Two young, blond toddlers stand on a porch, pulling on a onesie that says “tie breaker” as their parents take photos for their baby announcement, welcoming their third child into the mix soon.
It’s one of many scenes that have unfolded as Liberty Twp. residents Rachael and her husband Garret navigate suburban life with their beautifully designed porch as their backdrop to everyday life. The Youngs used to take photos from their porch of their kids in the yard, but now they’ve flipped the scene. They realize that their porch is already the perfect way to document memorable moments, from the baby announcement to first day of school photos.
“It’s a clean backdrop...it’s way more personal to do it on your own front door,” she says. “You might as well decorate your porch.”
Decorate, she has. Rachael loves interior (and porch) designing so much that she has started to document her progress on her new blog, First House on Finn, FirstHouseonFinn.com. The family has participated in one room challenges, which involve redecorating a room in just eight weeks, and the porch is no exception.
Three rugs of various sizes and textures welcome visitors in the front door, and two rustic black rockers are decorated with seasonal pillows.
“I wanted a different wreath every season and holiday,” Rachael says, laughing about her wreath wall she has in her garage. “I love the 30-inch big ones.”
She changes the flowers and pots seasonally, and decorates on a repurposed indoor ladder. She finds artificial plants to be easier to maintain on her covered porch.
While she calls her current style “modern farmhouse,” she aspires to incorporate more texture, Bohemian styles and macrame, which she says are more in style now.
Throughout the shelter-in-place orders during the pandemic, the front porch was the meeting place for neighbors, friends and family. Check out these ways to make your own porch a haven this summer.
