Adventure #8-- Decorating the porch

I was wandering around pinterest the other day, like ya do, and came across this photo of a porch:

If you know anything about me, you will know that I am not particularly creative. I recognize things I like, but if you were waiting for me to come up with a porch design like this, you'd be waiting a long damn time. This porch belongs to a designer named Melinda Jennings, who writes a blog about pretty things she is doing to her house. I want this porch for my very own.

Boys and girls, our porch currently looks like gaping butt. It's a good sized screened-in back porch that I like very much, but the people who put the porch on our house cheaped out. There are several problems with the porch, including but not limited to:

1. The builder did not use pressure treated lumber, so the boards holding up the screen are warped.
2. The untreated lumber was primed but not painted, and is not doing so well in places. I painted a lot of it before it got too cold outside to paint, but in some places the damage is already done.
3. They didn't put a ceiling on. Yeah, there's a roof, but not a ceiling. I'm thinking bead board. Someday.
4. They used an interior fan, not one that is made to go outside-- so now it is rusty, falling apart, and broken. Classy.
5. The screen door that goes from the porch out to the deck is literally falling apart.

As far as porch furniture goes, we have two wicker chairs, two wicker ottomans/tables, and one wicker love-seat.

So... basically blank slate. I'm going to start by painting the furniture black.

Then... get cushions, an outdoor rug, a large urn-shaped planter, plants, and accessories. I've been eying  these cushions on overstock. com:

Not exactly the same as the picture, but similar concept.

Since I don't have a spare $500 lying around just begging to be spent on porch accessories, I'm thinking the porch decorating process will be an ongoing one. Right now I'm working on something small that will go out there...

Bee needlepoint. Beedlepoint? 

This will be a little pillow someday. I haven't needlepointed in ages, but I did all of this yesterday. Needlepointing is so soothing. The background is going to be a variety of greens, and the bees will be pale yellow, dark teal, and coral. I'll put up a pic once it's done.