, look for #loveyourhome on all social media for more inspiration, favorite spaces, and what other bloggers have to say about what they think makes a house a home! 

And thank you, my readers, for reading today! Have a great weekend~ TGIF! xoxo