Front-Porch Makeover

Glassman starts by brightening the space with color. Concrete stain is an inexpensive way to make an immediate impact. The homeowner creates a diamond pattern with tape along the walkway and stains the concrete (figure C). She removes the tape to reveal the new pattern (figure D). However, she learns a valuable lesson: tape does not adhere well to a damp surface, so she paints over the walkway with the stain for a solid terra-cotta finish.

After the stain dries, she covers the walkway with a drop cloth to protect the color while painting the door. Don't be afraid to use bright colors. The yellow door creates a focal point, while the rust color of the doorframe creates cohesiveness. To pull it all together, Glassman adds a few accessories.

Just because the concrete stops at the sidewalk doesn't mean the porch has to. There's an awful lot of wasted space here. Glassman uses the fence as an integral part of the porch. "You know there's no rule that says a porch has to be covered," he says. "This area beyond the sidewalk is of little use right now, but by thinking outside the box, we can give it purpose and charm."

He installs a wall-mounted fountain on the fence. "I love using water in the landscape," he explains. "The addition of a small fountain to a porch brings everything to life and makes a whole new environment." But even small fountains can be heavy, so he reinforces the fence by using a 2x4 wedged between the two fences (figure H). A trellis frames the fountain beautifully, but in a landscape, the real pizzazz comes from the plants.

When choosing plants, you want to consider the growing requirements. "Beyond that, I like to choose plants with interesting scents like rosemary or color like carpet roses, or texture like asparagus ferns or this incredible cotoneaster" (figure I), says Glassman. "I position the plants before planting to create the most interest possible." Once the plants look just right, into the ground they go.

Using a concrete stain that matches the patio, he creates steppingstones to extend the look of the patio (figure J). Since there's a bench placed on top of the steppingstones (figure K), the stones need to be recessed into the ground and level. Check to make sure each stone is level (figure L).

Glassman also plants creeping thyme between the stones to soften the look (figure M). Other final details include adding an iron bench, garden orb (figure N) and wreath on the door. What was once an ignored portion of the yard is now warm and inviting. Porches may be an old fashioned idea, but their timeless charm adds so much to any yard.