By Dave and Mary

Front Porch Appeal - Celebrating the Joy of the Season

Issue #52 December 2013 - Holiday Edition

December is a month of celebrating the meaning and magic of Christmas for many of us. Whether you celebrate Christmas, another holiday, or none at all, we hope this greeting brings you joy and happiness as 2013 comes to an end.

December is also a month of decorating porches with magical twinkly lights, fresh evergreens, and vintage sleds paired with ice skates. Are you decorating your porch this season or simply enjoying the sights and sounds in your town?

As we gather to celebrate Christmas and the New Year, Dave and I also remember those who are in strife or missing loved ones. From our porch to yours, may you enjoy a wonderful Christmas. We are very grateful for you.


Inside This Edition

Enjoy our Christmas porch pictures along with our bonus feature, a wonderful Foursquare home in Westerville, Ohio.


Christmas Porches Shared by Special Friends

We are pleased to share Christmas porch pictures from our featured bloggers this month. From whimsical and sparkly to natural and vintage, we know you will enjoy these.


My Soulful Home - Kelly's wonderful Christmas vignette



Simple Christmas decorating by Plum Doodles - purple poinsettias wreath

Plum Doodles trademark color is purple.


Just Paint It - Colleen's Christmas porch with tree trio

Simple Christmas decorating by Plum Doodles - flower pot with joy banner

Do you spy the bird nest in Anna's tree? She and her husband created a woodland scene at her craftsman style home's Christmas porch?


Four Christmas porches


Jane and Leo (Cottage at the Crossroads), Debbie (Debbie Doo's), Dawn (Creative Cain Cabin) and Ann (On Sutton Place) share their festive porches with us. From bright and sparkly to natural and whimsical, see all four porches.


Christmas porch courtesy of Three Mango Seeds


Christmas porch courtesy of Coastal Colors

Pops of red and vintage on Betsy's screened porch this season


Special Feature: Foursquare in Westerville

beautifully decorated green home all decorated for Christmas


Dave and I chanced upon this stunning 1904 home on our recent visit to Westerville, Ohio. And it was even snowing. I had the pleasure of meeting the homeowners, Doris and Len. We are very appreciative they shared these details with us.

Len and Doris tell us:
    "Our Foursquare home features a walk-up attic that still has the original Arts and Craft style carpet. Our home was built with the typical cellar in the early 1900's: a dirt floor with a coal bin in one corner where the coal was delivered to the home.

    At that time the home's bedrooms would not have been heated. Tucked into the rafters in the cellar is a small gas tank we believed was used for the very modern (for its time) gas stove.

    We do not know for sure but suspect the lumber and everything needed to build the home was shipped to Westerville by rail and horse and wagon carried it down State Street to our lot.

    At that time it was possible to buy a home from Sears and Roebuck with everything packaged and shipped to the buyer. In reviewing the original mortgage papers we were surprised to learn the interest rate was at 9.25%.

    An additional fun fact is we are guaranteed wagon rights across our neighbor's yard to the side street. We are the second non-family member to have owned the home since it was built.

    We love our front porch and use it often in the summer. The Westerville July 4th parade goes passed our home and we always have a crowd of friends and family taking advantage of the front row seat.

    The kids sit on the curb and claim all of the candy and goodies thrown their way and the adults cheer and wave to the parade participants while sitting in the shade on the porch.

    We moved in on Labor Day in 1990. We loved the old house character with so much woodwork and the details throughout the home. We realized to bring out its beauty we would need to strip and clean the woodwork which was originally covered with shellac and had turned into a black cracked surface. It was great no one had ever painted the wood.

    The home has a warm, welcoming tone now with the traditional door, window and baseboard trim including the pocket doors leading into the front room finished in a honey maple tone.

    Thankfully the previous owner had updated the electrical and plumbing systems allowing us to focus on cosmetic features such as the beautiful trim around the windows and doors."



beautiful green house all decorated for Christmas
What a lovely winter vignette this is! Our special thanks to Doris and Len.



Porch Product News

Winter Sale at Vintage Woodworks for 2013

Vintage Woodworks 20% off winter sale

See what's on sale: Porch parts (such as balusters, posts, and brackets), screen doors, components for decks, gable decorations and lots more exterior items.

Just click on the ad above and use the special code of FP20 just for readers of Front Porch Ideas and More. This special code gives you a lower minimum of $850. Good through December 20, 2013.


Porch Bed Swing

Watch the video to see how it's both a swing bed and a porch swing
A thoughtful gift idea for someone special: an adjustable porch swing bed by The Porch Company.


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Mary and Dave 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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Mary and Dave, Founders of Front Porch Ideas and More
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.


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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.


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