Front Porch Appeal NewsletterWishing You the Best 2019 Has to OfferIssue #98 January 2019Mary and I love January; it is our favorite month of the year. We like cozying up inside with our wood fire, working on indoor projects and cooking yummy dishes. I'm working on a new cabinet for our kitchen and Mary is doing art and working on her next children's book.The hot humid summer days we get here can wait a while! It's back to work and school for many; some of us wishing Christmas and the holidays lasted just a bit longer and some of us being happy to return to typical routine. Our indoor spaces have returned to normal having been adorned with evergreens and decorations. Outside lights have been taken down and the holiday decorations packed away. 
This young girl clearly embraces the seasonMary and I enjoy this time of the year very much. It's not a popular opinion, but the way we look at things can surely make a difference in how we feel about them. Further down in our newsletter, we share why we like this season so much.
Embrace winter with festive decorWe've decorated our porch for winter complete with an electric fireplace to give it a sense of comfort on these cold days (might not work as well on a balmy Florida or Texas porch). Nevertheless, we like adding a splash of color to otherwise bare-looking surroundings during the winter season.And to be clear, we're not heating the outdoors; we only use the fireplace for the ambiance it provides. We've turned the heating portion off. What's In This Issue
Planning to Remodel or Upgrade Your Home?January is an excellent month to start planning your home's upgrades and possible enhancements. Before beginning any remodeling or building project for your home consider the cost (of course!) but also the potential return on your investment.Then too, consider the intrinsic value of the remodel if you plan on remaining in your home for some time to come. For example, a minor kitchen remodel will return approximately 81 percent of its cost (in average resale value) whereas a major upscale kitchen remodel will return only about 53.5 percent. (source) 
An Ongoing Kitchen RemodelBut...What About Porches?Interestingly, porches have a slightly higher return.On average a new porch will cost approximately $21,000 depending on size, design, choice of materials, and amenities. Look at these before and after photos of a porch remodel project. 
Before - a front porch with with little functional space
After - Same front porch remodeled with plenty of comfortable spaceListen to this: For most of the country, adding a porch will provide an average return on investment of 84% according to this source.And Patios?We also discovered that building a patio has an even higher return, and in some cases, yield of return of just over 100% according to this source!
Imagine the value in having a spacious patio like thisBased on findings, here's an idea you might consider especially if you want to expand your front porch but also minimize costs. This idea is also quite handy if you are not able to expand your porch because of local building codes (such as setback rules) or design limitations.Mary and I call them "patio porches" and have seen many on our travels throughout the USA - like the one shown below. 
Patio porch with room for relaxing and entertainingPatio porches add lots of functional outdoor space along with curb appeal. Find more ideas in our patio porch section.2019 Outdoor Trends to ConsiderAs you begin thinking of the coming months, here's what many believe will be the outdoor trends for 2019.
Fire pits will be popular again this year
What a find! Vintage metal chairs - perfect for your porch or patioHow to Keep Winter EngagingWe don't have to suffer from winter blahs if we keep things interesting indoors as well as out. So here are a few ideas to drive the cabin fever away. (And not until we lived in Alaska in the 1980's did we realize that cabin fever is actually a thing!)Want Birds to Visit Your Home This Winter?
We found that one of the best ways to keep birds returning in the winter is to provide fresh water for them. We especially love that bluebirds visit our bird bath in the winter. But how do we keep the water from freezing? Check this out to learn our secret. Here's a Wonderful Book We Recommend
Mary received this lovely book as a giftWinter is a favorite time to cozy up with good books.This book, Devotions from the Front Porch (affiliate), written by Stacey J. Edwards, is terrific! Wished we had written it ourselves. Mary's sweet friend Linda gave it to her. You can find it on Amazon right here (affiliate). If you love old-time goodness like lilac trees, porch swings, planting flowers, strawberry pretzel salad and daydreaming - then this book is chock full of little stories and devotions that complement them. And if that's not enough, there are variation of this book for those who love beaches, gardens, kitchens, lakes and mountains. We bet they are equally as nice, but of course, we especially love this one from the front porch. Reasons to Like Winter (a Little More)
We know that many people dread winter or simply do not like it. Perhaps that's you. Mary and I have a fond appreciation for winter that we'd like to share with you. We don't expect winter to become your favorite season if warm weather is what you love, but maybe you will find at least one reason to enjoy the colder days of the year.
But winter gets a bad rap and we just wanted to share with you a few reasons why it is endearing to the two of us. Plus our wedding anniversary is in February and that just makes winter even that much nicer to us. Only Takes One Step to Fall...
InstantRail 3-Step adjustable handrailIt takes just one step for someone to fall. Porch handrails can be invaluable. We know that people appreciate our porch handrails and we only have two steps to climb.Metal handrail kits make it easy to safe-proof you porch, deck, or stoop stairs. And they look curb-appealing too. Learn more about porch handrails right here. Remember, it's the small things that get us sometimes. Inspiration
May you find joy, peace and solace in your everyday life. That's what we're wishing for you today. Thank You as Always
Picture yourself enjoying this gorgeous homeLife is busy and life is full. If you can, pause for a moment and just relax.Can you imagine being at this wonderful home in the midst of winter? While we don't know quite where it is, we can imagine the crackling fire inside, the pies coming from the oven and the comfortable feather beds. Imagination can spark a host of wonderful feelings and experiences! Thank you for taking time out of your busy day for us. The two of us appreciate you much. Please Visit Our Fine SponsorsWe value our sponsors and the products and services they provide. They are like family to us!
Join Our Porch Community on FacebookYou're invited to be part of our Facebook community. We share ideas with one another for decorating and using our porches. We are blessed with over 17,000 followers and would love to count you among them.
Please enjoy browsing past issues of our newsletters right here.
Take a few moments of chill time.
Happy porch sitting from your friends, Mary and Dave Life is short. Enjoy your porch.
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Hi! We're Mary and Dave, lifelong DIYers, high school sweethearts, and we both love porches. You've come to the right place for thousands of porch ideas. Find a Local Contractor
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At no extra cost to you, we earn a commission by referring you to some products on merchant sites. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
As an Amazon Influencer, we earn from qualifying purchases.
See our disclosure policy.
We, Front Porch Ideas and More, confirm, as stated on our privacy policy, that we do not sell personal information. All content here is solely for presenting ideas. We recommend consulting with a licensed, experienced contractor before you begin your project. We make no guarantees of accuracy or completeness of information on our site or any links to other websites contained here. Front Porch Home | Return to Top Contact Us | About Us | Advertise with Us | Search | Site Map Media | Privacy Policy | Disclosure | Legal Notice | What's New 
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