Porch Remodel, Part Two (and a half)

With three days to go before The Big Party, we finished the porch project! Let me bring you up to speed.

After the new wood was nailed into the gaping hole left by the hot tub, we marched over to Sherwin Williams (over their 40% off sale weekend, of course), and bought stain.

I was a little concerned there would be a huge difference between the color on the new wood and the old wood, but I got over that after two hours of kneeling over with a paint brush. I've been assured it'll all blend in after a few months of weather, anyway.

*Ed: The Attitude put a second coat on the new wood. Now it matches almost perfectly. Thanks, brother!

We also trimmed the giant and very overgrown hedge that surrounds our yard. Two days and way too many lawn refuse bags later, we have a manicured "fence" again!

(The Looch, raking up debris and trying to ignore the monster that looms to the right side of the picture. Also, how cute is our neighbor's tree house???)

I guess the city of Oak Hill had mercy on us after we left a large hot tub on the side of the road, because they came to pick up all this mess the very next day! Choirs of angels sing!

Also? Put down three truckloads of mulch around all the landscaping (front AND back yard), cleaned out the garden and prepared for next season, and planted new flowers around the porch and in my flower bed. I'm still digging the dirt out from under my fingernails.

On the recommendation of the chicest designer I know (who also happens to be my best friend and my heart), I went on a hunt for an interesting chandelier I could hang in place of the dingy fan on the porch. I've read enough apartment therapy and design sponge to know that I could find a diamond in the rough if I just kept my eyes peeled and used my imagination, so I stopped by the Habitat for Humanity store and for $15 walked away with this...

A little painter's tape to protect the fixtures, cardboard to protect the lawn (I learned that lesson after I accidentally applied "snow" to a large patch of the yard after my chair painting session a few weeks back), and a $4 can of spray paint...

PURPLE CHANDELIER!!! The Attitude apparently has secret electrician talents, because when I came home from work last night I was greeted by this little charmer. Quite impressive, considering one of the arms didn't work and he had to re-wire the entire thing.

A little touch up with blue ceiling paint around the edge and BAM! New porch. And just in time for this Saturday's big engagement party. PS thanks Matt, for popping the question over the summer. This project surely would've been postponed another year if it hadn't been for you! Racking up brother-in-law points already, that one is.