The Wry Home
  • Home
  • About
  • Newsletter
  • Categories
    • Home
    • Design
    • In and Around Town
    • Beach
    • Travel
    • Furniture
    • Holiday
    • Entertaining
    • Artwork
    • Gifts
  • Contact

The Wry Home

REASONABLE REDESIGN

  • Home
  • About
  • Newsletter
  • Categories
    • Home
    • Design
    • In and Around Town
    • Beach
    • Travel
    • Furniture
    • Holiday
    • Entertaining
    • Artwork
    • Gifts
  • Contact

The Porch with a House Attached

October 9, 2014


One of the drawbacks of a very small house is the stir-crazy factor.  Our old cottage (above) had “enough” space inside.  But, on a rainy day or when we had a lot of guests….  aaaagggghhhhh!

First party on the weird long enclosed porch

First party on the weird, skinny enclosed porch

There was a long, skinny enclosed porch on the front of our house.  It made no sense and the nine windows barely opened, so it was really stuffy.  But we did use it when we had overflow or needed a place to ESCAPE.

12After a few years of this, we realized that we desperately needed outside space where we could hang out and decided to add a deck to the front of the house.  The plan was to ultimately open up the enclosed porch, but that was a much bigger job ( ie: it was holding up the second floor), so we attacked the deck project first.

11
We wanted a big front deck with a little jog off to the right to place a couple of Adirondack chairs and an umbrella where someone (me) could (hide) read.

Grace helping with the construction.

Grace helping out with the construction.

15

Finished product!  Yes, I am jumping ahead...

After

We chose to use Trex  instead of wood for the deck floor because it is durable, soft on the feet and a lot less expensive.  This is the soft gray color.

17Here it is, finished!  This is before we planted our tiny hydrangeas all around the deck.  They took 100 years to fill in, but finally did.

63
Miriam Websters definition of a deck is: a flat floored roofless area adjoining a house.  My definition of a deck is: a place to gather with family and friends.  Watch a sunset.  Have a party.  Read a book.  Take a nap.  Sunbathe.  Host an outdoor dinner.  Grill.  Enjoy a cocktail or two.

55
Which we did.

Annual summer birthday party

Annual summer birthday party

moms

IMG_1008

60
Our project to open up the enclosed porch got postponed for a bit.  Some upstairs windows decided to fall out, so they got replaced.  Then we had to reshingle the house around the new windows.  But, finally we were able to do it.

IMG_2716

 IMG_2719P1030996 IMG_2718 Scan-001

IMG_2720
My mother coined the term “a porch with a house attached” and she was right.  Everything we did moved outside.  We had a fabulous covered area now that the enclosed porch was open and a great deck.

Image 4
The hydrangeas grew in.

P1050144 P1050147 P1050148 P1050145
Parties became frequent.

P1030991P1040549

A lot of our initial deck furniture was left behind in the house from the estate sale.  Costco and L.L. Bean helped out too.  For a while, we had a giant sleeper sofa outside under the covered porch.  Many guests ended up sleeping over on that couch.  It looked awful, but was obviously comfortable!

 56  Image 819 Image 20
Many memories have been created here.

My mom, in the middle, who coined the phrase.

My mom, in the middle, who coined the phrase.

In so many ways, I think it was one of the best investments we ever made.

IMG_2721
In memory of my wonderful stepfather, Barry Held.  On our porch.

67
the wry home

The Porch with a House Attached was last modified: April 25th, 2017 by Elizabeth Dowling
Block IslandCottageDeckPorchTrex
12 comments
0
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
previous post
L’orange
next post
To Market, To Market

You may also like

Food and Fun in La La Land

January 27, 2017

Coastal Rhode Island Favorites

July 30, 2019

Christmas Spirit

December 11, 2018

Nevis

March 26, 2015

My Dated Master Bath

January 23, 2015

Beach Bathroom

September 3, 2020

12 comments

Lynne Arizmendi October 9, 2014 at 9:13 pm

Hi Liz……Love following your stories! You have truly “created” a wonderful life for your family! Memories ARE everything! Thank you for sharing….Hugs❤️

Reply
lizanne Shaver October 10, 2014 at 9:22 am

Next summer I am on the porch, giving a toast to all your amazing memories of Barry.. Don’t you love how I just invite myself.. LOVE YOU, Lizanne

Reply
Kessa October 10, 2014 at 10:46 am

Liz – That porch has been a big part of a lot of summers. I am so glad that all those years ago I got the invite for my first – I imported an app from Darien because I wanted to make a good impression : ). What a nice photo of Barry and your mom and what a perfect way to remember him! XO

Reply
Christiane October 10, 2014 at 11:00 am

I love your sweet stories too!!

Reply
Kim Arenas October 10, 2014 at 12:54 pm

Love this post, love the porch, love the house and love how you made it in memory of your stepfather, Barry

Reply
Karen Hios October 10, 2014 at 2:12 pm

Liz! I love the way you incorporated the deck into the look of the house. Love the warmth you created! Great family memories….

Reply
Anonymous October 10, 2014 at 4:35 pm

Liz,
Love this post! You have an eye for bringing everyone together and that is what life is all about!!!! So happy you have great memories here and are able to share them with loved ones. Miss you in Charlotte but I am glad for fb to keep in touch with you!!! Many happy memories to come.

Reply
Karen Bradley McElroy October 10, 2014 at 5:15 pm

Liz, I too enjoy your posts! Lovely ❤️

Reply
Gabrielle Collins October 10, 2014 at 6:56 pm

Liz – Loved this post. When I was growing up, we had a porch with a house attached to it too. It was a screened in porch where we ate all of our meals, had many parties and had tons of sleepovers. Your story brought back some great memories. I love what you did to your house — the porch looks great!

Reply
Missie October 11, 2014 at 8:48 am

Double the deck double the fun! What a lovely oasis you created for outdoor living with family and friends! And it was great you kept the integrity of the cottage. So happy that a multitude of memories abound! Cheers to well lived lives!

Reply
Amy Harden October 11, 2014 at 10:58 pm

Sp house looks great or shall I say the house attached to the porch! I have a sweet pic of our girls on that first porch from long ago. Your hydrangeas are enviable …… Mine took a hit this year after rotten winter. Love the pic of you and Tim on steps but especially pic of Barry and your Mom – hugs to her and rest in peace Barry…..

Reply
Jackie October 24, 2014 at 10:09 am

As you know I love reading The Wry Home, but I especially love the pictures and sentiments in this one!

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Liz Dowling
I have loved design ever since I painted my bedroom walls high-gloss lime green in the fourth grade. A lifelong hobby, mixing low cost items with a few pricier pieces thrown in, has become The Wry Home. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t!

Subscribe to the Blog

Be Social With Us

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest

The Wry Home on Instagram

  • The New England winter has me dreaming of these views, a year ago...... dreaming of a vaccine too!
  • Had to leave this little one for three days to have my knee replacement surgery, so she stared at me
  • Married 29 years today We celebrated by getting me a new knee As with many other Covid celebrations, we will
  • Happy Holidays from @solvangbakery and my brother and his wife. Love this! #merrychristmas #happyholidays #solvangbakery
  • Our birthday girl still has spring in her step! Happy 14th Birthday Rhino #birthday #girl #dachshundsofinstagram #dachshundlove #dachshund #Rhino
  • Up on the blog, an escape from all of the “uplifting” news right now. An exhibit of Basquiat and his
  • Rainy day fun! #basquiat #basquiatart

Recent Posts

  • Orange + Blue
    February 9, 2021
  • Sneak Peek
    January 24, 2021
  • Rhino Has
    An Adventure
    January 12, 2021
  • Delicious Christmas Cocktails
    Even I Can Make!
    December 23, 2020
  • A Few Target
    Stocking Stuffers
    December 3, 2020
  • Basquiat
    November 19, 2020

Best of Houzz Service 2017 Best of Houzz Service 2016 Recommended on Houzz

 

Amara Interior Blog Awards Nominated Blog 2019     nominated

nominated     Amara Interior Blog Awards Nominated Blog 2016

Smarty Style Bathrooms badge

Read The Wry Home Newsletter

Popular Posts

  • Orange + Blue
  • My Homemade
    Marble Tables
  • Sneak Peek
  • French Country is Out?

Archives

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

© 2017 The Wry Home


Back To Top