Sweet Home 3d Porch
Janean Mcconnaughhay
It was not my most rational moment. But then, when it comes to love and real estate, few are. T and I had been casually looking for a home in and around downtown Atlanta for about a year, traveling from Tennessee, kids and dogs in tow, filled with the naive optimism of all families contemplating a fresh start.
We will be happy here. We will be happy in this new, old house. Our lives will resemble those in catalogues. I will bake pies in brightly colored Le Creuset stoneware. Our children will frolic among leaves. Our dogs will wear scarves.
Fantasy is the heart of real estate. You invent the dream and then you find a place to house it. And so it was for us in Atlanta, a city we long adored but could not afford. At least, not until I got the call from my friend Virginia, a contractor and expert flipper who was walking through the historic neighborhood of Candler Park when she spotted a bent poster-board sign among the weeds of a dilapidated cottage, For sale by owner scribbled in ballpoint pen, nearly illegibly, almost contemptuously, above the price.
I had already seen many, many houses in Candler Park, all well over our budget. This one, I knew, given the price and the fact that it had stayed on the market more than twenty-four hours, had to be, much like its FOR SALE sign, a busted disaster.
The house had been converted into a duplex and used as apartments for decades, and thus treated with as much affection as a leper in a hot tub. Every room held evidence of indifference. Shoddy paint jobs, protruding nails, peeling vinyl flooring, cracked windows, holes where pipes used to be, mildew in the bathroom corners, caked grease in the kitchens, fireplaces stuffed with three-foot-high ash, toilets, also stuffed. Outside was no better. Several exterior walls had seen the clapboard replaced by a toxin-coated paper that had been made illegal in the seventies. You could poke a straw through them as easily as wet Kleenex. There was also mold in the basement. And termite damage. And rotted subfloors. And no subfloors where subfloors ought to have been. And rats living the good life in the attic, using the kudzu that was suffocating the drooping roof as a rodent superhighway in and out of our lives.
I understood, but what I aimed to create with my resurrected Atlanta cottage was the tonal opposite of that controlled fastidiousness. I longed for a comely, welcoming space where no human disaster would register. An enveloping timelessness born of the history inherent in all the objects we chose to fill the house: a cast-iron sink we rescued from the dump; a Civil War pharmacy cabinet; a pastry mirror whose red letters have faded like writing in wet sand. And art. A riot of Southern paintings, photographs, sculptures, primitives, and ephemera that would go on to cover every spare inch of wall like plaid on golf pants.
Our children began to play in the backyard, now cleared of all the briar patches and rusted chain link, the trees freed of invasive weeds exhaling at last, their leaves unfurling to meet the sun. The dogs chased squirrels, dug for long-forgotten bones.
We shored up the front porch, put in the start of a garden of heirloom roses and Limelight hydrangeas. After one of our more protracted debates, I convinced T to paint the front door a bright pink. Now strangers stop and ask to take pictures of it, letting themselves through the old iron gate and pausing to chat on our steps. Most talk about how the house used to look, how it looks now. They say it makes them happy when they walk past. I know this to be true; I see the smiles while I water the clematis, hungrily vining around the posts where the hateful cactus used to be.
At no point in the process of finding this house and breathing it back to life did I ever think it was just for me. In my head, there were always others to consider. The families before and after ours. The ghosts already there and the babies yet to arrive. The South is a crowded landscape, because our past never leaves. Why would it when we offer it a seat at the table?
This post was a long time coming. Today I wanted to share a DIY home project we completed awhile back. We had a rotted porch post that needed to be replaced from water damage. A simple porch post replacement turned into a complete makeover. Come take a tour at my country style front porch refresh!.
Like I said, we needed to replace one post in the far corner of the porch. Or so we thought. My brother came over, assessed the damage and we realized the railing needed replacing too. I really like the new, turned design of the spindles.
I love how the turquoise looks. The color really pops and sets the tone for the rest of the porch makeover. For the cost of a few cans of spray paint it looks like a whole new set. It is a nice place to sit with a cup of coffee.
The side table was a Hobby Lobby find that I no longer had room for. Again, I sealed it with a few coats of weatherproof clear coat and placed it next to the bench. Being that the table is made of MDF, not real wood, I am pleasantly surprised that it is still holding up well despite being hit by multiple rain storms.
NOTE: Use outdoor sealer for furniture that you would like to place outside. It will extend its life. I used Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane Indoor/Outdoor Clear Coat for the bench and table. I even used it on a small dining table that I have on my back patio. It has been out there for over a year and is in great shape.
Cozy British television is my HAPPY PLACE. My grea Discover the thrill of thrifting and antiquing on Instagram post 18037884172991889 Happy Saturday everyone. Hope you have a nice wee I love this little vintage ceramic dog. It was in He knows when mom is going to work and gets mad at Happy Independence Day! Today celebrate your FREED Happy 4th of July Happy Sunday Everyone. This little cutie pie keeps I am not liking lying in bed like a blob all day. Instagram post 18440629930019555 A cozy vignette in my bedroom with vintage charm a My Butterfly Bush is blooming. I love watching the I am giddy with delight! I actually have blooms th Instagram post 17872736958077875 So today I was scrolling for inspiration for dress Bringing back the warmth of grandma's kitchen with Bringing back the warmth of grandma's kitchen with I love the look of potted geraniums. They are one So last week I was looking at VC Andrews audio boo Load More Follow Me On Instagram
Enhance the aesthetic of your porch with the charming and timeless "Home Sweet Home" Porch Sign, featuring a wooden frame. Add warmth and character to your home decor with this beautifully crafted sign.
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This colorful 'Home Sweet Home' americana garden flag featuring helps create a cheerful spring or summer mood for your home by adding a touch of color and whimsy to your outdoor living areas -- next to your mailbox or front steps, on your front porch, next to your front door, in your garden or flower bed!
We'd Love To Have you Over Winter for 2025!It's not too soon to think about 2025 - let us help you plan your winter say now! Did you know we offer special monthly winter rates for those "snowbirds" looking to stay along the Emerald Coast in the off season? Give our Guest Relations team a call at 850.745.4555 and they'll be more than happy to walk through your options and what your special monthly rate will be.
Great stay! Loved the house and Benchmark was excellent at keeping us informed and answering all our questions. However, I do wish that all the codes for everything were in one place. Had to reach out to management a few times for codes for various things around the house.
Stephanie,It was an honor to host your recent stay with us at Benchmark Management! We are thrilled to hear our property and team was able to provide you with a great stay. All information needed for your trip is sent in a link via text the morning of your arrival. If you have issues locating the link, we encourage all guest to reach out to us. as we are glad to assist in proving a hassle free stay for our guest. We hope you choose to stay with us again at Benchmark Management, we would be glad to have you!Sincerely, Benchmark Management
We enjoyed our week at Sweet home 30A. The house is beautiful and in a great location. It was clean and well-maintained. We loved Prominence and the Hub! We found it easier to drive to a beach access for the day. Grayton Beach State Park was our favorite with easier access for a family member that couldn't walk long distances. The bikes were a great addition. The living room furniture is showing some wear, so may need to be replaced before long, but everything else was pristine. We will return.
Hi Wendy, thanks for staying with us at this property. We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed your week with us. Thanks also for your positive remarks regarding the property condition as we tryly do our best to ensure the properties are clean and kept uo to date! Your comment regarding the furniture has been noted and passed on to the proper parties. Please know that customer satisfaction means alot to us! We truly hope we can welcome you again soon for an even better beach vacation experience with us! Thanks again for choosing to stay with us.Regards,Benchmark Management
The house was super clean upon arrival and everything we hoped for and more. Perfect location to pools and the Hub/Big Chill. The only things that I would change is the bed downstairs (it has reached the end of it's life), and would be awesome if this property had a golf cart, and maybe a bigger grill. The home and it's amenities were perfect! Management was very informative and helpful if we had any questions (had to get a different pool code) but they were very attentive to any and all messages! Would definitely recommend to friends and family.
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