As we ease from summer into fall over this long, relaxing holiday weekend I thought it would be a good time to show our favorite places to relax... the porches. The farmhouse has three porches and we use them all! I've show the porches before individually, but they vary slightly from year to year, so I thought you might like to see all three together.
the upstairs porch
Accessed from french doors in the master bedroom the upstairs porch is a favorite for morning coffee, cocktails in the evening and quite moments right before going to bed.
the front porch
The front porch is a wonderful place for cocktails in the evening (we've even been known to don down coats and gloves and even sit here in the middle of winter!) It's a intimate spot that gets wonderful afternoon/evening light. We also use it often during the day for breaks from working in the yard.
The front porch is a wonderful place for cocktails in the evening (we've even been known to don down coats and gloves and even sit here in the middle of winter!) It's a intimate spot that gets wonderful afternoon/evening light. We also use it often during the day for breaks from working in the yard.
the back porch
We use this porch mainly for summer lunches and dinners, and also for access to the kitchen .
Hope you are having a wonderful holiday weekend.
Happy Labor Day!
Oh my, all three are fabulous and the view in totally stunning. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteI agree -- I love that you've kept the "decorating" simple and used comfortable seating. That's my priority as well.
Deleteto die for!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful vistas you have from your porches. I can imagine how magical those views will appear as the fall progresses. I am looking forward to enjoying that vicariously through your posts.
ReplyDelete--Road to Parnassus
Lovely porches with wonderful views. Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeletethat was a wonderful treat, joan. and an inspiration for me to spiff up my own porch. thanks, as always, donna
ReplyDeleteThey are each so lovely and the views are remarkable!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend!
Love the peaceful porch. Couple questions. Did you spray paint your chairs? Love the color. And where did you find that porch broom? Love that.
ReplyDeletehi dogwalker- This was the color of the chairs when I purchased them- it is a pea-green/army green. I have seen a spray paint that I thought was a perfect match, but don't recall the manufacturer.
DeleteI found my bamboo handled broom at Antiques on Nine in Kennebunk, Maine, but here is a link on Amazon.... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00407X5VU?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00407X5VU&linkCode=xm2&tag=forthelove005-20
found the paint color, found the broom. thanks for sharing.
DeleteAll wonderful spaces!
ReplyDeleteWe love to get our coats and gloves on and wrap ourselves up in a (faux) fur blanket on a winter's evening and sit out with a cocktail on our upstairs porch. This morning we had croissants, homemade jams and cafe au lait up there before heading out into the garden. Lovely to have three porches to choose from - each dressed differently and beautifully.
ReplyDeleteEh...they are okay. I guess.
ReplyDeleteKIDDING! Gorgeous, all three. Cocktail worthy indeed!!!
Gorgeous, peaceful, restive, tranquil.... I love all three! My favorite is the upstairs porch -- the view is breathtaking! Please post an autumn view from that vantage point for us Floridians who miss the fall color. And the coffee table on that porch, well, I'm coveting it! Such a beautiful place you have!
ReplyDeleteSuch special areas, your three porches, to share special times.
ReplyDeleteThe view from your upstairs porch is spectacular. I'm envious to say the least.
Your float collection puts mine to shame! I LOVE them. Your photos are stunning. I would take a cup of coffee or a cocktail in any one of those spots with glee.
ReplyDeleteSO gorgeous!! Absolutely picture perfect in every way, I feel more relaxed just looking at these amazing pictures!!
ReplyDeleteJoan, I never tire of seeing your glass fishing floats! And I love that white fence that surrounds your property. To me, there is nothing prettier that a white fence.
ReplyDeleteJoan, it's always such a pleasure seeing your beautiful house. You have done such a beautiful job.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend!
One day I hope to share some time with you all on your gorgeous porch!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the perfect place to spend a balmy summer evening.
xo
Brooke
We have a wraparound porch. The first summer I spent a fortune having custom cushions and pillows made for all my wicker furniture. I had antique french iron furniture with custom cushions and pillows, also floor lenght round tablecloths made for 4 round tables. It was awesome when finished, BUT..... Birds were constantly pooping on the cushions and at night we really could not sit out there because the mosquito's were awful. I had so many citronella candles burning that it looked like a church. Also mold formed on the stuff. My porch was so big and long and filled with furniture that there was no way I could bring in all the pillows and cushions nightly. My porch now has wooden rockers , no wicker, no cushioned anything and a few pillows that come in nightly. I have a iron and glass table with iron chairs. How do you do it Joan?
ReplyDeletehi Judi- I'm guessing that it's not as humid here as where you are?! But, this does bring up one of my favorite exterior tips... I use down-filled pillows on the covered porches! Being natural they wear VERY well, and I can't tell you how lovely (and unexpected;) it is to be outside and sit down in a chair with a down cushion! (HomeGoods has great prices on pairs of down filled pillows!) I do still have a couple of pillows with synthetic fiber and they don't seem to weather the weather as well. I recently bought inexpensive down forms from Ikea to replace them (they were about $7 each!) I do have some issues with the squirrels eating into the pillows to get the synthetic fill out, so hopefully that will stopp once I change over to the down fill. (This only happened when they were nesting and I, too, took to bringin the two on the front porch in at night until that passed.)
DeleteWe've had really good luck with the Skeeter Vac, but even here there are some nights they are just to much of a force and we come inside!
Two words come to mind as I admire your beautiful spaces.......Gorgeous, and Blessed:)
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely holiday!
Shine
your summer porch is so wonderful - I love all the details you used. The view is so relaxing!! You have been blessed!
ReplyDeleteI just adore your home; every single inch of it. The porch off the master is my favorite. We have 3 decks. The one off our master is covered but TINY, but we love to sit out there during rain storms and have a cocktail. Many nights we sit on the front porch and have a drink cause part of it is covered. Now, what is a skeeter vac????? Joe gets eaten alive most nights. I love all your decorative pieces too. Unfortunately we won't have any porches when we move BUT are planning 2 decks and a patio!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe next Spring they will be getting done,I hope!!! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Thanks for sharing more of your amazing home. XO, Pinky
ReplyDeleteP.S. What is the base of the round table on the master porch? I recognize the top as a brass table top. I REALLY love this porch:)
ReplyDeletehi Pinky- that is an antique English dollytub! The brass top is a vintage tray from India. A Skeeter Vac is like a Mosquito Magnet if you are familiar with those. It's a machine that runs off of a small propane tank that attracts and kills mosquitoes... it's a good thing;)
DeleteWhere did you find the beautiful wicker chairs?
ReplyDeleteWhat paint did you use for your front door? Is it high gloss, or did you lacquer it? I really love it, and we will be painting ours soon. I love the high gloss/lacquer texture of it.
ReplyDeleteIt is high gloss Black from Benjamin Moore.
DeleteVery beautiful!!! Every time I see your Japanese fishing balls I long to find some for myself--they are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing like a porch, in fact I'm sitting on our Maine one right now . . .
ReplyDeleteLovely.
ReplyDeleteIn one of your older posts you mentioned that you would tell us how you manage to keep your orchids alive and blooming. I've searched your past posts and cannot find anything on orchids. Perhaps you might give us a lesson in the future on raising orchids as a post?
Three wonderful spots to sit and enjoy the incredible vista of your property. I loved to be tucked in a chair under the protection of the porch and listen to a good rainfall. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Would love to see more "porch posts" for each season of the year. Especially fall.
ReplyDeleteYour porches are all beautiful for their varied uses. I would enjoy each one of them. I love that you have a broom by the doors of the front and kitchen porches. There seems there is always something to sweep away. I'm sure passersby wonder what I'm sweeping off my front deck all the time. LOL Pamela
ReplyDeleteMy goodness. Your porches are warmth, friendship, and a great big hug all wrapped in one. I would love to sip an afternoon tea with you!
ReplyDeleteWow 3 porches to chose from! So lovely! !!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely labor day greeting and for sharing photos of your charming porches and the serene, beautiful landscape that surrounds you! Forwarded an email to you with some early August MT photos...hope you enjoy the photographs! Happy Labor Day weekend!!
ReplyDeleteWow, this looks great and whát a vieuw !!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,Stella
you really are spoiled you know that right?!
ReplyDeletei love them all but i think my favorite is the front porch. it's just perfect.
happy labor day weekend to you too!
xo
Lovely and timely post, Joan! Thanks for sharing your little escapes... I always admire your attention to detail that somehow never detracts from the natural setting! Enjoy your Labor Day!
ReplyDeletexo Heidi
Nothing left to say, Joan. I'll echo everyone else; your home is enchanting.
ReplyDeleteXO Victoria
Joan, Dan, and Ella: Peaceful. One of my favorite pics is the one with the American flag. Cindy
ReplyDeleteI love all of your porches, they are inviting and lovely just like the inside of your home. I do have one question though, do you un-decorate in the winter, or do you leave everything out? Thank you for sharing your home, it is my favorite blog to peruse. Deb
ReplyDeletehi Deb- We remove all but the iron/marble table on the two back porches. The house sits on a hill and the winter wind really hits that east side hard. There is a large u-shaped storage closet that wraps around the master closet and last year was our first year to use it for storing the upstairs porch and it worked great! We leave the front as is since it is fairly protected, though does get covered in snow at times. Last year I did store them (in a corner/room in the basement) and I missed them so much mid-winter I literally carried them back out!
DeleteHow I love a porch. And how wonderful to have THREE to choose from. I love that soft green color of the wicker chairs, and of course the classic black rockers. Your views are lovely, no wonder you try to spend as much time as possible 'on the porch'.
ReplyDeleteI love a good porch...and you have three!
ReplyDeleteWe are joined by the love of our porches. Lovely. We have similar features on our porches too. Love it!
ReplyDeleteMay you enjoy long spells of relaxation on each one of them.
Lee
I love upstairs porches too! You have a beautiful view.
ReplyDeleteoh how I could linger
ReplyDeleteJoan both of your porches look so inviting, I would love to sit on either porch!! Your view is amazing!! Happy Labor day!
ReplyDeleteKathysue
So many cozy places to take a nap or read a book or just be outside while the weather is good.
ReplyDeleteJoan, you have such flair for making a house look at once stylish and chic but welcoming and liveable. Such lovely spaces, I can imagine it's hard to leave.
ReplyDeleteThere are few things that make me happier than quiet time on a porch. Yours are all beautiful! So thankful that we have porches now! Our best view is from the porch outside our guest room upstairs. Lucky guests!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know your ceiling color. I've got a few light blue grays in mind, but just curious! xoxo!
Linsey.... sidebar;)!
DeleteHa! I was about to look there, but I thought I had your paint color memoriezed by now and didn't remember that one! Thank you, friend! Sorry to be a bugger!
DeleteWe have been talking to the realtor and seeing if we can get things rolling a little faster.
ReplyDeleteI have this fear of moving back to the NorthEast US in the middle of winter.
I am looking at houses with at least one porch, 2 or 3 would be a bonanza !
besitos, C
Candice- Our house in Dallas sold with a quick close and we moved here in the middle of New Hampshire's second snowiest winter on record! We thought it was normal and didn't mind a bit. We were just happy to have arrived! Fingers and toes crossed for you!
DeleteI am sure we will feel the same way. We will Be There, that is what is important :)
DeleteThank you, being in Argentina, you can never count on "them" doing things easily or normally :)
Joan, Love all your porches and your upstairs porch has the MOST amazing view. Love the idea of having cocktails on the upstairs porch or any of your porches. Just lovely.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn
What a beautiful post. Enjoyed every picture! http://preppyemptynester.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteHello, what beautiful property you have! Do you have horses? It looks like you do with that pretty white fencing. If I could ask a personal question? My husband and I are thinking about moving to the country (we live in the city now) but I keep getting hung up on the fact that it will just be the 2 of us for the most part, day in and day out. Do you find this an issue at all? Do you get lonely? I wasn't sure if you had people around so maybe this isn't an issue for you. I know if we move it'll be just us. Thanks so much! Patti
ReplyDeletehi Patti; Your questions lead me to believe that you are new to the blog, so welcome! No horses. No, I don't find it an issue at all- if you look around the blog you'll see that we stay "very" busy;)! No, I don't get lonely, even when Dan is away on business; but, I've never really been a person that gets lonely, so I might not be the best person to ask. While our town is small, there are people/neighbors around and lots of things to do... bookclubs, volunteering at the local library, etc. Best to you with your move!
DeleteYour porches are gorgeous! I would love to have even just ONE of them, especially with your views! You are blessed.
ReplyDeleteI love your porches. With the overlooking green nature I would love to stay there for a long.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful setting to enjoy from your various porches. I really like your use of the fishing floats. I have a collection too. I noticed that you have them in your dining room and you said that you would post about them. Did you ever do this? I'd love to hear what you have to say.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is my MOST favorite of all!
Deborah
Thank you Deborah, that is a huge compliment! Yes, I did do a post on the fishing floats... if you go to my side bar and find "Topics of Interest" then click on "collections" the post should be on that first page.
DeleteOh, your porches, your views...I love it all!!! You are living a dream Joan, and you are an inspiration to us to live/create ours. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful...oh, so beautiful!
ReplyDeletexoTrina
I love your design and all the small details you have completed in your house - My husband and I are close to completing a major renovation on our house outside of Washington, DC( we made our c1940s cape cod into a colonial) and I have often looked to your blog for inspiration. I have two questions - 1) How difficult did you find it to make the master bed? we saves wood from our demo and I am trying to convince my husband to make me a similar bed 2) What is the type of wood on your porch floors? I love the gray weathered look.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
hi Karina- the headboard was very easy to make since I had my carpenter do it;)! Seriously, without the posts it's a fairly simple project as long as someone has some carpentry skills.
DeleteMy porches are mahogany. With nothing on them they weather to that beautiful gray you see.
Joan,
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss your "porch post?!" Beautiful, beautiful...oh, so beautiful! Just as Trina said. I completely agree, but I'm pretty sure all your readers agree!
xo
annie
O M G !!! Your porches are DIVINE! I badly want one just like yours - one day . . .
ReplyDeleteSharon
xxxx
Such a calm and beautiful place to be!
ReplyDeleteLOVE your "stacked" porches! We are building a new colonial style farmhouse with stacked front porches. I am dreaming of having soffit painted haint blue like yours! Can I ask some advice? My husband is concerned about the weather, rain water blowing in on the porches and rotting the wood. Have you had any issues? Is there a lot of maintenance and upkeep? Do you know if there are any architectural methods used on your porches to prevent it? We're doing this all on our own with internet research and advice from our amateur builder relatives. No one we know has had any experience with a stacked porch, like yours, to be able to give us advice. I was so happy to find your photos, those are EXACTLY like what I'm looking for. It's absolutely stunning!
ReplyDeletehi Carrie, the floor boards are untreated mahogany, no issues. Covered porches wear pretty well- really not much to worry about. fyi, my paints and stains can be found on my sidebar!
Delete