After a Makeover, This Dirty Screened-In Porch Looks Like a Fancy Bistro
Black and white checkered tiles look great indoors (see: this bathroom, this kitchen, and this other kitchen for proof), but they can elevate outdoor spaces, too. Hello, bistro-inspired balconies and fancy gardens!
When homeowner Jessica Chaplinsky (@everencehome) was researching what tile to use for her screened-in back patio makeover, she knew a black and white checkerboard would look nice.
The off-white square tiles from before were “probably the worst choice ever for an outdoor patio in Florida,” she says, because they showed “so much dirt.” Jessica and Jordan also wanted to change the patio’s exterior paint color because the yellow made for a slightly jarring backdrop.
Fresh paint made the patio feel bigger — instantly.
She and Jordan chose Benjamin Moore’s White Dove for their house paint, which made the back patio look better almost immediately. “Once it was all white, it looked bigger already!” Jessica says. She and Jordan also painted the aluminum screened-in porch framing and the window trim a gray-green color (Benjamin Moore’s Flora).
While they were at it, they also replaced the actual screens, which was easier and cheaper than expected, Jessica says. The screens, paint, and supplies cost about $500 all together.
The new flooring is the star of the show.
Jessica says she knew her new tile “would help elevate the space and make it appear fancier.” Jordan demoed out the old tile. It came off in two minutes, but then they ran into a slight hiccup.
“When we took off the tile, we realized there was almost a pit in the concrete slab, and it collected water there instead of running off the sides, so Jordan had to even it out a bit before laying the black and white flooring,” Jessica says.
But the hard work was worth it, and the new tiles are Jessica’s favorite part of the “after.” The tiles “are truly a showstopper” she says — not to mention they do a better job hiding dirt than the ones before. “I’m so glad I did the black and white checkered floor!” she says. “It makes me so happy, and is a nice little surprise when we walk out there.”
There’s a handmade table that can seat 10.
Despite disliking the original color palette and tiles, Jessica always “loved how big and long the [patio] was and knew it had potential,” she says. “We wanted a space for when we have gatherings that everyone can eat at with a huge long table.”
She and Jordan searched for a long table to fit the space online but couldn’t find anything they liked, but that was no problem after the couple found a wood slab at a local lumber yard. “We … knew it needed to come home with us and be made into a table,” Jessica says. It was Jordan’s first time building a table.
“He watches a lot of YouTube tutorials,” Jessica says. “He ordered the legs online and made sure to research what the right finish was to protect the wood from the harsh Florida elements.” Making the table cost about $1,200 of the $7,500 total.
The new pendant light is from Ballard Designs, and the refreshed outdoor setup also has new ceiling fans. “Adding two fans really helped us want to spend time out there when it’s humid,” Jessica says. “It’s perfect for us.”
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