PROJECT HOUSE: OUTDOOR & MORE
Tour the charming front porch and outdoor spaces of our 2020 Project House.
Tour the charming front porch and outdoor space of our 2020 Project House.
As we near the completion of our 2020 Project House in Oklahoma,
we’re giving our readers a glimpse at the home’s front porch and outdoor living areas. “I love how the architectural elements became a pattern of their own, which adds so much interest to the space,” says Jickie Torres, Cottages & Bungalows
Brand Leader. “Between the house siding, the open beams above revealing the clad roof and then the shutter-like screen on the outside of the porch, the lines all intersect and add warmth and art to the room.” This design collaboration, with Cottages & Bungalows, American
Farmhouse Style, J.J. and Lindsey Morris of Scissortail Homes and Rachel Shingleton of Pencil Shavings Studio, combines the best of cottage and farmhouse style, and we hope these creative design ideas inspire you.
COME ON OVER
A big part of a home’s personality is its curb appeal, and the team wanted to be sure it had a friendly façade. While the home features a fresh combination of earthy materials on its exterior, the wraparound porch makes it approachable.
“The porch is a defining feature of all the houses in Carlton Landing,” Rachel notes. “We wanted it to feel welcoming when you come up the stairs. The mix of materials gives you a sneak peak of the color scheme you’re going to experience when you walk through the door.”
These warm elements include an outdoor fireplace with brick from Cherokee Brick, and bleached cedar vertical siding. Custom-made wooden slats flanking the fireplace to create a screen effect for privacy.
A connection to the community was a must. “We knew we wanted the front porch to be open and inviting to neighbors walking by. The screened porch tucked into the side gives them a private space to retreat to as well,” Lindsey says.
As for selecting the colors and finishes for the exterior, we wanted subtle and modern tones that weren’t too traditional. Settling on a warm green hue for the siding, it contrasts beautifully with the other details. “The brick, the white-washed cedar and the green is a great color combination that we thought would work on a large scale. It’s something new and different, and our interpretation of what’s next,” Lindsey says.
OUTDOOR LIVING
The front porch functions as an outdoor living room, while the private side porch is set up as a private dining area near the fireplace by Cherokee Brick. Most of the outdoor furniture pieces have a casual rattan style to tie in with the home’s architecture. “We used woven, natural materials to play off the architecture of the house,” Rachel says. “We also wanted something that would contrast against the dark black stain on the floors and the darker green of the main body of the house.”
When it comes to making your front porch inviting and transforming it into an outdoor living space, spruce it up similar to the way you decorate any other interior space, says Rachel. Accessorizing the outdoor pillows and throw blankets make it cozy for any time of year, while lanterns can add ambience for the evenings. An area rug helps define the space and anchor your furnishings. “The more layers, the better,” Rachel says, “as long as you’re keeping it fairly consistent with your color scheme.”