Here’s how we inexpensively created a cozy screened porch using Home Depot, Target, HomeGoods, and IKEA. I also want to show you some handy hook organization by the back door, a new period television show I’m loving, another designer pillow source, and more.
It’s Five Faves time with Annie and Cindy!
1. Pillow Love
While I was at Cindy’s House, I saw a pretty blue pillow in her bedroom. She told me she ordered it from Pillow Fever on Etsy. I got it in a different blue and in a long lumbar for our bedroom.
There is more about Our Unique Bedroom By Mixing New With Vintage. You can shop our bedding here.
Also, check out: PILLOWS! My Favorite Sources.
2. Cozy Screened Porch: Before and After
Upstairs, next to my office is a porch surrounded by tree limbs. Since having other expenses (like a backyard pool in the works), I wanted it to be stylish, usable as an extra hangout/workspace, and not expensive!
Porch Before
Cozy Porch After
The wicker furniture was on clearance at Home Depot. The indoor outdoor rug is from Target. My mother-in-law, Earlene made the succulent arrangement.
The shells on a string were inexpensive from Home Goods. This reminds me, you can hear the ocean waves from this spot.
The basket and seat cushions are from HomeGoods, the table and chairs from IKEA and the palm tree is from Home Depot.
Did you see our other screened porch? The “Ladies Loft”.
3. Inexpensive, Handy Hooks
These hooks from Target are keeping our hats and bags organized by the back door.
4. What To Cook – Baked Coconut Shrimp
We made this recently from Half Baked Harvest’s cookbook and they are healthier than the fried version.
Someone mentioned on Instagram that they would be great made with an air fryer too.
5. What To Watch – Empress
I’m enjoying this English dubbed foreign film while Howard watches sports.
“When rebellious Elisabeth falls for Emperor Franz and becomes his unlikely bride, she enters a world of tensions and intrigue at the Viennese court.”
My junior year abroad was spent in Vienna, Austria. It was a great experience learning to waltz for the student ball, sitting in the “cheap seats” at the opera, and visiting all the museums.
The interiors and costumes are gorgeous…appropriate to the Habsburg empire.
If you are new here, each Sunday I share my top five favorite things along with my friends, Cindy and Annie. It’s like our weekly “catch-up” phone call. If you would like to receive this series every week, please sign up HERE.
Let’s see what Annie and Cindy’s Five Faves are this week:
Cindy Hattersley Design
Most Lovely Things
A belated Happy Birthday! I just celebrated mine on the 10th! Love, love, love your porch. You did GOOD!
Happy birthday, Judie!!
Happy Belated Birthday!
Very nice birthday treat that your son visited you.
I have a movie suggestion which I watched last night on Amazon Prime.
“Perfume”, a delightful French film about a woman who designed perfumes for Dior but lost her “nose”. You will love her relationship with her chauffeur.
I think you should have a birthday week, celebrate all week.
Blessings, Patricia
Thanks so much for the movie suggestion!
Mary Ann I hope your birthday was lovely! I wish we could celebrate all together. Really missing you. The porch is so pretty and I love all the these things together! Such an inviting retreat. The little area with the hats and bags looks wonderful. I want to do the same here, but we don’t live near the beach and it’s so perfect there. Thank you about the Empress. I am going to watch when Max is on his Zombie shows. I had no idea you went to school in Austria. It’s one of my favorite places! xo
I use those hooks every day, Kim! Come visit!!!
Happy birthday, Mary Ann! You always seem to find all the right touches! It’s all coming together so well.
Thanks, Susan!!
Hi Mary Ann,
Your AFTER screened in porch turned out so well. It’s so important to have your special place to go to when hubby is watching sports. If he is anything like my Honey Bear he yells out and screams at time with anger at the bad moves. It’s comical to listen to. A pool is coming, good for you.
Your bedroom looks so pretty, love the pillows.
Happy belated birthday. Can you believe another birthday rolled around so fast? I try to give mine away but no one wants them. I can’t figure out why!
Your sheets look like really nice quality.
Yes, Howard and Tommy can yell at the screen during games. Chief and I don’t like it. :/
Mary Ann, everything you do is always spot on! Weather using high end pieces and treasured antiques you’ve collected or bargains from Home Goods, Target and Home Depot, it always looks beautiful. How fun to have 2 cozy porch areas to share with friends or just sit and read a good book. Thank you for the pillow source and a good period piece too watch. Hope you had a wonderful birthday.
Thanks, Gail. Means a lot coming from you.
Lovely porch, another great movie on Netflix is I Am Women. So many layers, everyone should watch this, it makes you THINK. The music is great too! It’s only available until October 23 so get watching.
I really enjoy your blogs.
Thanks, Evelyn!! alWay need recommendations!!!
Two thumbs up on your new porch
Thanks Mary. I’m sitting out here now. Listening to the birds.
Love your porch in the trees and I’m planning on a deep dive into your pillow source. I just finished watching The Empress. How lovely and lavish the settings and the costumes are. I don’t know enough about the history of that period to know how accurate the story is, but it kept me coming back for more!
Have a great week (and happy b’day!).
My husband worked with an Australian woman who said the people loved Cici (Elisabeth).
MARY ANN!
That porch is just darling1. The furniture from Home Depot is fabulous and every inch of the space is just charming! I am watching the Empress as well. It is kind of depressing though! I love that pillow in the bright blue in your bedroom just perfection!
Thanks for the source for the pillow, Cindy! I haven’t gotten to the depressing part of the series yet :/
I love your porch…both of them! That little string with the shells…it’s all about the little things! And how did I not know that you spent your junior year of college in Vienna? Madeline’s boyfriend, Rohit, did as well, and they told us about a movie with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Before Sunrise, have you seen it!?
No…but thanks for the movie tip, Annie!!
Ladies — If you love Before Sunrise, you should know that there are TWO MORE movies in this trilogy by Richard Linklater, the genius who brought us Boyhood. All three movies are highly rated on Rotten Tomatoes.
Thanks for brightening my Sunday mornings, and all the work you do to make that happen!
Happy birthday, Mary Ann!
Perfect!! Thanks for the recommendations!