Remember how I was embarrassed to show you the “Before” photos of my Living Room before I updated it last month?

Yeah, that was nothing.

For this month’s Home Improvement project with Lowe’s Creative Ideas, our goal was to freshen up our Curb Appeal.

I don’t have a curb.  But – I do have a front porch.  And sweet Lord, it has seen better days.  The only time we even look at it is to let the dogs out or to fetch the UPS deliveries.  The rest of the time, I avert my eyes and quickly dart back in to avoid the guilt in my guts from letting it look so – so – so white trashy.

There. I said it.

No, I don’t have a full sized, springs showing Lazyboy out there, but it was bad.  And that was depressing, too, as the front porch is a wonderful space we just haven’t utilized since we’ve lived here.  It’s huge – nearly 250 square feet – but until now, it’s just been neglected.

As you can see in these horrible photos (you’d think I would have at least straightened it up before taking the pictures, but – no – I wanted you to really get it) – our porch was pathetic. Downright embarrassing.  Ugly old rusted doorknob, abused rug, a couple of estate sale finds that were rotting away, unused.  So sad.

But, after a quick trip to Lowe’s, I was pretty much in business.

Plants were the most bang for my buck – I bought 3 hanging baskets, a nice hydrangea (likely plant it later), a potted palm, and a smaller tropical plant.  These I scattered around the porch, placing the palm in a nice planter in the corner, the smaller tropical in another planter atop a yard sale table I snagged for a couple of bucks, and the hydrangea in the seat of the antique baby carriage.  That alone was enough to really refresh the space!

I finally straightened out the rug and rearranged the weathered glider I purchased a few years ago at an auction, and gave it a couple of throw pillows.  I also cleaned up an old unused rug and added it as well.  Looks SO much better!  I lucked in to a matching set of directors chairs on the cheap, so those round out the new seating area.  I love it!

Finally, I had Jon remove the old doorknob and replace it with a gorgeous brushed nickel set made by Schlage.  It makes the door so much nicer!  We still need to paint the door again, but I am thrilled with the results.

Throughout the summer I’ll be sprucing up the porch even more – maybe adding some outdoor shades, painting, a new chair or two – and definitely going to be making these hypertufa pots for both the front porch as well as our back patio.  They are so good looking, and I love that you can add texture using things like bubblewrap.  Who knew?

Any other projects you’ve seen that may help me in my quest to have a fun, inviting front porch?  I’d love to hear your ideas!

Tell me, as lucky for one of you, I have a $100 Lowe’s Gift Card up for grabs!  Just let me know you want it!

For more chances to win:

• Follow Lowe’s on Twitter
• Become a Fan of Lowe’s  on Facebook
• Follow DoughMesstic on Twitter
• Become a Fan of DoughMesstic on Facebook.

There you have it…5 chances to win $100 to Lowe’s!  Good Luck!

Giveaway is sponsored by and shipped from Lowe’s.  Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST on June 10, 2012.  US Addresses only, please.  Disclaimer: I was supplied a gift card to Lowe’s to purchase items for my makeover, but was not compensated for this post.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tagged as: DIY, giveaway, Lowe's, porch