And there it is, a new porch for the little house. It's been a long time coming, this one, morphing through many versions and iterations in my mind before finally presenting itself as spare, simple, and perfect. Really, I shouldn't have been surprised. Grander dreams of a full-length covered porch were certainly fun to entertain, but often times the grand idea isn't the right idea.
It's built of cedar, with three steps leading up to a landing that measures 4 feet by 7 feet. The steps are a deep 12 inches, and the rise is an easy 5 1/2, making for gentle passage up and down. The sides were enclosed in vertical tongue and groove cedar, the deck screws were counter-sunk, and the holes filled with wooden pegs. Because all hardware and framing are hidden, the structure has a sense of weight and permanence. The aging of the cedar gives it a sense of history.
The wood was new, of course, but I wanted it to look silvered, aged, and a bit worn, without having to wait for nature to do it for me. A scouring of the internet turned up the perfect thing: Eco-Safe Wood Treatment by Tall Earth. It's a powder that, when mixed with water, produces a solution that preserves and protects wood while giving it an aged appearance. I loved that it is natural, non-toxic, and VOC free. It went on easily with a paintbrush, dried quickly, and could be walked on right away. As time has gone by, the wood has become even more aged and beautiful, with the inevitable scratches and dings of life adding to the warmth and patina.
The flowerbeds were deepened on either side of the porch and will be filled in with more perennials, an effective way of lacing house, porch, and landscape to the earth. Can you imagine mounds of white Annabelle on either side, spilling onto the porch? Oh, the goodness of it! And next spring, there just may be a bit of flagstone leading to the bottom step. Small victories.
Have you been looking for a tastefully designed, small house plan that lives large? You may just find what you've been seeking in the Shelter Collection - four small floor plans, based on our little house, designed for gracious living in 1100-1400 square feet. Find the study plans & building plans here.
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