PORCH APPEAL

PORCHappeal

CREATING A RELAXING AND INVITING SPACE written by SUE OLP photography by DANIEL SULLIVAN

NOTHING SAYS SUMMER like a welcoming porch that makes outdoor living relaxing and fun. How do you create that warm and inviting space? We invited Billings experts to weigh in on the essentials for capturing that porch appeal.

Jeremiah Young, creative director for Kibler & Kirch, an interior design firm, notes that front porches are an American invention.

“I can’t think of another place in the world where porches are,” Young says. “I think they are a uniquely American experience.”

The covered area jutting out from the front of a house blocks the sun while allowing in a refreshing breeze, he says. That makes it a pleasant place for family and friends to enjoy time outside on a hot summer day. Talking specifics about designing a comfortable porch, Young suggests groupings of furniture, like chairs and small tables, to facilitate conversations or make it easy to grab a bite of cheese or a sip of iced tea eat while reading a good book.

Young’s preferred place to sit is a rocking chair. He employed them to great effect on one of his favorite assignments, a bunkhouse in Big Horn, Wyoming, that was transformed into a house. Accenting the long porch, two pairs of rocking chairs faced each other, with small tables in between. He chose Grove Park rockers from Old Hickory, what he calls “classic American kind of stuff.”

“Rockers are something I love to have on porches,” he says. “It’s not only prototypical, it sits up a bit so you can see over a railing. The steady motion lets you fidget, and typically they’re light enough to let air pass through.”

Rockers, which also make it easier to stand from a sitting position, are as American as porches, Young says.

SUE OLP, writer

Sue Olp worked for many years as a reporter at the

Billings Gazette, covering everything from healthcare and education to county government, tribal issues and religion, not to mention plenty of humaninterest stories. Now retired, she is a freelance writer and enjoys gardening, reading and spending time with her family, including her grandchildren.

To give a little glow to the space, try the beautiful and practical decorative lantern, says Lisa Pugrud, owner of Real Deals, a home décor and clothing boutique. She suggests hanging or placing two lanterns of different sizes outside with timed candles inside that flicker like real flames and turn on and off automatically.

“They look natural and add ambiance,” Pugrud says.

The lanterns also heighten the illumination that makes it easier to see during the evening twilight. The decorative lamps come in different sizes and styles, ranging from white to black, natural wood to metal.

“We typically do a larger lantern with a couple of planters,” she says. “Or you can change the decorations every season, combining a lantern with pumpkins in the fall, in the spring flowers or greens and on the Fourth of July, make it an Americana look.”

Even just hanging a small wreath on top of a lantern “is a great way to bring color,” Pugrud says.

an extension of your home

So many ways exist to make a porch charming, relaxing and colorful, while keeping it clutter-free, says Tiff DavidsonBlades, part owner of Davidson Home Furnishings & Design. She sees the space as “an extension of our interiors, so I like to keep it simple.”

“You can tend to do too much with all of the fun accessories available, so just be sure not to overdo it,” Davidson-Blades says. “Choose those special items that make your porch unique and inviting.”

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blossoms & herbs

It’s no surprise that Jim Gainan, president of Gainan’s Flowers, suggests that flowers and plants can add a nice touch to a front porch. A container garden, a patio pot or a hanging basket provide a rainbow of colors that will be enjoyed by the home’s residents as well as those who pass by. Another nice element is a pot filled with herbs such as chives, rosemary and parsley.

“Think of scent and color both on a patio,” Gainan says. “If it’s beautiful, smells good and is welcoming, it’s a nice place to sit outside and read a book.”

He suggests decorating with a few mid-sized to larger pots, which retain water better and are easier to care for than a dozen small pots “unless you’re home all day.” A longtime favorite for a sunny spot is a combination of geraniums, sweet potato vine and a spike plant in the middle for height, or mix a blend of succulents and geraniums. In the shade, try impatiens, or ferns that can add lushness and are a bit easier to maintain.

To keep porch plants healthy and happy, Gainan suggests rotating pots to keep their growth uniform, giving them a quarter turn when fertilizing. It’s best to water flowers and plants in the morning, he says, with a small touch-up in the evening if needed. Fertilizer is a must, as is keeping an eye out for insects and fungus. And don’t forget to deadhead and prune the plants during the season.

“It’s really not something you can put out and leave out three to four months and think it’s going to look good,” he says. “It takes a little bit of effort, but it’s fun and relaxing and it forces you to take some time. It’s good to touch something living.” ✻

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with a gentle ring as the wind moves by. Wind chimes can be one of the most pleasing sounds of summer. The good news is, you can make a simple one to enjoy as you soak up our warmer weather. You might have used this salt dough recipe for Christmas decorations, but the dough works just as well to create a one-of-akind chime to enjoy outdoors.

LET'S GET STARTED

Mix salt and flour in a bowl by hand, slowly add small amounts of water until you get a soft dough. Roll out the dough to about a ¼-inch thick. Using your clay cutter, cut out the shapes just like cutting out cookies. I cut out 15 to 20 shapes. I won't use them all; I just wanted a few extras for potential mishaps. From here, take the drinking straw and make holes close to the top of each cutout. The straw makes a good-size hole to run your cording through easily. Bake the cutouts at 200 degrees for 15-30 minutes. After fifteen minutes, be sure to check on your shapes in the oven because they can burn. Make sure to flip them at the halfway mark. They are done when they have hardened with a light to medium beige color. I overcooked mine but I liked the rich brown color they turned. Once they’re done, let them cool.

When they are completely cooled, spread the cut-outs on a newspaper outside and spray on a clear coat to protect them in the weather. Spay several coats, letting them dry between each coat. Flip the cutouts over and repeat the clear coat steps on the other side.

These wind chimes are not 100 percent weather safe. The more coats of the clear coat spray, the better it will hold up to weather. It's best to find a covered spot to hang these, or even inside by the window.

Once the cutouts are dry, it's time to let your creativity flow. When assembling, there are a few things to consider. The strands should be fairly close together in order to create that relaxing sound. I tied cording on both ends of a branch so I could hang my chime from a hook on my deck. Another thing to consider is how the strands will hang on the branch, since no branch is totally straight.

I cut six pieces of cord about 12 inches long, one cord about 18 inches long, and another roughly 24 inches long. I chose a suede cord because I loved the color. Take the six 12-inch pieces and start stringing the beads and cut-outs on each strand. To create a look similar to mine, add one clay cut out onto the cord, tie a knot, add a bead, tie a knot, add another bead, tie a knot and then tie the cord onto the branch. I did this three times. Then I took the longer 18-inch cord, added a clay cut out, tied a knot, added six beads without knots in between and then tied it to the branch. Grab the leftover 12- inch strands and continue the pattern of clay cutout, knot, bead, knot, bead, knot, and then tie to the branch. Remember, my idea is just a starting point. You can create your own pattern of cutouts and beads. Now grab the 24-inch cord and tie each end to the branch. This is how you will hang it from a hook outside. For extra security, add a drop of E6000 glue to each knot on the back of the branch. This will really secure the cords. Once the glue is dry, trim the ends of all the cords.

Once you’ve hung your chimes, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the gentle and peaceful sounds. ✻

What you will need...

• 2 c. flour •

1 c. salt

• 1 c. water • Rolling pin •

Beads

• Cording • A drinking straw • Spray clear coat • Clay cutters or small cookie cutters• Foraged stick from your yard• E6000 glue

Dough Recipe

•2 c. flour • 1 c. salt • 1 c. water

EDITOR’S NOTE: Have you tried one of our DIY’s? Show us your projects! Simply post on social media and tag us or use the hashtag #yvwdiy so we can see your handywork.

RACHEL JENNINGS, writer

Rachel is a self described "Junker," who not only loves all things old, but LOVES the challenge of trying to make something new out of each find.

While she is a Hair Stylist by day, in her off time you can often find her covered in paint, trying to repurpose something she's found.