Here is a look of what I'm working on right now.
Our porch used to have either really ugly brown carpeting or nasty 1970's panelling covering almost every surface. We enjoyed it anyway . Our decorating style has often been to just hang something over whatever we find annoying, and we covered these walls with old tin signs and license plates. I think this style is now referred to as "man cave."
Finally, though the decayed brown carpet, cheap panelling and plastic trim started to wear on us and one weekend a couple years ago, my husband ripped out the offensive 1970's materials. This felt great, but was followed by a period of paralyzing indecision when we had to figure out how to rehabilitate the space. The plaster is too flakey to paint, the flooring had been glued down with tar that we couldn't remove, and the windows were frozen in position.
So for the last 2 years, the entry way to our home has been a space with with peeling plaster and a tar-paper floor that smells like asphalt. My husband and older son commute all year by bike and they parked here. I must admit to storing random stuff I have picked up off the curb here too.
In cold weather we found it was useful for meat storage and overflow from our fridge.
In other words, we turned the porch to our lovely 1920's home into a nasty garage. We even replicated the suburban practice of making that nasty garage the entry to our home.
We finally chose some new windows that actually open and close again and a carpenter is installing them. I picked up an old dresser in the alley that I hope to paint and use for storage, and I want someplace to recline. (It seems that for true relaxation, I must be recumbent.) (I think this blog post is totally going to qualify for "you know you're a redneck when. . ." )
Yesterday, I braved a giant nausea-inducing box store and bought light fixtures and now we need to agree on paint colors. Sadly, no area of debate has greater potential for marital disagreement.
So what look do you think we aim for? I'm thinking about a green-grey blue with white trim.
