I was planning on posting today about the actual task of painting an old shingled house but instead am jumping to show you the completed porch. Painting shingles has to be one of the most tedious jobs if you are not spraying the house, which we are not. We are pretty much brushing the entire house! But I'll save that boring stuff for another day. Today the porch is done and I like it...a lot.
Some of you mentioned in the comments that this new color (Black Bean Soup) really connects the outside of the house with the inside and you are right. It feels so much better to me.
A few blue and white plates and pillows placed feels good too.
I absolutely will share the painting process with you in case you are thinking about painting your own house. The lowest estimate we got was $3000 to have the house professionally painted. So far we've spent $250 on paint and supplies. We will probably need one more can of white trim but that should do it. So well worth the effort!
Take care and have a beautiful weekend...x
It really is looking gorgeous, well worth the effort to save that much money.xxx
ReplyDeleteFrugal and fabulous! I also love the blue and white porch update...so refreshing!
ReplyDeleteIt must feed your soul when you sit on the bench and relax gazing out across your garden...
thank you for sharing.
Looking good! Have a beautiful weekend too - so glad you're back xo
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh Janet...I can't tell you enough how much I love the black with the new porch! The whole thing has a very RL feel. PLEASE come here and help me! There's so many estate sales, we could have a blast. :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks GREAT. The black just fits. Glad you are back. I missed you.
ReplyDeleteNow the outside of your house is your aesthetic. It so looks like you! I love it. It was very cute in red but I bet it is fabulous in black. I just saw a bungalow painted black in the latest Southern Living and it looked so good with all the green landscaping around it. I can't wait to see the full reveal!
ReplyDeleteNita
ModVintageLife
That looks so beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteAre the stripes on the floor painted, or are they an outdoor rug?
That porch turned out so well. I love it! I also love the color of your house and so admire your determination and willingness to do the labor on painting it. Well done.
ReplyDeletexo,
Karen
The porch looks so inviting! I love blue & white. Swoon. May I move in? ;) I'm looking forward to seeing the "after" photo of the cottage from a distance. And congrats on the low cost makeover. That is an amazing savings! Not to mention the physical workout. Y'all should be proud.
ReplyDeleteThe porch is so charming - I love the blue and white against the dark shingles. It is absolute perfection Janet.
ReplyDeleteI would be out there with a cup of tea and a good book in a heartbeat. :-)
Caroline
It's beautiful. Are the stripes on the floor painted? Could we please have some close ups of the floor. It all looks so charming.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful. Are the stripes on the floor painted? Could we please have some close ups of the floor. It all looks so charming.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hate the Black Bean Soup color but that porch is fab! I'm the gal whom commented that your biker guests looked like models. :)
ReplyDeletePERFECT! PEACEFUL! CALMING! It truly fits your personality (the one you've shared on your blog)! LOVE it!......Janie
ReplyDeleteAny comments from the neighbors?
ReplyDeleteBlack Bean Soup is a perfect color for you! I love it. Can hardly wait to see it completed. Net you can't either!! Kudos to you and your husband for tackling this yourselves. I am proud of you!
ReplyDeleteLOVE it! Blue and white is so gorgeous and from what I can see of the house that black looks great :) Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteYou've done a tremendous job. I don't think there's any way your little place wouldn't look terrific...shabby chic, beach cottage-y; so many possibilities. Now, it's just elegant; refined. Calming. Love it. Bravo to you and Larry!
ReplyDeleteThe blue decor is a nice touch. You could accessorize with most any color now!
ReplyDeleteSmartest things you reported was the limited time each day spent painting. As a woman of a certain age, I had a frozen shoulder from painting a 100' clapboard backside of a building (only windows) with a brush. I got lazy moving the ladder and "reached" as far as I could from my perch. It's looking wonderful. Excited to see the finished pix.
ReplyDeleteLoved the red siding, but the Black Bean Soup is beautiful. The blue porch decor is so classic and fresh looking.Hope you can both kick back and enjoy your hard work!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I'm a blue and white lover, so especially like what you've done with the porch. I think the black bean soup color looks just great, too.
ReplyDeleteThe porch is so fresh. I was wondering also if the floor stripes are painted or is it a rug? I love the crispness. I was holding off comment on the color of the house, but even with just the little peek of it in these pics, I am just so shocked at how the flowers POP against it as a backdrop. What I DO like of the little bit we have seen is that it makes the shingles/shakes stand out. I had no idea your red cottage was shake? I love that about it. (Frugal is my middle name....congrats on that part most of all!) #gladyourebackprettylady
ReplyDeleteLor
I love the blue and white dishes on the white wall. I have some interesting plates that I inherited from some aunts that traveled everywhere. I would like to display the on the wall too. What do you use to mount your plates? I have heard some people complain that the "wire" hangers aren't safe.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, aren't you worried that the dark house color will heat up the interior in the hotter months? Just askin' ;-)
it costs like $30k to have a houses painted here Janet!!!! I LOVE the colour and the porch just divine.
ReplyDeleteHope you are well xxx
I really appreciate your professional approach. These are pieces of very useful information that will be of great use for me in future.
ReplyDeleteLooks lovely Janet! Well done! And such a good saving. I admit to being a bit curious - do you and other Americans really use those porches, given they're at the front of the house and all? Do you take tea there or read or have evening drinks there? In Oz we mostly use our back garden terraces/decks rather than semi-outdoor areas at the front of the house. Thanks for your lovely comment last post Janet! Pammie xxx
ReplyDeleteI always prefer the 'look' of amateur (but careful) work rather than the blanded out perfection of a a 'professional' job where everything is just so. A rougher finish adds interest (particularly, I think, for your aesthetic.
ReplyDeleteLooks great!
ReplyDeleteJanet - we. Have painted our own house in the past (and probably tithe future!!). Your porch is gorgeous! I am seriously wondering why I don't live in California; we are getting more snow today!
ReplyDeletevery impressed by the savings! the dark color makes those Geraniums pop. looking forward to seeing the
ReplyDeletecompleted project.
Darby
Love to paint, hate the prep! Did you have to do a lot of prep work? It looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely gorgeous Janet and so YOU. I've pinned these pictures to my "front porch" board, I have a porch I love that I'll be re-decorating if the weather ever warms up.
ReplyDeleteThe black bean was a stunning perfect choice for your house, your style pops against it! Your gardens will look lovely! xo
Job very well done! Love your sense of thrift too. BTW how many hours combined do you think it took (will take?) to complete the job?
ReplyDeleteThis looks sooooooooo good. I love all the blue and white. Did you know I have a major thing for b&w? :) me and the rest of the world I suppose. Now I know plates on the wall (in your own house) make you kind of crazy--how are you doing with these? They look so good! Keep them! Don't let minimalism strike! I love how this feels like such a room. Have you noticed a difference in the temperature of your house with the darker exterior? Although I know it's been so hot out there regardless. It just looks so good!
ReplyDeleteI am amazed that you have been able to do it this inexpensively. I know that labor is usually the biggest part of the cost but, based on what it costs me to paint interior rooms, I would have thought the paint alone (without any supplies) would cost you more than the $250 you are at. The porch is lovely and I cannot wait to see the entire house!
ReplyDeleteJanet, Looking good there!! The porch looks great, especially with your blue and white pieces and the rug.
ReplyDeleteMy husband thinks he and I can tackle painting the outside of our house but honestly I just don't think he has the time. Plus some of our shingles might need replacing. (Ours is a Cape Cod style of house) On the other hand, the last painter we hired (recommended by a neighbor) did not do any of the painting himself, except for the front door. His workers were sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. Paint drips or smudges on the railings, rain gutters, etc.
Looking forward to the final reveal!!! :)
Linda
xo
Janet,
ReplyDeleteThis is how much I love the colors..not only is our porch furniture painted in black tea, our kitchen countertops are a black brown rustic slate and I painted our cupboard panels deep black/bronze. The colors are so elegant. Gold and silver also looks good with it (to me anyway). You and your husband are mighty smart to do such a humongous task. I painted our entire interior (with help one day from my husband), except for 2 rooms. I was sick of that kind of painting and hired a professional painter for the last room, the other room is natural wood paneling. Doing it yourself sure saves a whole lot of money. You have inspired me to work on our front porch and back deck - instead of hiring someone to do it. Your entire place is so beautiful.
Sincerely,
Debra from SENC
Beautiful house color, Janet! A natural backdrop for your lovely garden canvas. As the late garden designer, Bunny Mellon once said of her vision for Oak Spring: “Nothing should stand out. It all should give the feeling of calm. When you go away, you should remember only the peace.” You have accomplished this with your home. I think the porch and steps would look good painted black bean as well. Deni
ReplyDeleteOh Janet, it's divinely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteNot every home could pull this off, but your wood siding shakes shingles are a perfect siding to paint almost any colour, your choice, and I say brave choice was genius. It's speaks to me more then you could imagine.
What a home to love, now more then ever I want to so a drive by..... Well, a peaceful one my dear.
Christmas this year will look so wonderful in Clear lights and greenery with white bows.....jealous! In the best way.
You inspire the best.... Now! We need a full view when finished.
Xoxo
Dore
Thanks for the shoutout on bringing the outside in.
Xoxo
Just wanted to share a virtual high-five for painting yourself. I know it's a lot of work. Be sure to treat yourselves to a professional massage when it's over.
ReplyDeleteCharming porch -- and so right for a cup of tea!
ReplyDeleteHereabouts - we do use our front porch (this neighborhood has alleys and the garages along the back of the lots) -- and often spend time sipping wine with the neighbors along the front sidewalk -- especially after a long day of gardening! :) It is great to meet-and-greet so many local folks that way! :)
Just as an aside -- my DH painted our house last time -- and it took a lot longer than he thought! :)
Looking forward to your Before-and-After posting! Honestly -- your home and style deserve to grace a décor book!
Cheers! And Very well done indeed on all of your hard work -- and the wonderful visual and financial rewards!
Jan at Rosemary Cottage
I love your cozy porch! Such a great place to sit with a book and a cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteIt is so beautiful! So happy for you and I think the choice is spot on. I feel there is so much more satisfaction doing the work yourself as opposed to paying someone. We had a porch in Denver that we used all year round. That is the only thing missing from our new house.
ReplyDeleteDo be careful. I've had both of my shoulders frozen from painting interiors of my homes. Frozen shoulders are painful and take about a year to heal and get full mobility back. I am anxiously awaiting the big reveal of your big painting project. I think it is going to look absolutely amazing.
ReplyDeleteFor the floor go with stripes again, but add in the blue and a bit of lavender. You have to be careful with patterns, they can seem to busy. I had a pattern rug in my living room at one time, but it drove my crazy every time I walked in there--it was all I could see.
ReplyDelete