Hi friends. I have an apology to make. I have been holding out on you guys. There have been some major changes going on here, and a major project home improvement project has been finished. And I have kept stumm about it.
Don’t know why exactly, just happened I guess.
Well anyway with Spring approaching the outdoor season is upon us, and that’s when I realized I hadn’t shown you this:
See this picture. It is the picture I have used for my Twitter profile for at least six months now.
Ok ignore, the ghastly coloring that makes me look like a corpse, and I have no idea why I don’t have any lips in this picture, and my expression is leaving a lot to be desired as well (blame My Love he took the picture, but I made a mess of post processing, I know). Ok anyway, this isn’t about me, but about that lovely white post I am leaning against.
Look what that post is a part of:
We have a veranda/ back porch/ roofed terrace, whatever that thing is called. But we have it!
This picture was taken in October (so my watermark is off, but that’s just a detail please ignore), and it doesn’t do it justice. I guess I should have styled that terrace a bit more, but this will have to do for now. You’ll see it styled a gazillion times in the future, no doubt, anyway.
Look how it looked before.
Two ghastly cheap looking roofs over the doors that didn’t provide any real shelter and didn’t protect us from the sun (but blocked a whole lot of light in the living room, behind those French doors).
Now we have a big real roof, that is built for eternity with a ‘light street’ that has been giving us so much lovely extra light inside all winter. Funny isn’t it how those extra windows are called here. A light street, as in a street that brings light.
Here is another look at the whole porch. And you can see here how our walls look like too. We went from that yellow on some of the walls to a lovely greige on all of them (read all about how we tried to decide on a wall color here). It really is an amazing color. In full sunlight it looks almost white, but without the blinding effect and on darker days it turns into more grey. It really contrasts beautifully with the white of the porch.
And yes that is totally a beer lamp in the background. It belongs to my Love. It hasn’t gotten its final place yet, but just allowing it on our new back terrace has given me so much decorating credit, that that baby is going to stay. I mean I have a man with an opinion when it comes to decorating, so any extra credit that can push a decision into the right direction (my direction) I’ll take.
We are already loving our roofed terrace, and are really looking forward to start using it for real when the weather warms up. Oh I can see us sitting there already, chilled glass of bubbly in one hand, chocolate dipped strawberries in the other (he I am dreaming here people and I dream luxuriously), listening to the rain fall on the roof while enjoying the lingering warmth under that roof. Ah, good prospects…..
Of course there is still some work involved too. All the wood has only been primed twice yet. So when the temps go up, we will have to start painting all of that wood with at least two coats of white finish.
And then I’ll have to wash all of those little windows as well……
So what do you think of our outdoor project? Got any tips for the painting of all of those little windows? And any handy dandy gadgets available that will do the washing-of-said-windows for me?
Love,
PS no this was not a DIY project. We hired a carpenter to build this for us. And they did an outstanding job! I can really recommend them.
You HAVE been holding out on us! I wouldn't have been able to keep quiet about such a fab space! It looks wonderful Marianne and I can't wait to see it all dolled up this Spring/Summer!
Marianne, your roof and space is beautiful!!!!! I remember the wall color choice post!!! Love the way the ceiling opens up! It's gorgeous! And once the flowers and your strawberries and you and your love are out there enjoying a relaxing morning or evening, well….it'll be worth it all the more!
LOVE!
~Kolein
I think it looks fabulous & I'm sure that U will get a lot of use out of it when Spring rolls around.
That glass ceiling is stunning! What a wonderful addition to create an outdoor room!
Diane
Beautiful, I love structures like you built and it does let in just the right amount of light! What a beautiful outdoor space…one of my favorite kinds.
perfect.perfect.perfect!
OMG! It is GORGEOUS! It adds so much to your back yard and really finishes the space in such a lovely way! I love everything about it, and I really think you picked an excellent color with the walls – great idea on going with a greige (love that word combination!) color as it is very finished but won't be blinding to the eye like white would.
Just a lovely back terrace, a gorgeous space! Congratulations!
Best,
Kimberly
I was stopping by to say thank you for your comment and then of course I started reading your blog. I love what you did with your back porch it looks great.
I was stopping by to say thank you for your comment and then of course I started reading your blog. I love what you did with your back porch it looks great.
I was stopping by to say thank you for your comment and then of course I started reading your blog. I love what you did with your back porch it looks great.
I was stopping by to say thank you for your comment and then of course I started reading your blog. I love what you did with your back porch it looks great.
I was stopping by to say thank you for your comment and then of course I started reading your blog. I love what you did with your back porch it looks great.
Ahhhh… it's gorgeous, Marianne! Your wording in this post cracked me up! Nothing wrong with dreaming. I love sitting outside on a warm summers night and listening to the rain. I can imagine you will be enjoying many a day/night out there. It's just perfect. xo
WOW, it is fantastic!!
What a great back porch!! I love my porches, but I hate that they can block out natural light. Your light street is an amazing answer!! Thanks for sharing!
Halleluja….(en dan moet je hier een groot koor horen!!) JOH Mag ik jaloers worden…een heel klein beetje maar?? DIT is al eeuwen een grote wens van mij, een soort porch.Maar ja…ik huur he…en dan heb je te maken met de woningbouw enzo…..en die VINDEN het prima hoor….weet ik zeker….maar ja…..ben maar een tenger vrouwtje alleen (hihi).
OOIT komt er een "soort porch", princess pink stijl (on the cheap hihi)……HEEL anders, maar toch…
)
(oh ff tussendoor…de postzak komt DEZE week je kant op
That is beautiful, Marianne! Beer light and all.
xoxo,
Jami
Oh it is stunning! So different, interesting, and beautiful! It is stunning!
Carol
Oh my word… you even do outdoors exquisite! Love the transom window look. That is sweet!
You have a very lovely home. Swoon…
Donna
Oh wow, that looks terrific! I love the open roof like that. So much light! I envy all that covered space you have now to enjoy the outdoors. I'm sure you will have fun fluffing up the space this spring!
VERANDA IS HEEL MOOI GEWORDEN!!
MOOI ONTWERP!
Lekker lang buiten zitten of het nu Regend of niet.
Fijne week,
MIRANDA
Oh…I love this. I need one of these over my back deck. I can't wait to see you style it over and over again. Fabulous space.
Jaaaah prachtig hoor! Zo met zo'n glazen dak wordt het natuurlijk binnen ook niet zo donker. Heerlijke ruimte, nu heerlijk gaan stylen!
What a huge makeover! This is so nice. There you can spend lots of time. Hugs /Therese
Your porch is absolutely beautiful. What a lovely place to sit in the warmer weather. I'll bet you are really going to enjoy ~ FABULOUS job
Dat is een echte aanwinst zeg . Fantastisch ook hoe je het hele proces in het engels beschrijft .
Heerlijk zeg dat je bij elke nieuwe zonnestraal meer en meer zal genieten .
Veel plezier gewenst
Love it and can't wait to see the possibilities that you post!
Jaaa zeg! Jij hebt een mooi overdekt terras en wij weten er niets van
Het is prachtig!
WOW Marianne! That looks fabulous! I love it!
This veranda really transformed the back of your lovely home! I love the white against your stone house and the skylight and all the little windows too!
Wowowowowow…wat ziet dat er mooi uit! En wat een idee die lichtstraat…wat zullen jullie genieten met de bubbels en de chocobeien, beetje jaloers ben ik wel:) groetjes Jolanda
That's so nice and will be fun to entertain there! Can't wait to see how you stage it!
Meid, daar wordt ik helemaal stil van…wat een prachtige veranda! Weet je trouwens waar ik een link en een foto van jou heb gevoden? Hier; http://www.2gypsygirls.com/ Dat is een hele eer!
Lieve groetjes! – Irma
I love love love the details on your porch. My hubby is in the glass business. They spell it "lite" instead of light. I had no idaa of that til I started doing his invoices. I showed it to my husband and he said he called those a clerestory window. I don't care what you call it – it's beautiful!
I have featured it on my latest INSPIRED BY post -
http://firstadream.blogspot.com/2011/02/inspired-by_24.html
I love your porch… but I'm missing you!!!!
Oh wow, Marianne! That is just wonderful!!!