Thursday, April 7, 2011

Expectations (Again)


If you weren't following last summer, I was fantasizing relentlessly about how I was going to set up my future front porch.


And then I came home to find this....





I had looked at scores of Greek Revival porches and never really realized they were barely wide enough to put a chair on.

My expectations got in the way.


Well, that all worked out okay in the end.  

I love my skinny little porch.




And then just a week or two ago, I proclaimed I'd be installing some bookshelves and a window seat in between.



Well, ladies and gentleman of blogland, I bring you the latest design trend...





The window ledge!

The silver lining is I won't have a big pillow budget.




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34 comments:

  1. Daryl at Vermont CottageApril 7, 2011 at 8:37 PM

    Perfect for plants :).
    Daryl

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  2. A Whole Lotta MagicApril 7, 2011 at 8:48 PM

    Your kitty will love it, lol!

    S
    xo

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  3. Carol@6WilsonBlog.comApril 7, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    Huh? Was this a plan or miscommunication with the contractor? It looks great, whichever way it went. I love the way it's coming!

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  4. the gardener's cottageApril 7, 2011 at 9:14 PM

    hey steve,

    it looks charming to me. that there is real estate talk.

    xo
    janet

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  5. AnonymousApril 7, 2011 at 9:30 PM

    Is it not still big enough to sit on? It looks pretty though and you'll love it just like the porch. :)

    LOVE the bookcases!

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  6. An Urban CottageApril 7, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    The whole unit is limited on one side by the closet and the window on the other. The seat is 14 inches deep so it's big enough to sit on but it's definitely smaller than what I envisioned. I just thought it was kind of funny when I first saw it. It might, as Daryl suggested, be a good place for plants.

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  7. Linda@ Lime in the CoconutApril 7, 2011 at 10:11 PM

    Awwww.leave the poor skinny butt ledge alone! I think it is cute.

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  8. Grace @ Sense and SimplicityApril 7, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    It looks great, but your description made me laugh. It is a tad small for a window seat - will look great with plants and a pretty roman blind.

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  9. Elena @ white picket fenceApril 7, 2011 at 11:05 PM

    I was thinking of doing the same thing and this could actually happen to me now that i'm thinking about the size of the window.. It will look great though!

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  10. The Vintique ObjectApril 8, 2011 at 12:51 AM

    Listen, small is cozy. Also, you might find it amusing that your blog is requiring me to type in the words 'teense dumpr' in order to post!

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  11. Nita StacyApril 8, 2011 at 2:54 AM

    Oh...no...I want mine plenty deep enough to lounge on. But you can only do what you have room for. It will still look nice.

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  12. Nita StacyApril 8, 2011 at 2:55 AM

    oh yes...as Beach Bungalow said...a good kitty seat!

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  13. SusanApril 8, 2011 at 8:05 AM

    I just discovered your blog, and this cracked me up! :)
    What a beautiful home you have...

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  14. house thingsApril 8, 2011 at 8:51 AM

    I like the ledge even better than the window seat.

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  15. DebApril 8, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    Oh dear. Why does everything seem bigger in our imagination? You get right to the job though, no procrasinating for you. It looks wonderful and will probably be a favourite perch for the kitties.

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  16. for the love of a houseApril 8, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    It's a wonderful "window seat".... just for the kitty instead of you!! The kitty will love you for it.

    j.

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  17. life, in small chunksApril 8, 2011 at 9:25 AM

    Steve - There is ALWAYS a silver lining! I think it is charming and will be even better once you put your mark on it. Have a great weekend! Karin

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  18. AnonymousApril 8, 2011 at 9:29 AM

    Steve: I agree with Janet..from The Gardeners Cottage.....Charming...plus with your taste you will find something wonderful to put there....Enjoy!!

    Ellen

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  19. la maison LaFortuneApril 8, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    Maybe an indoor window box? You could still have a cushion made, just be sure it's 3"-4" thick. The bookcases are going to be beautiful. I'm guessing there will be chunky crown at the top?

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  20. AnonymousApril 8, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    You are so darn funny! I think it looks beautiful. For what it is worth...go ahead with the seat and A pillow!

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  21. DianneApril 8, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    I see a bust on that ledge...sorry kitty.

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  22. A.J.BarnesApril 8, 2011 at 10:55 AM

    That was so nice of you to install such a lovely spot for your cats! I'm sure they will be eternally grateful.

    With that said...the shelves and 'small perch' is stil a great idea for a multi use room.

    www.ajbarnesonline.blogspot.com

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  23. J.W.April 8, 2011 at 3:04 PM

    Cat ledge!

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  24. ClaudiaApril 8, 2011 at 3:11 PM

    Plants on the ledge? Kitty? It's still going to look fabulous. I love built-ins around a window. That's what I want to do in our den.

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  25. nj pathApril 8, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    guess the vacuum cleaner has to go back in the closet? - the shelf space is awesome - it will not be a spot for reading and napping, but a great little lookout

    pat

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  26. KelleyApril 8, 2011 at 7:13 PM

    I can so see pillows on it Steve...don't give up on the dream!

    xo kelley

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  27. flwrjaneApril 8, 2011 at 7:59 PM

    I didn't know you last summer but I still have to laugh.

    The best laid plans...

    Unfortunately our imaginations are so much bigger than our reality.

    But that's the way it should be,no?

    jane

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  28. the old boathouseApril 8, 2011 at 8:52 PM

    Fabulous, I love it all... proof all things can happen even if they have to be modified to fit, cheers Katherine

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  29. anniebApril 8, 2011 at 10:20 PM

    LOL. Too funny. You could fit two skinny people maybe. I'm sure it's going to look great when it's all together. You work fast!

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  30. niartistApril 8, 2011 at 11:34 PM

    Steve, I think that it's p-e-r-f-e-c-t for what you're ultimately trying to accomplish, and that's a multi-purposed room. You wouldn't want all bench and no shelves, right? Speaking of shelves - um, DDG! (Drop Dead Gorgeous!) I love them. I think they turned out fantastic, and it makes me so jealous that you can do this. (Scott would NEVER let me paint the woodwork, and large brown wood shelving units floor to ceiling in our dining room would make the room even more looming! Ah, so, I'll live vicariously through you! :)
    So jealous!
    You're amazingly talented my friend. So much vision! I think you'll need some of my crystal bottles for your shelves though. LOL!
    xo,
    A

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  31. A.J.BarnesApril 9, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    I woke up this morning thinking about you...wait a minute, that didn't come out right...thinking about your bookcases. Have you thought about painting the inside back of them a contrasting color - other than white or the color of the room...just a thought.

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  32. Ocean Breezes and Country SneezesApril 10, 2011 at 2:07 AM

    I'm sure it will be stunning, you have a wonderful sense of design!

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  33. Dig BrooklynApril 10, 2011 at 8:13 AM

    The porch is fantastic. Neoclassical design doesn't leave much room for a nice wicker set with chintz pillows!

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  34. AnonymousApril 30, 2011 at 7:23 AM

    Reminds me of one of my favorite jokes: Why do men make the best cartographers? Because only a man can conceive an inch as being a mile.

    I love the word cartographer.

    ;)

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