"Life is better on the porch," is the proven mantra of Janet Cash Koenig, a creative resident of New Town at St. Charles who lives for redecorating her personal porch. Truth be told, she also lovingly decorates her backyard and She Shed as well.
Upon moving to New Town six years ago, Janet says she felt it was mandatory to change her front porch decorations for all four seasons and nearly every celebrated American holiday. "It's just who I am. It's an interest within me that keeps growing, and my mind thinks far in advance, mulling over ideas about how to execute certain themes," she admits. "For example, I'm already envisioning my new spring porch theme and decorations for next year. I'm thinking shades of purple."
She says she loves the holidays, and that affection transferred to her home porches.
"We live on a busy street, and people tell us they love walking by our ever-changing porch, and that they appreciate what we bring to the neighborhood," Janet states.
Her decorating talent and attention to details has been noticed on official levels as well. Her home was included in the New Town Resident Christmas House Tour last year, and her yard was designated as the May 2023 Garden of the Month.
Based on accumulating decorations for the past 15 years, sometimes Janet's decorations stretch to the sidewalk near the street through planters or Halloween decorations. She also rotates the furniture and color schemes she applies to her front porch. She even repaints a frame that adorns their front glass door to a hue that matches the color of flowers planted about.
While some homeowners fix their porches for yearlong use, Janet reveals she actually changed the color scheme of the entire house exterior to help accentuate her porch and has placed at least three different swings there. "When we moved here, the house was yellow. I needed a black and white house to work with. So, we converted it all, including a new black roof. And our front door probably has 10 coats of paint."
She also has a back covered porch that she decorates.
Janet says she draws inspiration from magazines, home shows, Pinterest pieces that she tweaks, and house renovation or competition shows, such as Battle On The Beach, which is about redoing beachfront properties.
Family and friends do ask Janet for decorating advice, and some people hire her to work her magic on their own porches. So, what started as a personal hobby for Janet became a business about four years ago. She had just started her Porch Pizzazz & More business before COVID-19 struck. "I was helping people spruce up their front porch spaces by adding pops of color and other accessories. I love using multiple layers of rugs outside. For one customer, I changed out his swing, and painted the arms of his Adirondack chairs with a fun accent color. Then I did matching pillows, planters and wall hangings. He invited me back to produce a living wall of succulents on his garage," she says.
Although she paused Porch Pizzazz services during the pandemic, she reveals she's thinking about relaunching the initiative.
During that pandemic time, Janet instead turned her ideas and energy toward creating a She Shed, with her husband, Ed. She planted a full flower garden alongside it. Janet even got creative when a neighbor wanted to replace a side yard wooden fence between their properties by using some of the wooden fence boards to make the ceiling in the She Shed. "I also made that wood into several trays with handles to give as gifts."
For decorating inquiries, call/text Janet at 314.616.6516.
Advice From A Porch: Enjoy every season. Hear the birds sing. Take in the view. Listen to the rainy days. Feel the breeze. See every sunrise. Smile at sunset. Watch the stars dance. Decorate, decorate, decorate. Cherish the memories. Enjoy.
"It brings me pleasure to see neighbors enjoying the yard decorations, and a thousand trick-or-treaters sure like it all."
