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Hey! I’m so glad you’re here. I’m sharing before-and-progress photos of the side porch just outside our newly remodeled kitchen, along with a few practical tips for refreshing your own outdoor space.
With spring approaching, now is the perfect time to plan outdoor projects so you can make the most of warmer, sunny days. I’ve been doing the same for this porch and I wanted to show you how a few simple updates can transform a neglected entry into a welcoming coastal-cottage spot that fits our home and location.
When we first moved in, the porch looked like this:
The side porch didn’t feel welcoming at all—no charm, no personality. With a few cosmetic changes, we aimed to give it a modern coastal-cottage vibe that would suit our west coast home overlooking Puget Sound. We’ve already made noticeable progress: a new Dutch door, painted white brick, a charming light fixture, and stained concrete. There’s more to do, but the direction feels right.
A quick behind-the-scenes note from the photo day: despite a few sunny breaks, it was cold, windy, and rainy most of the time. Still, those little glimpses of blue sky lifted our spirits and reminded us that spring and summer outdoor enjoyment are coming.
While we were setting things up, our dogs hopped onto the Dutch door to see what we were doing—exactly the kind of moment we had hoped for when we chose a Dutch door. It’s those small joyful moments that make the effort feel worthwhile.
I’d imagined this outdoor nook as a useful, attractive space for everyday life: a clean path to carry groceries into the kitchen and a table for morning coffee or casual outdoor meals. A teak table and durable chairs from Birch Lane fit this vision perfectly—practical for daily use and pretty enough for small gatherings.
I keep outdoor entertaining casual but like to have pretty, functional serving pieces on hand. A well-placed table doubles as a staging area to carry dishes from the kitchen and serve guests more easily.
Birch Lane’s melamine plates give outdoor meals a more refined look than paper plates, and copper-edged trays are great for transporting food down a few steps to the backyard. Lightweight but sturdy melamine glasses are another smart choice—they look nice and are less likely to tip over than paper cups.
Seagrass baskets and serving caddies are useful for carrying utensils, napkins, and snacks so everything stays organized and handy for guests. Small touches like this make casual outdoor entertaining run smoothly.
When planning outdoor events, think through what you’ll need ahead of time to reduce stress. But on the day of, be ready to adapt—our paper napkins blew away in the wind during this shoot, and small potted flowers were the perfect quick fix.
I wanted copper accents to warm the porch, and hammered copper planters delivered the texture and color I pictured. I’m excited to fill them with lush plants so the porch feels green and inviting from both outside and through the kitchen window.
If you don’t have a green thumb, faux succulents are a lifesaver for decorating outdoor tables—they look charming and require no care, so they’ll stay fresh-looking season after season.
Our yard fills with birds in spring, so little accessories like a chickadee bird feeder create inviting outdoor destinations where guests can relax and enjoy nature. Even if you don’t have blooming plantings yet, fresh cut flowers from a farmer’s market or grocery store bring instant charm—simple galvanized containers work beautifully for loose, effortless bouquets.
This small turtle accent reminds me that outdoor spaces are for slowing down—savoring the view, smelling the flowers, and enjoying simple moments.
I appreciate Birch Lane for offering well-priced, high-quality pieces that hold up over time. Shopping online with free shipping over a certain amount makes it easy to gather the accessories needed to refresh an outdoor area.
I’ll be sharing more updates soon, including the new concrete patio, fence, double gate to the backyard, and planned projects like porch railings, a front gate, potted plants, and string lights to create evening ambiance. Stay tuned this spring and summer for more progress.
What outdoor areas are you hoping to work on this season?
PS. I’m sharing tips over on Birch Lane’s Instagram today—come say hi!
