There are a few outdoor showhouse spaces we hadn’t shown yet during this yearlong project. Each of the seven showhouses was encouraged to include outdoor areas in addition to indoor rooms, so beyond the curb appeal there’s a back porch and a patio with a stone fireplace. Those exterior spaces were where we collaborated most closely with the builder and the architect, and they quickly became some of our favorites.
To our surprise, our house won first place— the Gold Award— for both Curb Appeal and Outdoor Living. This was our first showhouse, so we didn’t expect to take any awards; winning those plus a silver for Creative Home was thrilling.
We’ve already shared a lot about the front porch, which is one of the home’s defining features. The exposed wood stained in Sikkens “Cedar” pairs with the navy siding (Benjamin Moore Newburg Green) and crisp white trim (Benjamin Moore Steam). The landscaper helped polish the look and we added a large limestone pathway. In addition to the aggregate driveway and main path, we wanted a charming walk from the street, so after sharing inspiration photos the landscaper and builder cut large 2 x 4′ limestone slabs to match the porch column caps and set sod around them for a clean, inviting entry.
One interesting note: John the builder and Chris the landscaper had to submit their planting plans to the community developer, who requested fewer large plantings. While we prefer more mature shrubs and trees, the developer wanted a more open presentation for the show.
The front porch is generous. A 14 x 11′ area to the left of the door became the main seating zone with a sofa, ottoman, chair, and side tables. On the other side, an 11 x 12′ space fits a porch swing, a swivel chair, and a side table, creating two comfortable, separate spots for relaxing.
Most of the outdoor furniture is the Wyatt collection from Arhaus—the sofa, ottoman, and swivel chair—which they generously donated for the show (we’ll return them afterward). The pieces are very comfortable, and Arhaus also provided an identical set for a giveaway during the show.
Smaller accessories came from local retailers—red metal stools and medallion pillows from Lowe’s, bolsters from Target—which added color, while dark 12 x 24″ porcelain tiles donated by The Tile Shop anchored the porch floor.
The sun made it tricky to photograph one of the swivel chairs, so this earlier shot shows an egg chair and side table from Green Front Furniture. The egg chair was an instant favorite in the family.
We also used a light fixture from Restoration Hardware on the front porch; its angles complement the peaked wood ceiling. The fans are from Hunter, the same model we installed in our sunroom.
The porch swing was purchased and modified to match the porch aesthetic—its gold chain was spray-painted black so it blended better. It quickly became a favorite spot, especially for Clara.
The nearby swivel chair is part of the Arhaus collection, which allowed people to easily turn toward either the swing or the main seating area and kept the layout flexible and sociable.
We added potted ferns from Lowe’s to bring greenery to the porch and had a carpenter build window boxes to enliven the trio of windows on the garage side of the house.
Instead of traditional downspouts, we installed dark bronze rain chains on the front porch. They guide water from the gutter to the drain while adding a decorative touch that’s far more appealing than exposed downspouts.
Following the limestone stepping slabs around the garage leads to the stamped concrete patio behind the house, which is embraced by a substantial outdoor fireplace. The builder and his team deserve most of the credit for this feature; we advised on stone and a few details, and then it came together impressively fast.
We kept styling minimal around the fireplace to let it be the focal point. A casual seating arrangement with woven lounge chairs, pillows, and planters—sourced from Lowe’s—made the area comfortable without cluttering it. Behind the fireplace are two staircases: one to the mudroom (with covered storage beneath) and the other up to the back porch.
The back porch echoes the front with exposed wood on the ceiling, but it has a Trex floor instead of tile. French doors open to the living room and kitchen, making this an ideal spot for outdoor dining.
The dining set came from Green Front Furniture, the indoor/outdoor rug is by Dash & Albert, and smaller tabletop items and styling pieces were sourced from World Market and HomeGoods. We focused on approachable, wearable styling that complements the indoor spaces beyond the doors.
That wraps up the outdoor tour. We still have bedrooms, bathrooms, the laundry room, and the mudroom to share, plus a full video walk-through of the house. We hope to publish those rooms and the video in the next week or two.