Monday, August 8, 2011

A "Reasonably Clean" Welcome

Like Mother, Like Daughter is having a linky party similar to their "Pretty over the Kitchen Sink" from last December. This time we are focusing on entryways. Leila of LMLD has written a series of helpful posts on the Reasonably Clean House, which you can find in the LMLD's sidebar; hence the "Reasonably Clean" Welcome!

As I may have mentioned once or twice *wink*, we moved in mid-June, and I've been swept up in a flurry of nesting ever since. I don't mind because I enjoy nesting, but the focus of said nesting has not been on any of the three entryways this house is blessed with. In fact, one of them is still downright dismal as the room it opens on awaits paint, furniture, and general unpacking. Unfortunately, that seems to be the one lots of people use. But I'm not showing you that one . . . yet. I put my energies into the front entry, the one I *wish* people would use more often and the one that had the least to do to pretty it up a bit. First, some "before" pictures.

This is the front porch:



It's pretty non-descript and not thrilling, isn't it? We brought the geraniums with us when we moved and I just sort of plopped them there to get them out of their box and into the sunshine, although I don't think they are getting enough sunshine judging by the lack of blooms. The marigolds were planted for us before we arrived and thankfully they are blooming. Next year I plan to have a lot more flowers in the beds, but it was too late this year and I was pretty busy with more essential things. (Did I really just say that???) Nothing says welcome more than flowers!

I decided that I could create a more welcoming front entry by accomplishing just a few tasks. First I spraypainted the metal cross that was left here by the previous occupants. Before:




After:



Better, don't you agree?

When I was rummaging around in the garage, this red wagon caught my eye and I had the thought that the flowers would look better sitting in it. They do!



I scrubbed off the sidewalk chalk from the wall . . .



. . . but we are stuck with this little bit of utilitarianism for the time being:



There is also a new doormat where there wasn't one before:



The end result is not strikingly different than what was there before, but it is spruced up a bit. By the way, there isn't much I can do about the storm door. This is a parsonage, and such upgrades are not really up to us. I'm looking on the bright side, though: at least it works well. :-) Next year, I'd like to add a plant stand or something similar and maybe a chair.



If you'd like to see what the inside looks like from the front door, go here. Thanks for visiting! I wish you really could come through my entryway and we could chat for awhile!

6 comments:

  1. 1. LOVE the cross and now it's dramatic and you can see it! 2. LOVE the wagon! Cuteness! 3. ARE those marigolds? Hmm.... 4. How funny that the numbers are repeated on the mailbox. Just TELLING you what the number really is!!! 5. Here's a crazy idea, but what if you spray-painted the storm door black? And the surround... you'd have to tape up around it like crazy, but it could work... Anyway, I think everything looks very nice!

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  2. Good call on painting the cross, much easier to see now :)
    I really like the plants in the wagon.
    We just moved, too, it's sort of depressing not having any flowers this year...but it's fun to plan for next year.

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  3. I laughed when I saw my mother's comment above - I had the exact same thoughts! I love the cross (looks great in black!), love love the wagon (so cute!), and thought to myself, "hmm... I wonder if she could spray paint the door?" :)
    It's looking great.

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  4. The wagon is perfect. It gives a splash of color and gathers the plants so they look like they belong together.

    I've been enjoying watching you fix up your new house via photos and wish we lived closer.

    I don't have a blog but I did tidy up my front hall and work on the plants on my front porch. I still need to sweep the porch and do some more weeding out front. Slow and steady wins the race. :)

    Joy

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  5. Nice job. I love the wagon full of potted plants.

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  6. The cross is SO much better now, and the wagon is adorable! Isn't it interesting how one little change makes that arrangement look so intentional?

    I agree with Leila and Rosie about painting the door black. I think it would look very nice against the brick and tie in well with the cross. Again...make it all look intentional! :)

    Lovely job!

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