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April 23, 2013

A Haint Blue Porch Ceiling.



My porch feels quintessentially Southern now. Getting it there has been a well-blogged-about process. First, I painted the front door Benjamin Moore's Wyeth Blue; that was last August. Then I painted stripes on the floor because ... obviously. Most recently, I painted the beadboard ceiling sky blue, known here in the south as "haint blue." I am in love with the mythology behind this decor choice; legend has it that the blue will chase away "haints," which are lost souls, restless apparitions that are still sticking around to stir up some no good. Plus, blue porch ceilings are said to deter bugs, tricking them into thinking it's the sky they're flying up into.



We want to do landscaping next. Not sure if the budget will allow for that this year, but we're definitely dreaming about big, fat flowering shrubs and meandering vines. For the record, this striped porch has proven to be a little high-maintenance, although I wouldn't take it back for anything. Still, rainy days mean paths of muddy footprints, so I've taken to mopping the porch once a week or so.


The porch ceiling paint project cost only about $5 (the cost of my roller brush) because I mixed the paint myself. First time ever doing that--it was fun! I mixed two colors of blue I had on hand, a little mint, plus some of the cream porch paint, to make enough to cover the ceiling.


Finally, I thrifted this little rattan chair last week. It is the most comfortable. 


We have been sitting for long spells out here, feeling Southern as hell. Which we are, happily.  


7 comments:

  1. Aunt_BApril 23, 2013 at 6:49 PM

    That came out awesome! I love the stripes. I also love the idea of the Haint Blue ceiling chasing away bad souls/karma/no gooders. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Skoope HomeApril 23, 2013 at 7:40 PM

    Looks awesome Ellen! I love the gray taupe with the blue; great combination

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  3. Briana ShepleyApril 23, 2013 at 8:53 PM

    It looks SO good! What an adorable house!

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  4. AnonymousApril 24, 2013 at 2:58 AM

    What a welcoming porch Ellen. Love the colours. Love the feeling it gives you. Adorable house. Sweet home. Love from Sweden

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  5. AnonymousApril 25, 2013 at 11:27 AM

    Well, here's what a professional gardener told me: those cheaper plants that we buy at krogers, wallmart, home depot or lowes can be just as good as from a gardener center!

    And a shrub that I bought on sale near the season's end is one of my success stories in my yard.

    So think cheap. If you are like me, many plants die anyway! So never pay big buck for them!

    M. for mom

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousApril 25, 2013 at 11:29 AM

    That's garden center and big bucks--it would be better if I proof read before I hit the button!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Stephanie CarusoApril 26, 2013 at 9:21 PM

    Your hard work has definitely paid off, the porch looks fantastic. I appreciate the enthusiasm with which you decorate your home. I fully believe in the power of being surrounded by beauty. Thanks for sharing!

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