Making it Lovely

Tag: Better Homes & Gardens

  • Up for the Challenge: Part Four

    It wasn’t easy, but we’ve finished the front porch for the Better Homes & Gardens 48-Hour Challenge! The whole project was completed for $500, using materials exclusively from The Home Depot.

    Front Porch

    Painting the porch rug freehand while very pregnant was a little harder than I expected, but I’m beyond thrilled with the way it turned out! That and the hanging divider that we made really personalize the front porch.

    Front Porch

    Brandon spray painted the table and chair set that we bought pink. The set was nice enough on its own (it was a dark brown/gray color), but you know I just had to bring some pink in somewhere. And again, it helped to personalize the design a bit more.

    Front Porch

    Such a cheery spot for lunch…

    Front Porch

    The extra two chairs from the set are over by the front door. And I love that lilac between them, but I’m planning to put it in the side garden at some point because it’s supposed to grow to 10′ tall.

    Front Porch

    So there you have it — the finished front porch! At times I wondered how we would get it done, especially as the baby’s due date came and went, but we did it. Soon you’ll be able to vote for your favorite project (and I can only hope that it’s ours!). In the meantime, be sure to check out everyone’s finished projects and read more about our experience working on the front porch at BHG.com.

    Front Porch

  • Up for the Challenge: Part Three

    In my third post for Better Homes & Gardens’ 48-Hour Challenge, I talk about how my plans for the front porch quickly changed when we went to buy our furniture.

    When I first started planning our project, I had chosen two wicker chairs, a metal table, and a wooden glider. I had even created a digital mood board to see how everything would look together! Then we saw a great deal on a table and chair set that I hadn’t seen online, and suddenly the look went in a whole new direction.

    48-Hour-Challenge Plans

    You can read more about the shopping trip and the last-minute switcheroos over at BHG.com…

  • Up for the Challenge: Part Two

    My second post for the 48-Hour Challenge is up! This week I described the planning process and talked a bit about what we’re going to do on the front porch.

    Gathering Ideas for the Front Porch

    Check it out!

  • Up for the Challenge

    And what a challenge it will be… I can barely waddle down the stairs these days. Still, even with a baby that’s due in nine days (yikes!), Brandon and I are always up for a good project. That’s why we’re thrilled to be participating in the Better Homes & Gardens’ 48-Hour Challenge!

    The 48-Hour Challenge

    We asked five of our favorite home and garden bloggers to create clever weekend projects for outdoor living, using $500 in materials from The Home Depot. Throughout April, they’ll be blogging about the process, from inspiration and design to shopping and building. In May, we’ll post the finished projects, and you’ll vote for the most creative. The person who created your favorite will receive a $5,000 bonus!

    Is that exciting or what? I’ve been thinking a lot about what to do with the front porch, so we’re going to work on it for the challenge! We’re going to create a little dining area and a separate lounging/relaxing area. We’ll be using plenty of green (since I’ve been obsessed with it lately), and of course I’ll have to bring in at least a little pink.

    You can head on over to Better Homes and Gardens to check out the other four bloggers that are taking part. I was excited to see that John and Sherry from This Young House will also be working on their front porch — how awesome to be participating in this challenge with friends! I’m really looking forward to seeing all of the finished projects.

    Of course I can’t wait to share more with you, but for now you’ll just have to wait and see… And wish us luck!