It’s officially spring! Although, it has been feeling like summer with the weather we’re having in Bucks County lately! I’m loving it! We thought we’d take a few posts to get you all ready for the season. We’re talking spring cleaning (gag), Spring decor, Spring mantles (mine is so NOT springy yet), Spring landscaping, and more (“more” means whatever we feel like on a given day!) So, whip out your flip-flops, pull on some cute crop jeans, and let’s get moving with Spring Things! (and I by no means am trying to suggest that you only wear flip-flops and jeans… a shirt is highly recommended too!)
Spring Thing # 1: Outdoor Plans
As most of you know, we finished building our house 16 months ago. As with lots of BIG projects, when you’re finally finished you’re kind of ready to be done spending money for a while. So, we decided to wait until the fall to do landscaping. I’m not really sure what happened to that plan, I think it had something to do with the craziness of a certain show that rhymes with “Late Smirkus”… but the landscaping didn’t get done. Now it’s spring and we’re ready to attack the front of the house with all things green and planty. (I’ll talk more about landscaping for a serial plant killer next week)
Before the hubs breaks ground, I wanted to tackle the porch. Here’s the sad looking state of my porch… (and no, my grass isn’t that green yet, it’s an old pic)
I have plans to add some fun furniture, but first there’s a BIG question at hand…
Forgive my terrible sample pics, but I wanted to try and get an idea of how different colors would look. I think a pop of color on the door will look awesome and make me happy every time I come home! Here are some awesome inspiration pics that got me motivated to start with the door!
I’m loving this color blue, but I’m not sure it would work with our sand/grey/blech siding. (FYI We couldn’t pick our siding because we bought a partially started home from the bank and finished it. Siding was already on. Boo!))
So, what do you think? I need some input on this one. I asked my hubs and he sarcastically said, “How about we paint, the door, then all the shutters, Oh, and add some chevron!” Grrr… I gave him the stink eye for sure! Since he’s NO HELP, I’m leaning on all of you.
Thanks for your help! I’m excited to get working on the door and the porch furniture this weekend. Here’s a sneak peek at some bistro sets that are in the running. (I scoured craigslist and thrift stores for one I could DIY and people are just insane with their pricing. Most were more expensive than what I could buy new and they were hideous!) Now, don’t be swayed by the yellow, these just happened to catch my eye! 
Thanks for your help!
I can’t wait to share my NEW porch with you!
I painted mine teal last summer and absolutely love driving up to our house now. Red is my favorite color but I decided to try something different.
http://sothecooksaid.blogspot.com/2011/08/front-door-makeover.html
Cindy- Thanks so much for sharing the link to your door. I LOVE the blue and it’s a very similar color blue to what I was thinking of. Tonight I’m going to get some mini samples to try a few colors. I also want to convince my hubs that the color will look awesome!
Thanks so much for reading!
M (&J)
Let me know if you need me to check the can for the exact color.
i like the red but the green(football)door looks good too. ang
I’m really liking the idea of green too! Hmm…
-M
no to red…everyone has a red door! I have a few houses in my area (which is close to your area, I think) that are amazing. One is lime green, one is a squash yellow, and three are orange, including mine! They all look so unique and beautiful and they really stand out- in a good way. I can’t wait to see your choice.
Hey Karen-
I am with you… Red is too safe. It’s winning by a landslide in the survey, but I just don’t want another house that looks like a million others. I definitely need to see a picture of your orange door! Do share!
Thanks!
M
I’ve been looking on craigslist for outdoor furniture too! No luck either. boo!
Can you believe how crazy high people are pricing things? I even feel like a few of my favorite thrifting places are a wee bit high. Makes this DIYer a tad annoyed 🙂
Oh, and good news! I mailed your giftcard today! Woohoo!
Have an awesome weekend!
M
I think a bright yellow or blue would be fun – or the orange suggested above! Have you seen this gal’s porch at The Polished Pebble? http://ppebble.blogspot.com/search/label/porch
She did some wonderful things with her front porch – great ideas that might help. Have fun!!
~Kim
I love red doors, but I think the mint is also pretty!
Hmmm Mint… I hadn’t thought of that. I was thinking more Kelly green or avocado. Mint is so “in” right now too!
Thanks Justine!
M
I’m painting my front door peacock blue! I think you can definitely go bold with a front door. 🙂
I totally agree Amanda! When are you painting yours? Let’s see a picture!!
M
Hopefully I’ll get it painted in the next month. I’ve been living with it’s drabness for far too long. 🙂
I voted with orange, but feel that I must qualify that. I’m not talking about brilliant orange, neon orange or even the kind of oranges that we buy at the grocery. I’m talking about a nice, toned down orange, maybe like bittersweet or a bit lighter. I think with you shutters it would look great. Think of all of the outdoor decorating possibilities. I’m just sayin’, it goes with every season.
p.s. the new folks across the street from us have a red brick house. Let me tell you how my husband and I sucked air when we arrived home from a long weekend to see that they had painted their front door and shutters a bright shade of “hospital scrubs green”. I said, “Oh, it’s probably some kind of primer.” My husband said, “No primer is THAT color.” Six months later, my husband was right!
Judy, your neighbors house sounds “exciting” to say the least. I can’t even picture brick red and green without thinking Christmas 24-7 🙂
I’m definitely leaning towards a burnt orange if we go that route. The last think I want is for it to look Halloween orange and black!
Thanks for your input!
M
Oh my goodness!!!!! That’s my yellow front door, so I’m going to vote yellow!!! I also have my eye on that set at Target, for exactly the same reason as you!!! Why are people trying to sell their junky sets for so much???
Just to sway you toward yellow, at Halloween it looks super cute with a black wreath, Christmas a red one and for Spring a mossy green! I haven’t done one for summer yet, but I will let you know!!!
xoxo
have you seen this house??????? http://www.houseofturquoise.com/2011/06/day-one-dream-home-tour.html
paint your shutters and door this color and I will be SO insanely jealous!
Our house is similar, gray with black shutters and we are getting ready to paint it “Front Door Red” by Allen + Roth (Valspar). Is that too trite? We love the color though