The screened-in porch makeover was supposed to take 3 months. Instead, it took 7 months! The good news? It’s finally done! I haven’t shared much about the makeover on the blog because frankly, the steps were pretty boring. I wasn’t sure you’d appreciate a whole post on painting. The only project I’ve shared to date is the floating buffet table we made out of reclaimed wood. Let’s start with the before shot so we can all remember how this room looked when we bought the house:

This porch was actually a HUGE selling feature of the house. While it needed some cosmetic work a porch like this would easily have been a $20,000 addition. And in a place like coastal Virginia having a way to be outside without getting eaten by mosquito is priceless.
Phase 1 of the makeover consisted of improving the structure itself. Here is what we did:
- Replaced warped posts
- Painted all railings and posts white and the ceiling blue.
- Added screens and a screened door
- Added rot-resistant molding to the outside of the structure
- Replaced the fan
- Installed a drain in the floor
- Tiled the floor
Phase 2 will consist of the decorative aspect of the makeover including new furniture. So, for now please ignore the old dirty furniture. And here’s how it looks now:






Isn’t the transformation amazing?? I love how cheery and bright the space is now. It really does feel like an extension of our home.

And here is some exterior shots:



So, there it is! I can’t even begin to describe how pleased we are with this space! As for the rest of the backyard…..we have huge plans in the works. I mean like the most exciting plans we’ve ever made for this house. Hopefully, I will be able to share them soon!