Welcome to Our Summer Farmhouse Porch & Outdoor Kitchen Tour!
Step right up and join us for an inspiring journey into the heart of our summer living space! We’re absolutely thrilled to open our home, or rather, our expansive outdoor haven, as part of this year’s spectacular Summer Home Tours. A huge shout-out and heartfelt thanks to Gina from The Shabby Creek Cottage for orchestrating this delightful showcase of creativity and style. You know and love our blogging friends as much as we do, and their individual styles are sure to provide endless inspiration. Be sure to explore all the links at the bottom of this post to immerse yourself in each unique home tour!
Here at Refresh Restyle, summer means embracing the outdoors. In fact, since the completion of our magnificent porch and outdoor kitchen, we’ve practically relocated our entire lives outside! This incredible extension of our home boasts a dedicated living room, a charming dining area, and a fully functional kitchen, all nestled within the serene embrace of our porch. Prepare to be enchanted as we invite you on our personal summer porch tour, showcasing how we’ve transformed this space into a true farmhouse retreat.
Our philosophy for decorating this cherished outdoor area centers around comfort, character, and affordability, all infused with a classic farmhouse aesthetic. We’ve meticulously curated a space using my favorite soothing colors – a palette that effortlessly blends with the natural beauty surrounding us. This inviting ambiance is achieved through a thoughtful mix of repurposed treasures from local thrift stores, clever finds from the Target Dollar Spot, and an abundance of lovely yet budget-friendly items discovered at Walmart. Every piece tells a story, contributing to a truly unique and personalized outdoor experience.
The Heart of Outdoor Entertaining: Our Dining and Kitchen Area
A Rustic-Chic Dining Experience
The focal point of our dining area is undoubtedly the dining table, which received a much-needed and stylish makeover just this spring. With a fresh coat of paint, transforming it with crisp stripes of white and soft gray, it now radiates a renewed energy, feeling utterly new and inviting. This simple yet effective transformation is a testament to the incredible power of paint; it’s an accessible and easy way to refresh and revitalize any piece, breathing new life into forgotten furniture.
To ensure comfortable and versatile seating for all our gatherings, we’ve opted for an eclectic mix that adds visual interest and a relaxed vibe. Guests can choose from classic outdoor wicker chairs, sleek metal chairs, or our proudest DIY addition: a sturdy farmhouse-style bench that I personally constructed last year. For those eager to add a touch of handmade charm to their own outdoor spaces, be sure to grab the plans and build one for yourself – it’s a rewarding project!
Creating a harmonious color palette for an outdoor space is key to making it feel like an extension of your home. We achieved a soothing ambiance by mixing natural wood tones with the galvanized metal accents, crisp whites, and gentle grays, all complemented by the vibrant greens of abundant plants. This blend not only feels calming but also perfectly encapsulates the farmhouse aesthetic we adore.
The Ultimate Outdoor Kitchen Experience
Beneath the television, we intentionally designed a generous expanse of counter space, knowing its invaluable utility for both entertaining and everyday enjoyment. This versatile area is perfect for laying out a delectable food spread during gatherings or simply showcasing charming decor that enhances the outdoor ambiance. Whether we’re hosting a casual barbecue or an elegant outdoor dinner, this counter space adapts beautifully. I frequently raid my indoor kitchen cabinets for serving pieces and even re-purpose canvases from my walls to effortlessly create a cohesive farmhouse setting. On one memorable occasion, a chalkboard served as a delightful dessert bar, demonstrating the endless possibilities that a single nail in our wood-paneled wall can offer for creative display.
Our outdoor kitchen area is truly the heart of our al fresco entertaining. It’s fully equipped to handle anything from a quick weeknight meal to a lively weekend feast. The amenities include a robust grill for perfect steaks, a versatile Big Green Egg smoker for slow-cooked delights, a convenient refrigerator to keep beverages chilled, a practical sink with both hot and cold running water, and even a single burner—ideal for frying fresh fish or warming up a batch of savory baked beans. We moved into this house in December 2016, and honestly, I think we’ve spent more time enjoying the fresh air and natural beauty of this outdoor space than we have indoors. While our house maintains a humble charm and we undertake many DIY projects ourselves, we were incredibly fortunate to find a wonderful contractor who helped us with the more significant structural elements, such as the truly amazing ceiling that adds grandeur to our outdoor living space.
Relaxation Redefined: Our Living and Lounging Area
Adjacent to the dining and kitchen zone, our living and lounging area offers a sanctuary of comfort and tranquility. This inviting space is designed for ultimate relaxation, whether you’re unwinding with a book or enjoying lively conversations with friends and family. Plush outdoor seating adorned with cozy pillows, including those featuring charming grain sack designs, creates an irresistible invitation to sit back and stay awhile. These pillows are a simple yet effective way to inject farmhouse charm and provide a layer of softness to our outdoor sofa.
To further enhance the natural, rustic feel of our farmhouse porch, we’ve incorporated unique stump tables as functional and stylish side tables. These organic pieces bring an element of the outdoors in, providing convenient spots for drinks, snacks, or decorative accents. Their raw beauty and texture perfectly complement the overall aesthetic, proving that sometimes the best decor comes directly from nature.
For larger gatherings, our versatile pallet potting table transforms into the ideal beverage station, making it easy for guests to grab a refreshing drink. This piece is not just functional; it also provides the perfect backdrop to display my beloved vertical succulent garden. Succulents are a dream come true for busy homeowners – a beautiful plant that adds texture and life without demanding frequent watering. It’s a win-win for both aesthetics and low-maintenance gardening!
Lush greenery and vibrant blooms are essential for creating a welcoming summer atmosphere. We’ve scattered various potted plants throughout the porch, adding bursts of color and natural beauty. While orange hydrangeas might be an unusual sight, their unique hue adds an unexpected and delightful touch to our plant collection. Similarly, sweet potato vines have become a fast favorite, their trailing foliage bringing a graceful, cascading element that softens the hard lines of the porch and adds a touch of whimsical charm to our summer decor.
The Cozy Bistro Corner of Our Porch
Tucked away in a quiet corner of our porch, you’ll discover our charming bistro setup – a perfectly intimate spot designed for two. This little nook is ideal for those peaceful mornings, enjoying a warm cup of coffee as the day awakens, or for tranquil evenings, sipping a glass of wine under the soft glow of twilight. It’s a space dedicated to quiet moments and shared conversations, offering a cozy retreat from the hustle and bustle.
To reinforce the farmhouse aesthetic, a rustic barn door adorned with a classic boxwood wreath serves as a beautiful backdrop in this area, adding texture and architectural interest. This small detail significantly contributes to the overall rustic charm of the porch. Complementing this, our summer pillows, crafted from durable outdoor fabric, not only provide comfort but also introduce seasonal patterns and colors that tie the entire look together, ensuring both style and resilience against the elements.
Our goal with this summer porch tour was to demonstrate that creating a beautiful, functional, and inviting outdoor living space doesn’t require an unlimited budget. With a mix of thoughtful DIY projects, clever thrifting, and strategic shopping, you can curate a space that perfectly reflects your personal style and enhances your enjoyment of the warmer months. It’s about creating moments, making memories, and truly living outdoors.
Thank you so much for stopping by and taking this journey through our farmhouse summer porch and outdoor kitchen. We hope you’ve found plenty of inspiration to transform your own outdoor spaces into charming and functional retreats. We truly adore this space and, as you can probably tell, you’ll find us right here most of the time, soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the outdoor living that this special area provides!
Discover More Beautiful Farmhouse Summer Home Tours!
The inspiration doesn’t stop here! We encourage you to continue your tour by visiting these other amazing bloggers who are also sharing their stunning farmhouse-style summer homes. Each one offers a unique perspective and a wealth of ideas to help you create your dream summer oasis:
- Bless’er House
- Worthing Court
- Thistlewood Farms
- Stone Gable
- Rooms for Rent
- Refresh Restyle (You are here!)
- Farmhouse Chic
- Sand Dollar Lane
- The Shabby Creek Cottage
- Julie Blanner
