{Back Porch} Mini Makeover

So I left you off with some horrible photos of my back porch area in this post. Last week, before Lily's party and small kids were over, I took advantage of my two days off and devoted a few hours to this area. It's amazing what you can do in just a few hours! 

The plan was to de-junk the room, find proper homes for things, paint, clean, and decorate. Well, I didn't have time to paint, but I did almost everything else!

The patio set (all three yellow pieces) came from Lowe's (I believe) a few years ago. The black and white rug came from World Market last year. Everything was sitting on our front porch but I wasn't thrilled with it and so I moved it all back here. It looks great on this porch! 

The black shelves in the background will be organized better and left mainly for outdoor items - toys, grilling items (maybe) and maybe even some pots and stuff for planting. Mainly toy items though for the kids. The green snail planter was found in the dresser I got rid of and will be planted soon. 

Not too shabby not spending money, right?! 

However… 

I do want to paint. Look at the photo below and you can see the ceiling needs it. It's original bead board ceiling, which is awesome, but it needs some caulking and paint. The brick walls need touched up, and the door needs some TLC too. I'd like a new light fixture instead of an exposed bulb, so we'll see what happens.

And because I couldn't resist a picture of this big guy as he posed. I like how he matches too. This is Krypto, our American Bulldog and Lab rescue mix. He's almost 6 and we've had him for almost 4 years. He's just now getting to the calm stage where I can take a picture of him without him bouncing over to me, which he did about two seconds after I took this photo. But isn't he cute?!? 

Linking up to: The Creative Circle, Outdoor Extravaganza, DIY Challenge Party Outdoor Projects

{Back Porch} Makeover Stage 1

Our little bungalow has a sad little back porch. Before kids, this place didn't look too bad and I actually bought a nice patio set for this area. It's since been relocated and this area became a catch-all for all things ugly, messy, and not really needed. Extra cords, wood trim from Lily's bedroom remodel, outdoor things (pots, grill accessories), etc all gather here.

I, for one, was sick of it. I go through this room daily because its the way the dogs get outside. In the photo below, the kitchen door is to the right (you can kind of see the threshold) and the outside door is behind me. 

So, I cleaned it up a couple weeks ago. It started when I started cleaning out the pantry and removed one of the three shelving units (black, seen below). It got relocated to the porch for the time being to hold the crap that needs to find a new home. I then moved all the boards in hopes of using them for future projects and my parents took the old table. It's a great table, but we weren't using it and they could. Plus it was theirs to begin with, so it went to their house for their basement living room. 

In the photo above, that little wood storage cabinet is on its way out. I thought of using it as a potting bench (it was maybe $3) but I don't use it and it's falling apart. 

So… the plans…

1. Remove everything and find proper homes for stuff

2. Clean

3. Paint the walls (they're brick on one side that are already painted, so I'll repaint it white) and ceiling (it's bead board).

3. Paint the floor. It'll eventually be the same color (or so I plan) as the shed in our back yard and the front porch. They all need it!!!

4. Furniture - I'll move the yellow patio chairs and table here, along with the black and white rug we already have. 

5. I'll keep the black shelves and find baskets for them to hold the kids' toys and outdoor things. Bubbles, sidewalk chalk, helmets, balls, etc. 

6. Possibly paint the kitchen door leading out here. It's chipped white paint and is ugly. I'd love a teal color for fun! 

I really hope this'll be one of the first projects I'll work on come Summer. Lily's birthday in late May will help me get my butt in gear on it. It'll at least be cleaned out more before then!!