Roxie It seems like I have been working on this little house forever! (It probably seems like that to you too!) It has definitely been a labor of love, and is still a bit of a work in progress, but I am finally at a place where I feel I have tended to enough of the details to let you have an in depth tour. At 980 square feet, this house packs a lot of character into a very small space! Matt and I have been thrilled to settle in to this little mill house and make it our home. Living in a small house or apartment doesn't mean you have to compromise your design aesthetic. There are plenty of ways you can bring style and organization to a small space, while keeping to a strict budget and I hope I can give you a few tips along the way!
I am pairing a "before" picture with each room / porch, just in case you have forgotten the horror! If you are new to The Southern Mercantile, be sure to take a peek at my previous renovation blogs, to see the whole process!
Alder Street Social Club
Alder Street Renovation
Alder Street Renovation-The Floors
Now, just to recap, here's a little reminder of what the house looked like on the outside when we began our work.
Alder Street Social Club
Alder Street Renovation
Alder Street Renovation-The Floors
Now, just to recap, here's a little reminder of what the house looked like on the outside when we began our work.
And, ta da! Here's my beautiful front porch now! Don't you just want to come on up and visit for a while? Matt and I have already spent many evenings here in the spring and the fall, sitting on the glider, sipping a glass of wine and, catching up on the day! I had concrete board siding and trim put on the house which helped greatly in making it more energy efficient and will hold up much better in our damp climate than the original wood siding. I did have to install all new windows in the house and the porch received new columns.
 | Replacing the front door was a must as the current door was no longer functional. I sat down at my local hardware store to pick out a door and quickly became overwhelmed. (Just in case you didn't realize, doors are expensive!) After seeing this craftsman style beauty, I just couldn't make myself love anything else! I decided to forgo the tile I wanted in the bathroom so that I could squeeze this door into the budget. This door is fiber glass with a wood grain finish, which looks great when painted! My beautiful, new front door was a bit of a splurge but it was well worth it! Making a few sacrifices along the way becomes a necessity when you are remodeling to ensure that you get the things that are most important to you. |
On to the side porch! You may remember, the side porch did not originally exist. There was a small stoop with steps leading up to the side door.
I decided to expand a little by adding a small side porch. As it turns out, adding this porch was, by far, the best decision I made regarding the renovation. I just love it! I love coming home, parking in the driveway, and walking up the steps to be greeted by this happy little spot! The side door enters into the kitchen so it is perfect for the usual coming and going, unloading groceries, etc. There are steps each side of this porch, one set leading down to the front yard and the driveway and one set leading down to the back yard (and the soon to be patio).
If I am home alone on a pretty evening or a Sunday morning, this is where you will find me. It is a little more private than the front porch and such a happy place to sit and drink my coffee! I know you can see my stash of yard tools, under the table. I have future plans ready for a cute little gardening / storage shed but that project is down on the priority list a ways. For right now, the side porch also serves as my storage area for gloves, yard tools and bug spray. This cute drop leaf table has been a great outdoor storage solution for me. My vintage drink crate acts as a nice cubby for small items.
I have a few more projects waiting in the wings to finish things up on the outside. I am currently saving for a metal roof and underpinning. This spring I started to attack the yard but I still have a good bit of work to do there! I am also planning a little patio area that will be right off the steps that lead to the back yard and I have a feeling that will become my new favorite spot!
Just in case you are interested, here is the color pallet for the exterior of my home.
Just in case you are interested, here is the color pallet for the exterior of my home.
Did this inspire you to spruce up your own porches? Here are a few items in The Southern Mercantile store that can help you get the look! Click a picture below to view it in the store! (This blog was originally posted in July 2016 so some of these items are no longer available. We hope you will check out the store and see what's new!)
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