More Porches to Party On!

Clearly our readers love porch parties as much as we do, based on the responses to last week's post.  With autumn weather like we have been having around here lately, it continues to be very enticing to take the party outside.

The goal with porches -- be they front or back ones -- is to create a comfortable outdoor space that harmonizes with your yard or garden.  On the front end, curb appeal and a welcoming feel are important elements of the design.  In the backyard, porches are the perfect private escape (and another great place to party with friends).  

Here are a few more of our favorite porch projects:

1)  Modern & Bright Back Porch Retreat

One of our McLean clients wanted a porch they could enjoy year round but with a more modern aesthetic to match the rest of the house.  We think the mix of textures, colors and materials make this space interesting and it still blends beautifully with the backyard.

Outdoor Room by Whittington Design Studio

The key to a comfortable outdoor room is comfortable furniture.  A fully upholstered outdoor sofa from Lee Industries allows the family to really sink in and relax.  The LloydFlanders swivel and dining chairs are also comfy perches and add great texture.  Artwork adds the bright, bold colors our client loves and works with the pillows and ombre ceramic cocktail table to pull the space together.  The sheer, outdoor draperies soften the edges of the space and add more texture.

2)  Funky, Eclectic Porch

This Arlington client is an avid gardener with an organic, eclectic style.  The staggered brick fireplace provides a striking backdrop for a console that was originally a plain, box planter (up-cycled with a rustic paint finish and a new marble top).  The woven light fixture is from Padma's Plantation.  It's earthy, funky texture combines with the twig balls and rattan furniture to keep the space grounded in the garden.  The pops of bright orange and the green zebra indoor/outdoor rug make the space fun and fresh.  We love the cow sculpture keeping watch on this tranquil scene.

Outdoor Room by Whittington Design Studio

3)  Garden Patio Escape

Budget-friendly West Elm outdoor furniture and a Roost cocktail table invite you to sit down with a beverage in this outdoor living room.  The lattice structure provides privacy and a "wall" to anchor the furniture.  Pillows and plants add color and texture and the hanging hurricane lamps offer a soft source of light in the evenings.

Outdoor Room by Whittington Design Studio

Want more porches to love?  We do too!  Here are other porches we find inviting:

Southern Living

Traditional Exterior by Minneapolis Architects & Designers TEA2 Architects

Contemporary Porch by Austin General Contractors Texas Construction Company

Tropical Patio by Portland Architects & Designers MCM Design

House & Home

House Beautiful

We absolutely love porches and we would be thrilled to share more with you.  So go ahead and comment to tell us what you like about these spaces or your own favorite porch ideas.  

Do it!

P.S.  Thanks to My Notting Hill and @jensergent for showing our porch transformation some love!

But wait, there's more!  Check out our 2012 porch post!

Outdoor entertaining porches

Posted by Sexy Girls 21+ in Outdoor entertaining, porches

More Porches to Party On!

Party on the Porch!

September is one of our favorite times of year to entertain outside.  Recently, one of our clients asked us for help sprucing up her porch and pool area for an engagement party.  It was a fun project to work on and the party was fun too!  Take a look at what we did.

First, the before shots....

The back porch opens up to the pool area.  Dark furniture and a dated tile floor do nothing to welcome you into this otherwise bright and promising space.

The other end of the porch had morphed into a default storage area for miscellaneous items and an old, bird-less cage.

Out by the pool a mis-matched collection of furniture was scattered about with no connection to each other in terms of color or style.

We had to work fast to pull this porch and pool space together in time for the party.  Here's what we did:

We sketched out a design for this custom-built, simulated barn door and our carpenter made it happen lickety-split.  The bold, navy door creates big impact against the painted brick, and also provides a background for the porch swing (now brightened up with white paint).  The remaining wicker pieces were painted a dark navy for a more current look.

The tile floor was painted light blue (Sherwin Williams Leisure Blue - 6515) and a neutral, sisal rug adds warmth and texture to the space.  We also freshened up the bench with a a few coats of bright green semi-gloss (Sherwin Williams Luau - 6712).  The throw pillows tie it all together and add a personal touch with family members' initials.  We discovered the artwork in our client's storage room and brought it upstairs to dress up the porch even more.

On the other side of this long space, we used a Dash & Albert indoor/outdoor rug to cover the painted tile and provide a more durable path for swimmers passing from house to pool.  The two different area rugs separate the different functions of the space and also avoid that matchy-matchy look.  A found console and some folding Kenian Imports chairs are ready for party guests and food service.

Just outside the door, we banished the mis-matched pool chairs and added folding bistro tables and more Kenian chairs for the guests to gather.  Folding pieces like these are fabulous to have in storage for parties.

The original white wicker chairs are made new again with fresh throw pillows and coordinating side tables (Martini Side Table, West Elm).

Speaking of coordinating, we never throw a party without coordinating outdoor platters!

We created a separate seating area tucked into the garden with a Braxton Culler weatherproof sectional, galvanized cocktail table and some fun hurricane lamps.  Those adirondack chairs are from Target!

And presto chango, it's party time!

Lighting strung among the trees adds just the right touch of ambiance.

Here's what our client had to say about the project:

"Whittington Design Studio completely transformed the space.  What used to be just a walk-through

area to our swimming pool is now a gorgeous room that makes you want to sit and relax for a while.  The new colors compliment the pool and landscaping so well that it feels like they are all one space."  -- B.P. Arlington, Virginia.

So go ahead and freshen up a tired outdoor entertaining space -- you will love the results and so will your friends.  Don't forget to invite us!

Do it!

P.S.  Stay tuned for more fun, party-friendly porches.  We just love fall porch parties!

Outdoor entertaining pool party porches

Posted by Sexy Girls 21+ in Outdoor entertaining, pool party, porches

Party on the Porch!