Inching Toward Spring: An Update for the Porch

Welcome to the 215th Metamorphosis Monday!

For this Met Monday, I had planned to post a tutorial for the fun napkin fold I used in last week’s St. Patrick’s Day table setting.  I know several folks asked for that and I promise that will go out in my very next post, which should be tomorrow.  For this Met Monday, I have a little change out on the porch to share, one I’ve been needing to make for a long time.

When I first added on the porch five years ago, the three lamps I placed on the porch were supposed to be temporary.  Two were just lamps I had stored away in closets and one was a small lamp I found while antiquing.  The lamps functioned okay but they really were not great choices for a porch.  One was too small, one was too dressy and one was bronze and just too dark.

Screened In Porch at night

I’ve been keeping my eye out for something better and you may remember, I finally found a replacement for one of the lamps last July.  Last summer I replaced the too-small wicker lamp on this table with a larger one.  It’s a good size for the table and the design is a nice fit for the porch since the porch has lots of white wicker furniture.  The criss-cross design of the lamp is reminiscent of wicker.

Lamp with Wicker Design

The lamp I’ve most wanted to replace though, is the lamp over on the hutch.

Screened Porch with White Wicker Furniture

Its antique bronze finish was not a great look for a summer porch.  I’ve been looking for an affordable lamp but the few times I’ve come across one that would almost work, the shade was usually a drum shade and much too big to fit comfortably on the hutch.  Have you noticed how so many lamps available these days in the stores have dark colored or burlap shades now?  I love how they look but unfortunately, they don’t offer much light into a room.  I much prefer lamps with white shades since light is important for evenings on the porch.

So, basically I’ve been looking for a needle in a haystack.  The lamp needed to be the right style, right height, right width and have a white, fabric shade.  I do this to myself all the time, get an idea or picture in my head and nothing else will do.  Do you do that?  Kind of frustrating isn’t it?

Painted Hutch

I finally stumbled across a lamp this weekend that I think works!

Shell Lamp for Screened Porch

Found this cute cottage-style lamp in HomeGoods on Saturday.  At last, a lamp that meets my long list of  criteria..miracles do happen.  😉  Took a pic with it turned off…

Shell Lamp Cottage Style

And here’s how it looks lit up.   It’s a great style/design for a porch and the height and shape work well for the hutch.  The shade is a rectangle-shape so it isn’t too big around to fit on the hutch.  It even has a white fabric shade which lets lots of beautiful light shine through.

Shell Lamp Cottage Style

I love its shutter/louver design and whimsical shell motif!  It’s a nice fit for a summer porch filled with white wicker furniture.

Shell Lamp Cottage Style

A shell-shaped finial adds the finishing touch.   This lamp should look great with the shell wreath I used last summer on the door just to the left of the hutch.  You may remember seeing the wreath in this post last summer:   A Shell Wreath for the Porch

Shell Lamp Cottage Style

Amazingly, it was just $34.99.  Yay, HomeGoods!   I am so ready for summer.  Though it was just 42 degrees out on the porch, I pulled out my favorite porch dishes, gave the hutch a good wipe down and decorated it for spring.  The rest of the porch is pretty dusty but at least the hutch is ready to go.    Pssst: If you’re new to reading BNOTP, you’ll find a post showing the hutch makeover here:  Painting Furniture: A China Hutch Transformation

Shell Lamp Cottage Style

 

I’m so looking forward to the Before and Afters linked for this Metamorphosis Monday!

MM

Metamorphosis Monday:

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In order to link up, you’ll need to include a link in your MM post back to the party so the other participants will have an opportunity to receive visits from your wonderful blog readers.

Please observe these few rules:
Only link up Before and After posts that are home, gardening, crafting, painting, sewing, cooking, DIY related.
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Comments

  1. Hi, what a lovely blog you have , I follow lots of blogs and I have to say that yours is the most beautiful. You have such a lovely home. Keep up the good work. Penny, Auckland New Zealand

  2. Thanks so much for letting me join in your party. It was 86° this weekend. Hotter on a parking lot with a sack of groceries and a dead fob battery. I now know how to disable a car alarm if you ever have use of that info.

    • I know…that’s not good. Wow…86! I love hot weather but not so much on a parking lot How did you disable it, Madonna?

      • Unlock vehicle, the alarm will go off and everyone will stare at you. Put the key in the ignition and turn it like you would if you were listening to the radio. Reach down behind the blinking light – the light that blinks while alarm is engaged – there is a disable switch – push the button. I hope this never happens, but you now know what to do.

        I also made that call you suggested. I think I will be happy with the outcome. To be continued….

  3. Susan the lamps are perfect – I like them much better. Thank goodness for Home Goods. We had 92 degrees on Friday and today it only got to 69 and calling for cooler weather and rain this week. Hopefully your weather will get better. Love Atlanta in the spring. I travel there for my job to Covington and love Social Circle especially the Blue Willow Restaurant. Enjoy your week,

    Love the postcard.

    • Mary, that brings back memories. I have eaten in the Blue Willow in a long time. I have to tell you a funny story. A friend and I decided to go on a home tour in Social Circle one year. They had it in August. Can you imagine…a home tour in August. There weren’t very many attending, def no lines at the houses. It was so blooming hot that day…I think it was in the upper 90’s. We almost melted. By the time we got to the Blue Willow for dinner, we were one sticky, disgusting mess. We haven’t gone back for the tour again…just too hot in August in Georgia for home tours. I wonder if they still have it.

  4. I love the new lamp but was just curious: why didn’t you just spray paint the other one? I just painted a lamp and I love it!

    • Well, I really didn’t like the shade that was on it. It was a dark, dreary color and had beads hanging down. It cost almost as much to buy a new shade as it does a lamp, sometimes, so I just never did. I did think about though. 🙂 Thanks, Angela…good question!

  5. Thanks so much for hosting each week!!

    Hugs,
    Debbie

  6. I love, love your porch! Thanks so much for hosting the weekly party. Always a wealth of ideas!

  7. Thank you for hosting! Wishing you a pretty week. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

  8. It’s awesome, Susan — yay, HomeGoods!
    xo Heidi

  9. You do that too…correct misspellings after you’ve posted? Thanks so much Susan for making me feel better … I do that more than I’d like to admit!!! 🙂
    Your lamp is perfect, looks wonderful!
    Thanks for hosting…
    Blessings,
    Cindy

  10. Your new lamp looks beautiful! I love a lamp! Thanks for hosting! Life to the full, Melissa

  11. Susan,
    Love the louver/shutter lamp. Looks like the perfect fit!
    I haven’t joined your party in a while though wanted to come on by to join this week. Thanks so much for hosting.

  12. Susan, I think the new lamp is perfect! I too have been on a search for the perfect lamp for my living room. Of course, I have to add not too fragile to my list as I’m sure the little monkeys around here may knock it over! Looks like a trip to HomeGoods is in my near future. Thanks for the inspiration and the party!

  13. I am sooo envious of your lovely porch, Susan! Every time I see it, I wish we had enclosed our entire deck rather than just the Gazebo. I would have been able to keep so much more outside.
    Thanks for hosting MM…I don’t often get to participate, as I’m not into painting & such, but SEWING is my passion. Come see the darling little Irish Step-Dance costume I made for Ms. C’s AG doll!
    BTW, I enjoyed reading your newsletter.

  14. Your new lamp is darling, I love anything with shutters, perfect for your porch. I love the knobs on your hutch too!
    Happy MM

  15. Glad you finally found your needle in a haystack! The new lamps are beautiful as if your fabulous porch!
    Kelly

  16. Luv the louver(ish) design on the new lamp. Quite a score… and perfect for the porch.
    Can’t wait for the ‘new’ reveal…
    Hugs, Gee

  17. Your porch is beautiful Susan! It is on my wish list for someday :-)! Oh that lamp with vintage worn base is so pretty and fits right in on your porch! Thank you so much for hosting Susan!
    xx
    Anne

  18. Thanks for hosting the party. Your new lamp is super cute. I haven’t been to HomeGoods in weeks, so I need to get back in there and see what they have for spring.

  19. Thanks so much for hosting! Your porch is stunning and so welcoming! You decorated it with a wonderful eye for detail! Heather

  20. Sheila C says

    Off to a great start for Spring! Loved the newsletter and the lamp…
    Sheila C

  21. Susan,
    Yesterday, here on the Prairie, could have been Porch weather as we were in the upper 50’s!!!
    I adore your newest lamp with the shutters and shells foryou Porch!!!
    I, too, dear friend get a visual in my mind of what I’m shopping for and too, too many times come home empty~handed. I’ve learned NOT to compromise…or I’m taking a car load to our local Goodwill!
    Great selection…great look…here’s to great weather!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat
    P.S. Thanks for hosting MM each week! Always filled with inspiration!

  22. Love the new lamp Susan!…just perfect!…goes to show you that “good things come to those who wait”…you waited and then found the perfect lamp!!!…Congrats on your first newsletter and thanks for hosting Susan! Have a wonderful week!

  23. Susan,
    Your new lamp looks perfect for your porch! I’m so ready for spring too, so I linked up some flowers that I planted this weekend! Just HAD to do it, even though it was so cold!

  24. Love that lamp! It’s the perfect addition to your space.

  25. Your porch is a little cottage all in its own. I have always loved it and amazed how you redecorate it with fabulous dishes
    Love the lamps also, Home Goods is so easy to find just what we need and mostly just want for our houses

    Janice

  26. Thanks so much for hosting! Have a fabulous week!
    Blessings,
    Nici

  27. Love the new cottage style lamp, it fits right in with your light and airy porch:)
    Thanks for hosting!
    XO,
    Christy

  28. Oh Susan, I love this lamp! I love the look of seashells on a summer porch, as it brings back fond memories of seaside vacations! The finial is just great! You continue to inspire me. My screened porch is much smaller, and must be shared with my husband’s elyptical machine (!), but I can see that it could still be attractive and functional. Right this moment it is a catch all for junk carried out of the kitchen, meant to go tothe garage or storage shed! Gotta get going! Thanks for the encouragement. Helen

  29. Cute, cute! Love your porch and all the touches you’ve added. Thanks so much for throwing the party!
    Liz

  30. Donnamae says

    That lamp was a great find…it’s like it was made especially for you and your famous porch! Looks great! 😉

  31. Your new lamps look perfect, Susan; but, then, your porch always looks so beautiful! Thanks so much for hosting this party each week and for the new newsletter!

  32. I love the white pitchers on top of the cabinet! Where did you get the rooster?

  33. Thanks for hosting again this week.
    Have a great week.

  34. Cathy Johnson says

    Susan, love the lamp! Patience is such a virtue! And so worth it to get that perfect item that you can see so clearly in your head. You are such an inspiration to those of us who also envision what we want and then can’t seem to find it anywhere!

  35. Your porch is a delight to see, it has such charm and coziness about it, you just want to take a cup of coffee and lounge there for a while! The seashell lamp is fabulous and a great look for the porch come summer time. Thank you for sharing, and have a great week.
    FABBY

  36. The new Spring look for the hutch is very pretty – I really like the dishes.

  37. I love this porch! I have a stupid question – besides getting wet, what happens to everything on the porch when it rains? Do you worry about mildew, etc? Does it get very dusty? We have a porch on the front of our house that faces a busy street. It gets so dusty on the porch it’s hard to keep anything nice out there.
    Thanks for all the inspiration!
    Karen L.

  38. First of all Susan, thank you for your postcard. I am honoured to be one of the 1,414 who subscribed and received it. ☺
    I am loving your new lamp and the vision of your Porch is just beautiful as we here is some parts of Canada are still very much in the mode of Winter. (Had a snow storm just last Thursday but thankfully temperatures are to moderate this week.) Can relate to your hunt of a perfect lighting fixture as recently I ended up just purchasing second hand ones that I disassembled and pieced the parts together to create a Transitional ceiling pendant with a fabric coverered Drum Shade for one of my spare bedrooms. (I wanted one with at least five bulbs with no exposed wiring or chain). -Brenda-
    P.S: On the subject of lamps in my ‘search for parts’ that I wanted (which I couldn’t find even on the internet) I came across an excellent tutorial on converting a hardwire wire lamp to cordless. For those interested, search: VIEW ALONG THE WAY Lamp Hack How To Make Any Lamp Cordless. I haven’t tried it, but it is defnitely on my To-Do List.

  39. The new lamp is perfect! Homegoods rocks! Thank you for hosting! Christie

  40. Thanks for hosting another great party! Little Bit from http://www.DecorateWithaLittleBit.com

  41. Thanks so much for hosting! I love the new lamp you found. The shape is great and the shells are perfect for a porch.
    Take care,
    KC

  42. thank you for this fab party, Susan!

    hugs x
    Crystelle

  43. Your porch is so amazing. I’ve got to have my husband take a look at it. Warmer weather is a-comin’! Thank you for sharing and hosting your lovely party. Patti@OldThingsNew

  44. Perfect! What a cute lamp you found for the hutch. They do get some fun stuff in there and their prices are wonderful.

  45. Good things come to those that wait!!! What a perfect lamp for the porch!!! Yes, and I do that to myself all the time…..dream up exactly what I want and never finding it!!!

  46. OMG, Susan!
    You are a girl after my own heart, my dear!
    I see, you don’t require perfection at all… (just only 110% of all available possibilities… LOL)
    Such a beautiful lamp! Its shell motif should not only look great with that shell wreath on the door but with the gorgeous shell chargers you did last year, too, shouldn’t it?
    Plus, its shutter/louver design does go very well with the window shutters! 🙂
    Well…now you have a criss-cross designed lamp on the table that goes perfectly with your wicker furniture and a new lamp on the hutch that looks great with the window shutters and the shell/beach decorations on your summer porch… hmm… do you know what? That’s what I call PERFECTION! 🙂
    ~Hugs to you~
    Cecilia

  47. Leslee in TN says

    Absolutely beautiful. I never tire of seeing your photos. I have a lovely screened in porch/deck, but could never put all your beautiful things out on it, because of rain, etc. When it rains here, the rain blows in and gets most things wet and/or ruined. It’s a shame, but it is what it is. Boo hoo. Otherwise, I’d have it decorated like one of my ‘inside rooms’.

  48. Love the vignette , lamp is perfect.

  49. Vicki Daugherty says

    What nice lamps, both. My fav is the Home Goods lamp, and my favorite part of that is the finial! I am not usually a fan of the chippy look, but this one is darling. Looks perfect on your hutch….all ready for spring and summer. Loved getting the postcard and I have an idea. I doubt you want any comments on the postcard, but what about a suggestion box? You are such a good teacher, and I’m certain I am not the only one with questions I would like you to address….. plus it might give you some additional ideas for topics to include. Just an idea……will love it any way you write it!!! Thanks for hosting today.

    • Vicki, me neither. I’d really prefer they not overdo the chippy thing. I wish they would at least make it more random and not so regular looking when they do it. It’s a bit more regular looking on the lamp than I prefer…a little too “planned” looking…and too much chippiness to suit me. lol Wherever they make this stuff, they are probably laughing that Americans won’t stuff that looks all beat up. 🙂
      That’s a good idea. I’m not sure how much I can fit into the newsletter but I’m always open to topics. If it’s a subject on which I have some information to share, I can always blog about it. So sure, make suggestions and if I can, I’ll blog about it or try to cover it. 🙂

  50. I love all the white you have added to the hutch, so fresh and summery would love to see the hutch with all white dishes, just for a quick change, the white against the pretty green and that great lamp, it just screams summer…love the new Post card idea, especially the idea of small snippets of things we haven’t seen in the blog…such a cute idea.

    • Phyllis, that’s a good idea…I think I’ll try that sometime…once it warms up out there. It’s too blooming cold right now. lol
      Thanks! It was a lot of fun to put together! 🙂 XO

      • I am happy you liked doing the postcards from the porch, I am hoping you will put some pictures of the cool animals around your house, always loved the birds and I know you do too. We do not get those cool species here, I loved seeing the hawk you once had….

  51. What would we do without HomeGoods? Your new lamp looks perfect on the porch, however, you know I could have made that lamp for you! Just kidding…since I made a lamp for my bedroom I think I can make anything into a lamp. 🙂 I am ready for spring also…we are having some of the coldest weather of the winter up here on the Virginia coast…enough already. Have a wonderful week Susan!

  52. LOVE that lamp Susan, it would go very well in my tented gazebo (once I receive the new roof) with all my other nautical accents.
    Susan, you are slipping….you haven’t photographed Max for a while! Is he too sleepy and comfy to come outside??
    Our weather is still chilly, although the snow has stopped for now. I want to get on with pruning the garden before we leave.
    Thanks for hosting Susan.

    • Ha! Yep, he’s staying hunkered down in his cozy bed on the ottoman these days. He and I need to spend some time in the fresh air come spring, though. Just needs to get warmer. Thanks, Megan. I’ll give Max a hug for you! 🙂

  53. Hello from Arkansas Susan! I love the lamp you bought for the hutch! Looks great. And I’m with you-I am so ready for spring and warm weather!

  54. Susan, white is calling my name and it NEVER has before! Thanks for the post card, and I had to laugh as I was up working on my porch post for today. Doesn’t it feel strange when your taste suddenly changes? Thanks for the party.

    Helen

  55. Susan, Your lamp looks perfect. I was away for a while but thought I caught your posts. Are you all decorated for spring now? I am looking out my window at snow. Even the winter lovers are complaining. Iris

    • Iris, not quite yet. Just cleaned off the hutch when I added the lamp. I’m eager to get out there though and get some things done, then the pollen will hit. Not looking forward to that.

  56. I love the new lamp….it IS perfect. How would we survive without Home Goods?!! I don’t know…that and Goodwill of course!

  57. Your porch looks so pretty, Susan! I am sooo ready for spring! Thanks for hosting!…hugs…Debbie

  58. Pretty, pretty lamp – such a perfect find for your lovely porch! Home Goods amazes me at times with their great things. Thanks for hosting, Jane

  59. Beautiful lamps!! I love both of them. The “shutter” design on the one is perfect! And it will look beautiful with the shell wreath. I wish we had a porch but my morning room is KINDA like my porch now….and I get to use it all year:):) XO, Pinky

  60. I just want to say that the photo of your porch in the evening made me positively ache with longing for summer! It looks so pretty and inviting. I can just imagine sitting there and enjoying the twilight. I can’t wait for warmer weather! Thanks for hosting!

  61. Everything looks so pretty! Thanks for the pics and hosting the party!

  62. Thanks for hosting!

  63. Susan,
    I think the lamp is just perfect! Love that you have ice tea & cookies out! I wish it was warm enough here in Raleigh to pretty up my porch! Hoping Spring gets here soon. Thank you for hosting, once again and for being the inspiration for my adventure into blogging!
    -Karen

  64. I am always eager to join your parties and see what great ideas are shared. Thanks so much for hosting!

  65. The new lamp matches your dishes perfectly! Don’t you love it when a plan comes together! ? ! Lovely, it all looks truly lovely!

  66. The lamps is PERFECT, Susan! I get things in my head too that I start to believe don’t exist and it drives me crazy until I find them, so I know what you mean! Thanks for hosting! ~Zuni

  67. Thank you so much for hosting Susan! Your porch look amazing, love this space to relax or entertain 🙂

    xo, Tanya

  68. Hi Susan,

    I think your new lamp is just right for the hutch — it’s darling! It’s one of the most unique lamps I’ve seen. I’m the very same way about decorating; I get an idea of what I want for a particular spot, and I keep shopping and shopping until I find the right thing (or something really, really close). Sometimes it takes a while, but I’ve discovered I’m much happier in the long run if I wait and get the right thing.

    Have a wonderful week!

    Denise

  69. Thanks so much for hosting, Susan! Your porch is just so lovely, and the new lamp is the perfect charming addition.

    Jeanette @ Creating a Life

  70. You have the most beautiful porch!! Thanks for hosting!
    Nancy

  71. Yep! That lamp works well and you know what caught my eye? It matches the shutters in the window!!! It reminds me of a shutter lamp…and that’s a good thing! 🙂

    • Donna, you know what’s funny. I bought the lamp on Saturday and placed it out there that night after dark. Then the next day I took pictures for the post and never even noticed about the shutter in the window. It wasn’t until I was creating the post that I noticed them and also thought about the shell wreath I hang on the door on the other side. Crazy, huh? I guess when you buy things that you love, it just somehow all works together in the end. 🙂

  72. So pretty! You always do such a good job. Thanks for hosting!
    Jamie http://www.somuchbetterwithage.com

  73. I love your porch so beautiful. I love your pillows on the wicker sofa. Could you tell me where I could get some. All the patio pillows I find are so typical. We are building a porch and yours is one of my inspriations!!

    Jessica

    • Thanks, Jessica! The ones on the wicker settee/sofa came from HomeGoods a few years back. They get in them in every year around this time and into summer. They are always covered in different fabrics each year but they always have the same wonderful down inserts. They are super comfortable and very well priced at 2 for $25. TJ Maxx and Marshalls may have them also since HomeGoods, Marshalls and TJ Maxx are all owned by the same company.

  74. I have a porch of my own and look to you for decorating ideas. All love coming your way. Get well soon.
    Meredith

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