Welcome to the 23rd Metamorphosis Monday!
One of the best parts about blogging, if not the best part, is making new friends. Sometimes, after several weeks or months of chatting via e-mail, we actually get to meet face to face. Other times, we just meet heart to heart.
Selena is one such friend…though, we’ve never met in person, our hearts have surely met. That’s because we both share a tremendous fondness for all things porch. Selena recently shared pics of her beautiful porch with me, and I can’t think of a better way to kick off our first official day of summer than with a tour of her fabulous porch.
Since it’s Met Monday, I asked Selena to share what was in this space prior to the construction of her porch. Selena told me, “First, it was just yard, then a large patio, next a screened porch (shown below) with indoor/outdoor carpeting…
…which really worked out great when the kids were tots. They could swim in a pool inside the screened porch and I didn’t have to worry about mosquitoes or bugs. All of us enjoyed the porch so much, that I missed it during the winter, so I had the old porch torn down and a new one put up that included glass inserts so that we can use it year round.”
As nice as the old porch was…WOW, take a look at the current one! Selena said, “It is a screened porch during spring, summer and fall. In the winter, I put in glass windows that I can open from the top or bottom. This is the porch with the morning sun flooding the porch with light. I also added a cathedral ceiling with six skylights (instead of four) and tile flooring.”
I think porches help keep us young at heart, because Selena wrote, “When you were a child, do you remember watching the clouds moving through the sky and trying to figure out what they resembled? I still do that…except instead of laying in a large, old cardboard box that I “constructed” as *my* personal space and informed my sisters they were not allowed to enter, I now lay down in my cushioned swing with lots of pillows and watch the clouds move through the skylights.”
Selena’s grandchildren, Tyler, age six and Elsa Grace, who is five, also love spending time on the porch. Selena told me, “When they spend the night with me we turn the porch into a “sleeping porch” and fill the entire space with flameless candles. (LOL) You can’t imagine all the fireflies that attracts! I put my George Forman grill out there and we grill out hotdogs, play board games and tell spooky stories ’til they finally doze off.
“I enjoy watching the morning shadows dance on the floor.
“I love birds, and birdhouses, and nests…
…. can you see the little nest in the eves?”
I know Selena’s grandchildren must love being in this special place…every porch needs such wonderful touches of whimsy! 🙂
Selena said, “All my plants seem happy and thrive on the porch.
“During the winter, I call my porch, my winter garden, because I make sure I have bulbs blooming at different times and certain flowers keep blooming because of the warmth of the room. This was taken when we had a deep freeze one winter.”
This Met Monday post also includes a lovely tablescape! Selena shared, “I have a little bistro set out there where I enjoy breakfast while listening to the birds sing and splash in the bird baths.”
Selena has two sweet furry faces, too. She said, “I have two Himalayan brothers (Boo & Magic) who love the porch as much as I do.”
About the following pic, Selena explained, “this is one where I have the glass in and it’s raining…one of my most FAVORITE times to be on the porch and watch the rain coming down on the six skylights.”
Doesn’t she have some of the prettiest lamps out on her porch! I think I may see a little bird on top of this one. 🙂
What a view! Do you see the fountain surrounded by gorgeous flowers? I think we may need to ask for a garden tour sometime this summer! 🙂
Beautiful!
A view of the patio that’s right off the porch…
Selena confides, “This has become my sanctuary…
…my personal paradise…
…a cherished haven that has brought me delicious hours of pleasure.”
Thank you for sharing your treasured porch, Selena…it has truly been a pleasure for us as well!
I’m looking forward to seeing the changes you’ve been working on for this Metamorphosis Monday!
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Susan, thanks for sharing Selena's porch – it is a dreamy place! I especially love the way the sunlight seems to sparkle into the room. And that wicker chaise looks sooooo comfortable and inviting! Gorgeous! Linda
Beautiful porch and outdoor spaces. Thanks so much for sharing Selena's porch, with us, Susan.
What a gorgeous porch Selena has. Those lamps are just beautiful and I love that they've found a way to use their porch year round. That tour just says…"TaDa! It's summer"! Thanks for giving us a tour, Selena. I agree with Susan! We need a tour of the yard too!
Carol
Selena, Your porch and yard are amazing. Thank you so much for sharing them with Susan and our blogging family.
Susan, You're a peach! I loved the post!!! ☺♥☺ Diane
Oh, that porch is just as devine as yours. Simply stunning. It would definitely be my sanctuary too. I do so love it, and thanks so much for sharing it with us. Hugs,Marty
Oh my goodness, that porch is gorgeous! I, too, would love to sit out there and watch the rain! Putting glass windows in during winter is absolutely brilliant!
Susan, thanks for sharing Selena's porch with us today. It was fun to watch it transpire into such a warm and cozy space. I can see why she loves to spend her days there – I would too. ~ Robyn
Oh, Susan, thank you for showing us your friend, Selena's porch! It's beautiful! I love the idea of the glass inserts for colder weather. Her gardens are beautiful also! Thank you Dear One for hosting this wonderful Met Monday!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
What a truly magical and beautiful porch!! I can only imagine the wonderful memories it's helping create for Selena's grandchildren too! I love the collection of lamps!! 🙂 L~
You sure do share a fondness of great porches! Hers is lovely like yours, thanks for sharing!
~Michelle
Selena's porch is heavenly! So much to look at. Absolutely love the beaded fringe on the lamp. **sighs* Deborah
Selena's porch is charming and inviting and I loved seeing the babies!
Thank you for showing us and thank you so very much for hosting Met Monday.
Prayers for a great week!
Robin
All Things Heart and Home
Oh my goooooooooooodness!
m ^..^
Wow! I would love to spend a rainy day reading a book or watching the rain on the skylights in Selena's porch!!!
What a pretty porch she has! That's such a good idea to have glass inerts for the winter! That fountain is just spectacular!
Manuela
Wow – what a beautiful transformation. It's gorgeous and looks like a great room for relaxing reading time and for entertaining. I love it.
Oh what a gorgeous sunroom/porch. That is what I would need, one with glass inserts. How dreamy to just lay down and look through the skylights.
I agree that garden looks lovely. Can we have a tour:)
Thanks for sharing Selena's porch!
Crystal
Love the porch! I would love to have glass window inserts for mine!
BTW I see no Mr Linky to add my link in to this met monday. Am I just missing it?
Have a great week!
Thanks for sharing. What a beautiful space.
Glenda
Absolutely beautiful! I would never find a reason to be indoors! I would just live on this porch!
Blessings!!
Karyn
What a beautiful porch Selena has!! No wonder it has become her sanctuary.
What a beautiful porch! I wonder which direction it is facing – north, south, east, or west? It seems to get lovely light.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and encouraging me to participate in my first ever Metamorphasis Monday!
Hey Susan,
Your porch and patio areas look GREAT!!! Thanks for telling me about the Chalkboard party. Gina had already sent me an e-mail. I think she is going to use one of my photos for the post I'm not sure. But anyway I appreciate you keeping an eye for me.
I want to sleep over with Selena and her grandchildren, grill hotdogs, play board games, and tell spooky stories on this beautiful porch too! It sounds like so much fun!
Wow, what an incredible wonderful space. I love any place that reconnects you with your childhood. A fabulous place for any season. Thanks for sharing!
Christi
Wow, what an incredible wonderful space. I love any place that reconnects you with your childhood. A fabulous place for any season. Thanks for sharing!
Christi
What a wonderful and lush oasis that is! Happy Met Mo!!!
Oh, the house characteristic takes in everything at a glance
Health information & Humor & Fun World
beautiful porch… I want mine screened in… but I think I'd have the glass up in July and August and the AC going here in S TX..
thanks for sharing her beautiful ideas.
What a beautiful porch, it would be a great place to relax, read a book or entertain. Love it thanks for sharing!
Susan, I love the porch. I love mine as is now but the thought of being able to maybe put glass in it so it could be used in the winter is intriguing. It gets cold here but the sun is so bright then with all the leaves off the trees it would be nice back there..hmmm something to ponder – well after the kitchen fiasco that is.
~tammy
Hi
I found your blog from blog hopping today 🙂
Thought Id say Hi!
🙂 Candy
Very pleasant.
Glad you shared this.
Blessings,
~D~
Selena certainly has a beautiful porch! Thank you for sharing!
blessings
mary
Selena has a wonderful porch and it's easy to see why she calls it her sanctuary! Love all the wicker and birdhouses.
Such great pictures of her porch. Susan, you are so generous in featuring others' great things!
Selena's porch is a delightful space in which to enjoy the seasons with family and friends — as well as in a solitary moment.
My first Met. Monday! Thank you for hosting, Susan.
Dawn
Hi Susan–
What a beautiful post this is. This porch is absolutely dreamy.
I posted something a little different today, which I hope will be interesting for you to read.
As always, thank you for hosting this event. I think it's one that people really look forward to!
What an aweome tranformation
It is a whole other living area and oh so wonderful
This was my first MET Monday
I really enjoy seeing all the transformations!
Thank You Susan!
You have a FAB porch!!!
Susan, Thanks for sharing your friend's lovely porch, it's so full of inspiration. My sunroom is a work in progress and I hope to have something beautiful to share with you someday!
Susan, Oh what a gorgeous porch your friend has and how nice of her to let us all see it.
Thanks for sharing, I never seem to have anything for MM, but I do have a giveawway listed on my blog today, please come and sign up/
Happy MM.
Thanks for sharing that pretty porch! I love to see these beauties.. So far, mine is a mile away from that! haha..
I have just found your blog and am already addicted – FABULOUS!!!
Beautiful porch – and a lovely personal space.
We would call that type of room a conservatory here in Britain.
Met Mondays are really fun! Thank you for creating
SO wonderful
Cheri
http://www.itssoverycheri.blogspot.com
This is my mom's porch and I have to say that as beautiful as the pictures are, the "real thing" is even more beautiful. My children talk about her porch all the time and when we go over there that is always the first place they are running to. It has made wonderful memories for all of us and we always look forward to Easter every year as this is "the place" to be. I love my mom's porch and it has become a wonderful place to enjoy nature, each other, and make many memories. Thank you so much for sharing her beautiful porch with everyone!
Mornin' Susan, That is such a sweet, pleasant looking porch! Thanks to you and Selena for sharing it. Nancy
what a fabulous meta monday
I can sure see what she sees this as her sanctuary. I would truly enjoy being out there when it rains, feeling cozy inside with a cup of coffee and a book with the kitties beside me. And she added such whimsy to make it even more special. Does she have a blog? Would love to see more!
Brenda
There most definitely is something comforting and magical about a porch. It draws kids of all ages. When I a feeling a little blue, I love to curl up on my porch sofa with a good book. Just listening to the birds and squirrels enjoying their day takes away every care and puts everything into perspective.
I am so envious! That is the most beautiful space!
Oh thank you so very much for sharing these lovely images.
This porch is a small piece of heaven on earth.
I love the tweet little touches.
Selena porch is wonderful, I love the swing,plants, bird nest in the eve. Oh, those wonderful lamps. The fountain is so lovely! Great patio!
I enjoyed seeing her porch, I miss my little glass porch, but I going for a small glass in one just for this coming winter. One day maybe we will get our back porch done. House first. lol Thanks for the White Party info. I have this dream buffet I want, but making do until I find it! Then the one I made can go to my weaving studio.
Oh Susan, Selena's porch is just perfection. What a wonderful spot — and she has clearly put so much time and effort and love into making it that way. Fantastic! Thanks to both of you for sharing it!
Cass
~WOW! Susan her porch is beautiful!
Have a wonderful week.
~Melissa 🙂
LOVELY!!!! I am so jealous I don't have a porch like you two! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Susan for hosting such a fun party!
Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com
That is just the most fabulous porch I have ever seen!!
Inspired!
Such a wonderful, cozy porch! What a lucky lady!
Thanks for hosting again today, Susan.
*Tricia
Such a wonderful, cozy porch! What a lucky lady!
Thanks for hosting again today, Susan.
*Tricia
Such a wonderful, cozy porch! What a lucky lady!
Thanks for hosting again today, Susan.
*Tricia
Such a wonderful, cozy porch! What a lucky lady!
Thanks for hosting again today, Susan.
*Tricia
Such a wonderful, cozy porch! What a lucky lady!
Thanks for hosting again today, Susan.
*Tricia
Such a wonderful, cozy porch! What a lucky lady!
Thanks for hosting again today, Susan.
*Tricia
Wow! It is truly a wonderful space! I am green with envy ;o)
Yes indeed, this would be a conservatory here in UK. We have one but it's nothing like this – only a fraction o the size for a start! It's way to hot for anything other than passing through n summer and freezing cold in winter. It was a real treat to tour this beautiful porch.
I'm completely sold on these porches…after seeing this one and yours I definitely want one……..
What a fabulous porch! I am imagining how wonderful it must be to have coffee out there early in the morning.
Jane
What a great porch! I long for a beautiful porch like that!xx-Gina
Wow! That is just stunning!!! All my greenhouse and atrium pictures are in my "dream house "section!
This porch is so wonderful. Building one very similar to this has been on my wish list since I moved into my house. Thanks for sharing it!
What a beautiful porch, Selena!! We also started out with just a patio and now trying to design an enclosed porch or sunroom. I love all the little detail, esp. the plants!
Thanks for dropping by my blog, Susan!! It was nice "seeing" you. I'm glad to have come out of lurkdom too. I thought of you this weekend when purchasing white ceramic snow mugs for a winter tablescape!!
Wow! That's an amazing space- maybe I'll do that where our patio is someday!! I'd love a room so connected to outdoors that we could enjoy year round!
Everything looks so lovely and inviting. Thanks so much for sharing this.
Willow
Dear Susan,
thank you for sharing Selena's beautiful porch…that is the dream porch of many of us…it is just stunning…awesome and wow would I like to be the owner and care taker of it.
hugs
debbie
I'd never leave home with a porch like this! Thanks for the tour.
Thank you Susan and Selena for sharing this beautiful porch with us 🙂 If this was my porch, I'd be in it all the time!! Well, except for when I'd be outside enjoying the beautiful garden 🙂
I love that it becomes a sleepover room for the grandkids — I'm sure it's as much fun for Selena as it is for her grandkids 🙂
Thanks for your kind comments about my sunburst mirror project 🙂 And yep, it was nice of hubby to help out — he only burned my finger once with the glue gun!! 😉
Kelly
What a beautiful space to enjoy! I don't think I'd ever leave the porch! How very lucky are you!
Another beautiful porch! I really have porch envy this year & would love one of those.
Beautiful porch!!
I know this post is old but I would love to know where Selena got her windows. My porch is identical to hers and I want to add removable windows. I wanted to know if they are difficult to put in and take out. When I goggled removable windows I came across this post and am now so motivated to get my project underway. Would it be possible for me to contact Selena directly with my questions?
Loved reading this post and seeing the pictures of Selena’s screened in porch. I am in currently having drawings done for a screened in porch for a new cabin in western Pennsylvania and would love to include glass window inserts for the colder weather – can you have Selena share where I could purchase those inserts or who is the manufacturer of window inserts, I cannot find any online. When I tried searching this blog came up. Thank you.
I’m with Pauline and Joan – we are designing our own version of this haven and would welcome knowing her window source!
Thanks!