Hello everyone! I'm so excited to show you our front porch all decorated for summer. I'm calling it my "Summertime's Calling Me" porch and you'll see why in just a minute.
This week I'm joining some of my favorite bloggers for the Elements of Summer Tour.
As part of the tour, I'm sharing our summer porch because it's finally SUMMERTIME!
So if you're new here, a great big WELCOME to ya!
My husband and I live in a small, country cottage that's been in his family for a long time. It has a screened-in porch across the front of the house. During the summer, we live on our porch. It's the first place we head to in the morning to have our coffee. If company stops by, it's where we sit and visit together. And because there is a table on the porch, we enjoy the fresh tastes of summer out here, too. Have you ever noticed how much better everything is when eaten outdoors?
And I love to decorate the porch for the different seasons, and summer is no different. My goal is to make it a comfortable, casual gathering place for family and friends in a style that's suited to our country cottage.
My inspiration for decorating the porch this summer was the song "Summertime's Calling Me," one of my all-time favorite beach songs. During winter, I can't wait to have the sand between my toes, can you? It's one of the songs that we play on our Crossroads radio station which we're usually listening to while we're on the porch. So I made this little sign to hang here in the corner.
The front door is sporting a new summer wreath.
I just added a few new elements to the grapevine wreath that I used on our spring mantel.
The grapevine garland that has been hanging around the front door for over a year and a half has been summerized with fresh new ribbon and little red flowers.
The red lanterns were used last Christmas and we loved them so much that we left them hanging. The large burlap bows have made several appearances on our mantel, but they found their way out on the porch.
Some new additions to the porch are these red and white buffalo checked pillows that I picked up at the auction for $5 for 2 of them. They are not outdoor pillows, so I'll have to bring them inside when it rains.
The red planters were used in decorating our Christmas mantel and I'm really loving them on the porch. But my favorite thing I've done on the porch was to paint the concrete lamp white (another auction find) and create a ruffled shade for it!
Sometimes a girl just has to have some ruffles, don't ya think? I'll give you a full tutorial on how to make one soon!
I added some grain sack stripes to this table recently and placed this tic tac toe wooden game piece here. Can't wait to show the grandgirls that old fashioned games can be fun, too!
I don't think I've shown you this pillow that my friend Ann from Sutton Place Designs made for me. She pieced together 3 different vintage grain sacks to make this pillow which is so perfect for our country porch!
Lucy and our cats love the porch as much as we do.
On the other end of our porch is the topsy turvy planter.
Its new ladybug floral pick makes me smile! I like to have lots of plants and flowers on the porch during the summer which is a way of bringing the garden inside. And if you've never visited our garden, you can click HERE.
Since you've stopped by to sit a while on the porch with us, it wouldn't be hospitable if we didn't offer you a drink and a bite to eat.
How about some sparkling cherry wine? I'll tell you how I made it soon!
I'm serving it in these cute chevron cups that I found on sale. (Just couldn't resist!)
How about some of these delicious plums that our tree is bearing right now?
Or would you like one of these lemon thyme cookies that I whipped up this morning? So good with that wine that you're drinking!
So glad you stopped by to visit today.If summertime's calling you, be sure to visit all my friends below for more summer inspiration.
Deb
I just looked at all of the pictures of your front porch, and they are so inspiring. I have been to your site before, but I have never commented. I thought this time I should actually let you know how much I enjoy visiting your web site. If we were closer, I think we would be friends.
Kim
Oh! Saw your porch on Facebook and had to pop over for the full tour! It is my red and white outdoor dream...so charming!
jeanine
I love your porch! All the red is beautiful! Have you made a tutorial for the ruffle lamp shade yet?
Cherrie Cadran
I am also waiting for the tutorial
Jane Windham
Cherrie, here is a link to a tutorial for making a burlap ruffled shade.
To make a red and white ruffled shade, you would follow a similar process. If you have a sewing machine, it would be easy to stitch the ruffles that way. But if you don't have a machine, you could use hot glue to create your ruffles. If you put a little decorative trim on the top, no one would ever know.
Thanks for asking!
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions
You have a wonderful porch, Jane! I think I'd be out there as much as I could. I love the touches of red you have. The shutters are a great feature. Are they just propped there or do you actually use them to close off that side {hot sun?}. The lamp is great and I love the lampshade you ruffled. I'd love to learn about your cherry wine. It sounds delicious.
Jean Windham
Love the redo of the front porch. Red is so pretty with your existing wicker furniture. The color makes the porch come alive. The shutters add to the overall look of the porch. Great job Jane it's a hit. Jean
Andrea
Jane...I see why Lucy and the kitties would want to be on your porch! I don't think that I would ever leave. Very pretty!
Andrea
Melanie
Those plums!!!!!
Mary
Jane, I adore your ruffled shade, buffalo check pillows and accents of red! I keep telling myself I'm going to follow your tutorial and create a topsy turvy planter 🙂
Marty Walden
Gosh, Jane. I just love that porch and the pops of red. I can literally close my eyes and feel myself relaxing there! We just built a front deck and we've spent some time there in the evenings and it is so relaxing. It's way too hot during the day in the summer but I can't wait for the cooler fall weather to begin my day there! Thanks for joining us on another tour!
Mary Beth @ Cupcakes and Crinoline
Your porch is calling my name, Jane {it sounds a lot like wind but I clearly hear....Mary Beth....}. Every element of your decor is cheery and welcoming. I loved being a part of the Elements of Summer tour with you ~ have a wonderful week.
Sherry
Jane, I am in love with your porch.....BEAUTIFUL!
xx,
Sherry
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This porch is BEAUTIFUL >I remember loving it at the Christmastime tour and I love it even more now. There's nothing more country Americana to me than red and white on a porch. Love the grain stripes and the ruffled lampshade and the lantern. I just love it all.
Pinning and sharing on Facebook.
Allison @ The Golden Sycamore
Man! All these summer porches are making me wish I had a porch even more! Someday I'll have one! 🙂 Loving all your summery touches! The red accents are so pretty!
Kathy
Oh Jane, I love all of it! The food sounds delicious, and everything you've done to the porch is perfect! Love that you have those louvered doors out there, too! It looks fabulous!
Cheryl Jasso
Omigosh, best post EVER! Your porch is adorable, and you are amazing. The pillows on the chairs are just a perfect touch, along with the ruffle lampshade. It is all A+.
Lauren
Your porch is SO pretty!!! I love all of the red, it adds so much warmth and all of the beautiful details throughout fill your lovely porch with so much charm. My mom has some bifold doors that are sitting in her garage, I can't wait to show her your porch for inspiration, I love how you used them. I have pinned so many pictures. Have a great weekend!
Cynthia
Jane your porch is so pretty, it is filled with so much charm and summer fun. Love the wreath with that bow, PINNING away!!!
Cynthia
Vanessa
JANE!!! Your porch is absolutely amazing!! It is full of charm and character and so much warmth. The reds are perfect and it just all screams 'summer'. Love it all!!
Cuisine Kathleen
It looks darling, Jane! Happy porch sitting! We are still waiting for the pollen invasion to end before we set up the porch, I can't wait.
Have a great weekend!
Jennifer @ Town and Country Living
Love all the red on your charming porch! And that ruffled lampshade ... I have to have one!! LOL. 🙂
Terri
WOW.... Absoultely gorgeous.. I still love decorating with the color red!!!!!!!!!!!!! Especially love the views of the old oaks and the lawn chairs.... just begging for a visitor to sit and enjoy some good ole' southern iced tea!! 🙂 refreshment now??? 🙂
MariaElena
Your porch looks amazing! It just doesn't get any better than this. Beautiful! Enjoy your weekend. Hugs, Maria
SheilaG @ Plum Doodles
Oh, goodness, everything looks so pretty and inviting, Jane. I loooove the ruffly lampshade. Add the yummy treats and it would be hard to leave. 🙂
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Love the summer touches that you've used on your porch. I'll bet that you and Leo enjoy many pleasant hour out there over the summer.
Brenda
I love everything but especially the door can you tell me the color you have on your front door please?
Thank You
Jane Windham
Brenda, it has been several years since I painted the front door and I didn't keep a record of the color I used. More than likely, I mixed in some additional paint because I'm always doing that to get the color I want. We hope to get a new storm door this year so when I paint it I will repaint the front door as well. I'll do a better job of recording the color I use!
Pat @ LifeAtLydiasHouse
I love your red lanterns and I'm so glad that you left them out and incorporated red as an accent color! "Summertime's Callin' Me" has been one of my favorite beach songs since college and I have it on my beach music cd that I play while enjoying my screened porch too! Delightful post!!
Yvonne @ StoneGable
Jane and Lee... what a cheery, happy porch! I'll have some cherry wine and I'll sit and enjoy your company. Thant planter is so darn cute... just like the two of you (but not the topsy turvy part... haha)!
Stacey
Your porch is wonderful! You know I love the touches of red and all the plants. 🙂
Melanie
Love your porch, it is lovely! Now you have inspired me, love the red!
Lisa Palmese
Jane,
So amazing and thought out well/
Just Beautiful. I would Love to come to your
Porch
Thank You
Lisa
Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage
Summer time is calling me too ... for a margarita!
Kelly
Aileen
Love love the porch...how do you make the cherry wine? How did you get started doing this?
Jane Windham
I'll put up the recipe soon about how to make the sparkling cherry wine. It's very quick and easy to make!
Diane @ The Checkered Apple
Hi Jane,
Your summertime porch is truly eye candy! I especially love the red theme and would love to be sitting there having a glass of that sparkling cherry wine! Happy Summer!!!
Richella Parham
Oh, this is just wonderful! I'm sure you must be out there all the time in the summer. What a lovely, welcoming space. And it's fun to see all the red! Such a cheerful, happy color. Your porch is awesome!
Pattie fritz
Would love some ideas for my brick house porch. And so loving the red theme you have today
Hellan Jenkins
How do I join your blog?
Jane Windham
Hellan, we would love for you to follow along. The easiest way is to subscribe to get an email each time we post. Scroll back up to the top of the blog and you will see a button on the right side that says "Subscribe by Email". Just put your email address in the box and look for a confirmation email in your inbox. Be sure to click on it to complete the process. We LOVE new followers!
[email protected] Stroll Thru Life
Your porch is fabulous and that is where I would be all the time too. I love, love, love it all.
Linda @ It All Started With Paint
I'm in love with your screen porch! The details, those shutters, that topsy turvey planter -- so many amazing things to see and absorb and adore!
🙂 Linda
Karina Clark
So pretty Jane! I love the shutters - a great idea for privacy and they add texture as well! And of course I noticed the lampshade (I make handcrafted custom lampshades), well done!
[email protected] Petticoat Junktion
Jane and Leo, YOur porch is lovely. I can see why you spend a lot of time there! I love the pops of red 🙂
Angela
I love all the pops of red! Your porch looks so inviting!! 🙂
[email protected] this top that
oh jane, summer time is really calling me over to your cute summer porch. i love all the red and white details. perfect! happy summer.
[email protected] Clutter
I love all the red! Super place to relax!
Donna Thompson
Hey, Jane: All I can say is WOW! You are so talented. Love your home, especially your special touches. Glad to be in touch! Beautiful picture of Lucy! XXOO
Pamela Gordon
I'm visiting for the first time from Ann On Sutton Place. I love your front porch and the red and white colour theme. It looks like a delightful spot to spend a lot of time in the summer. Enjoy! Pamela
debbiedoos
So so so charming Jane! Very cute and comfy space. I bet you and Leo like to chillax there after a long day of gardening!
Dawn
Everything looks perfect Jane 🙂 Love the red and white stripes with the buffalo check. Pinning for sure 🙂
Kim
Don't know how I missed this yesterday, Jane. I love it. You know I love red and what cute pillows, grain sack striped pillow and table and that ruffled lamp cover, oh my. Cute, cute, cute.
Liz @ Infuse With Liz
So cute, cozy and inviting! My favorite is the ruffled lamp shade! The topsy turvy planter is too cute. I would be out there all the time too. We have a bumper crop of Mosquitos this year so seeking refuge in a screened porch area would be the cats meow!
Suzy @ Worthing Court
Jane! Your porch is so, so pretty! I love all of the touches of red. Please save a glass of that sparkling cherry wine for me! It looks yummy and I can't wait to see the recipe.
Ann
This is just about the coziest spot I have ever seen. I love all your little touches that make an outdoor room live like one that's indoors. Thank you, thank you for featuring the pillow cover. It really is perfect for your porch!
Pamela
Jane I absolutely love your summer porch! Your ruffled lamp is darling and all the pops of red really make the space.
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By the way, some folks may enjoy listening to the song "Summertime Is Calling Me" by the Catalina's. Click the link below to listen.
http://youtu.be/oKVjzlv8VKM
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You made it feel like home Jane. Now, where's that wine?