We spent yesterday outside. We had the usual yard work to do plus did some extra things to spruce it up for the graduation party on Friday. I'm happy to say that the mildew on the white fence that runs along the side of the yard is now gone! The MOTH gets to mark that off his Honey Do List! While he was happily doing things like that, I had all of the Princesses busy on the porch . We have a southern style house with a big front porch. Our family does a lot out there. Besides the kitchen it is the center of our home.
Over the years we've....
...taken naps...
...danced...
...pouted...
...bewitched...
...photographed it for projects...
.... waited to be picked up for our very first slumber party....
...cried...
...used it as a backdrop...
...posed before going to the Daddy Daughter Dance...
...watched the sun go down while eating Nutty-Buddies on the last day of summer vacation...
Cleaning it is like cleaning house. When pollen season is over, I like to take everything off the porch and wipe down all of the rails, walls, fans, light fixtures and so on. Our porch is big enough that we have a lot furniture out there. There is a couch, loveseat, chair, ottoman, plus four rocking chairs, a swing and a few tables and plant stands. I love our porch. I love sitting on the swing during thunderstorms during the summer. All of the girls sit out there when they are talking on the phone or reading. I love coming home and seeing it full of the friends sitting around rocking and talking.
The cushions on the couch, loveseat, chair and ottoman have seen better days. They really need to be replaced. That is just something else I've put off doing.
Yesterday, while cleaning I came up with the brilliant idea to take some of the covers off the cushions and run them through the washing machine. I want the porch to look really good for the party on Friday. It is a party for the kids, but we have invited several parents/couples that live in the neighborhood or ones that we've gotten to know and spent a lot of time with through activities at school.
I was just too excited about having clean cushions..... I was really looking forward to the white really looking white. When I went to get the cushion covers out of the washing machine, that excitement ended. My green and white striped cushion covers came apart at the seams while they were washing. Everyone of them! I guess the threads along the seams had dry rotted from sitting outside all of these years. I don't know????!!!! Now here is what my porch looks like.
(see how dirty the ottoman cushion is)
Replacing them will happen now, but will no way be able to happen in time for our party on Friday. I am not sure what I will do. The thought of getting out my sewing machine and trying to put them back together seriously overwhelms me. Some of them, I know, can't be sewn because the fabric unraveled at the seams. I'm pretty good with a glue gun, but I don't think even I can fudge my way through this. I have so much to do this week, this definitely wasn't on my list.
Any ideas?
9 comments:
Oh! Damn I wish I did! Short of sewing or buying new ones I got nothing for you but wishes of good luck. It is a beautiful porch, maybe no one will notice.
Are you sure you can't find covers before this weekend? I honestly think - unless they have to be custom - you could find some online and have them express shipped. If that doesn't work you could purchase some bright fabric - not the sunbrella per se - just any fabric and cover them with the good old fashioned glue gun in tow. This would be temp of course, but would make them uniform. Or remove all of them and you have a uniform white! Then just add some brightly colored throw pillows. Keep us posted!! xoxo
That porch is dreamy! I bet the back of the wicker is as pretty as the front. Maybe you could do without the seat back cushions for the party and find some inexpensive throw pillows that coordinate with the stripes as a temporary fix.
It's hard to tell the size of them,but would king size pillow cases work on the cushions until you could get replacements??? You could maybe fold the ends back.
I LOVE your porch and hope one day we will have a porch similar!
Suzanne
Loved your porch pictures through the years. I wish our house had a porch. I don't have any great suggestions about cushions, other than buying new ones. Have a great week and don't get stressed out about your party. Love & blessings from NC!
I'd go online and order some and pay extra for the express shipping. Or try Home Depot, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Home Goods or other stores....hopefully your furniture is standard size. I think they should be fairly easy to find. GOOD LUCK!
I would just take them off for that day. Then you will have time to find the material you REALLY like and not rush into anything. There will probably be so many people sitting on them, the cushions won't be missed! I have always said that a big porch is just an extended living space....especially in the South where it is warm enough to enjoy it for lots of months out of the year! Yours is so pretty and inviting! Hope the party goes great! Can't wait to see the pictures. From the looks of the forecast, it looks like the weather is going to be nice.
Loved seeing your girls through the years!!
Sorry about your cushions...love your porch though! And such great pictures too. I especially liked the Dad/daughter dance picture-too cute.
Here's hoping the glue gun worked!
Hope you found a solution to your cushion catastrophe! And what a BEAUTIFUL porch! I am insane with jealousy! I was JUST telling my husband how I wished we had a covered porch like yours, white rocker and all!
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