I’m painting the porch.
Well….actually I’m painting the cement floor of the porch to make it look like a rug.
I wish I could tell you that it has been easy or that it only took an afternoon or that stencils and porch paint worked seamlessly together.
But I can’t.
*sigh*
It has been an arduous journey.
I’ll keep you posted.
And until I figure it out…..here’s a little porch project that I did last year that was much more successful.
How to Paint Striped Porch Steps
Paint for front porch steps : $34.70
Paintbrush to paint front porch steps: $6.97
Totally transforming your front porch steps for $41.67 while wearing these:
……priceless
Seriously.
I think my favorite thing about my new porch steps is that I went all Genevieve Gorder and painted them wearing giant silver hoop earrings.
Actually…..I think I was one step away from cork wedges and a pair of leopard skinny jeans.
Design Star would have been so proud.
Supplies:
Concrete Paint
Frog tape
Pencil
Measuring tape
Paint brush
Step 1: Discover Debbie’s blog featuring Debbie and her amazing painted stairs
Immediately decide that Debbie is one of the premier stair painters on the planet.
E-mail Debbie and ask her all kind of questions about stair painting.
Marvel at her patience and understanding.
Step 2: Paint steps and porch with base paint
Wait for it to dry.
Get impatient.
Walk on it before it’s dry.
Touch up and try to curb your impatience by watching Duck Dynasty.
Step 3: Determine how wide you want your runner to be
My front steps measure 9′ 9″.
I measured in two feet from each side, which means the entire width of my runner (including the stripe) is 5′ 9″.
I marked the two feet down the side and lined up three pieces of Frog tape.
Debbie used a DVD movie case to measure her stripes.
The girl is brilliant, I tell you.
Step 4: The best stripe painting tip EVER
After I taped down three pieces of tape, I just peeled up the middle piece of tape, leaving a perfectly spaced stripe…..without ever having to measure.
I’m not sure where I read this tip.
If you told me this tip or I read it on your blog, my perfectly spaced stripes applaud you.
Or it could have been just the giant silver hoops whispering in my ear.
Step 5: The second best stripe painting tip EVER
Paint a strip of the base coat to seal the edges of the tape.
#majorstripepaintingtimesaver
Then paint the area between the pieces of tape and the center of the stairs with a lighter paint color than your base color.
For example, my base color was a light gray.
I painted my runner with a cream concrete paint for contrast.
Step 6: Peel back the tape
I did it right away while the lighter paint was still wet.
Pull it slowly back towards you for a clean crisp edge.
Here’s what my finished steps looked like after I painted them!
Total front step transformation brought to you by Debbie and a pair of giant silver hoops 🙂
What a pretty touch this adds! Can't wait to see how the current porch painting turns out :) Jeanette
Clean. Crisp. Beautiful. I love it!
I've always loved these porch steps. What a fabulous look. Good luck with your current project. Hope everything works out Rock Star! (Don't forget to put on some great earrings!)
Karianne if you can pull off the Genevive Gorder thing then go for it girl! I've been accused of using a few power tools with bracelets 1/2 way up my arm myself.... LOL! Your steps look beautiful, I love grain sack stripes on everything and yours is a subtle masterpiece! Susan
Projects always turn out so much nicer when wearing bling...and you added great bling to your steps...love the stripes! Have a great weekend!!
That is spectacular!!! I wish I had concrete steps:). Have a wonderful weekend! Jen ps- I love visiting your blog, such beautful inspiration EVERYtime!
I have some back door steps that are in need of this treatment, like, right now! Can't wait to see your painted rug too once you get it figured out! :)
I'm sure the porch painting experience would go better with the right jewelry....that must be the problem.
It is always in the details.....and these stairs are certainly an example of that!!!! What a great look! Enjoying your blog! Gloria
KariAnne, you are a hoot!! The steps look wonderful and silver hoops are my fav!! You make me want to transform everything in my home, inside and out!! Love ya Gal, Keep up the good work! Keep Looking Up, Stace
Hi! To tell you the truth, I skim over diy's because I wouldn't get those lovely results, but I laughed over your earrings, wedges and jeans story. Thanks for starting my day off with a smile:)
I remember this, and I liked it. I wonder what you are up to now. I'm sure I will like it, too.
Gorgeous...love those stripes! Remember Trading Spaces...Genevieve went barefoot half the time. So, keep the earrings, put on your red lipstick, skinny jeans, and no shoes....then you'll be able to paint the rug! :D. Enjoy your weekend! ;)
I went through like three rolls of painter's tape when I painted the rug on my front porch. And now I need to repaint the porch this summer again ... which will include a new porch rug design. And maybe some stencils. And definitely lots of hair pulling out ... :) me
What are the trees that are at the base of the stairs? Are they Inkberry Holly? I have only see it as a shrub, not a standard.
Aw, you know how much I love your porch!! Can't wait to see how you take it a notch higher!! Have a wonderful weekend!!~~Angela
Isn't it amazing what power big hoop earrings can give a girl? The steps look fabulous ... look forward to seeing your painted porch!
I'm gonna start calling you Midas, because you've got the golden touch - it looks great. I especially like the earrings. The only thing I do different is wear my big hoops with my jammies when I hold the paint brush. Bliss
Absolutely love this transformation and the color combo! It has me wanting to paint every set of steps I can find.
O, yes, I do remember this beautiful step runner...adorable. The whole porch....??? Wow, what a huge job... maybe you need to go get a tatoo to tuff'n you up for such a big job....:))
This looks so wonderful, Karianne! I have a porch that would look great with this treatment! Thanks for sharing!
Alas...if only I had steps leading into my home:-( Very creative! XOXO
Does concrete paint come in just one color? Yours looks grayish......I love it. Does it have a color name?
That is gorgeous. We have a wooden porch, but concrete steps that look AWFUL. It's on my list of things to do this summer. Paint them, I mean. And a stripe would be amazing. :) Loved the earrings, and I loved the black "orb" that you had in one of your planters. Did you make that, or buy it? and if so, where did you GET it! It looks so pretty! Happy sunshiny Friday! Yay!!!!!!
Your porch is so inviting and ready for spring. You've truly done a beautiful job!
Looks great! So fresh and clean. You have a beautiful home too!
This is a great look, nice crisp and clean......love the colors, what is the name and brand?? Cynthia
I am so glad to hear that you have confidence inspiring earrings. And that you like to ask a ton of question before starting a new project. I knew there was a reason I liked you so much. We need to go out to lunch to talk about our most capable looking outfits and where to buy great silver earrings and where to get the best deal on spray paint and stuff.
Geez! Now I want steps... Steps leading to a porch that I can paint in skinny jeans, wedges and silver hoops. I have everything except the steps. Hmmm. They look wonderful. Good luck on the 'rug' painting. Awaiting the reveal. Hugs, Gee
I cannot wait to see the reveal! Your porch already looks amazing, and the outfit sounds fab too :) xo, Tanya twelveOeight
I paid someone to paint my porch and it doesn't look as good as yours! You mention curbing our enthusiasm by watching Duck Dynasty. Fun show! I have a duck hunting husband, but no dynasty. But the Gator Boys do live in my neighborhood when they are in Florida! This is a bragging right for my son, but I'm not sure how I feel about it. At least I know who to call if a gator turns up in the canal in my back yard!
I am thinking maybe the whole porch will require some MAJOR bling:) I remember when you did the steps, they look awesome and I love,love, love your porch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have a great weekend. XO, pinky
LOVE it!! What brand paint did you use? And what color gray did you use?
I love this!!! I have two hairy beasts that lay on my porch all day maybe they would appreciate a nice paint job?! Love your Genevieve inspired hoops!!
HUGE APPLAUSE TO YOU AND TO DEBBIE! (And to those fabulous earrings!) That looks so amazing, I adore it - your curb appeal just went up 10 notches!
Just love the final result!
That looks awesome! I wish I had concrete stairs so I could do this! :)
Ahhhhsome!! Looks amazing. Just a couple of ?'s : are they real, or fake...I am referring to those wonderful spiral trees on either side of your door. They are kewl! AND, where did you get those wonderful black orbs that encircle the rounded bushes? Luv!
The steps are great. Now I know why I can never get anything done around here--I don't have any beautiful solver hoop earrings! Love it!
I love this transformation, and if I didn't comment on your prev post I will - are you superwoman?! How the heck did you get that armoire done in a day!? It takes me a week just to get a breakfast tray painted, distressed, sealed, decoupaged and sealed again. And then I when I'm finished I need a vacation from it. Of course, that doesn't include the 14 trips to the AS store or Michaels either. I think I'm getting too old for this creative stuff, but you keep bringing on great ideas and you do them with fancy earrings and red lipstick and I start getting delusional that I can do it too! Sigh. Maybe I need a glass of wine before I start my next project - the hutch. Wish me luck, this one may push me over the edge. By the way, all your projects are fab, love your armoire.
Hi Karianne, your porch looks downright amazing, stripes, or not - gold hoops, or not!! Any way you slice it, it's gorgeous!! ~ Amy
This looks so nice! You always do such a great job on these projects. I am really envious!!
How bloody awesome
I wish I could take credit for the advice for your steps...but no, I can't. But I can pin it and use the real Debbie's and your advice when I do mine! What a great way to add curb appeal! I love it! Another Debbie :)
Beautiful Karianne!I would love to paint our front porch too! xx Anne
Love it! My porch is brick, but the little walkway is concrete....may have to do something like this!
Wow -what a gorgeous way to put some elegance into your porch. I am definitely filing this one away for future use.
One, that looks amazing! I would have never thought of something like that but it's gorgeous. Two, when I'm using Frog Tape or 3M's Edge Lock (which I personally like better than Frog Tape) I run a damp, clean rag along the edge to start the gel activation. That way there isn't even a remote chance that the first coat of paint to activate the gel will get under the tape.
That looks so regal girlfriend. Someday I am going to make it down to your neck of the woods so I can ooh and ahhh over your talent. Hugs love!
Hi, Could you please tell me where to find the trees that you have in pots at the front door on each side? Your porch is beautiful! I need those trees at my door in Florida:) Blessings, Linda
Amazing project!! Would love it if you would share at my {all things creative} linky party! https://www.theblissfulbeeblog.com/2013/04/1-year-blogiversary-linky-party.html xo amy
well, first of all, the steps look amazing! I love the restrained style! very classy. And secondly, I'm so glad to see you acknowledged your source for help and inspiration. I had a similar experience, but I was the one being asked tons of complicated drapery questions... holding their hand through the entire project... and then when they posted on their finished product... silence.... not a single word. But really, that's ok, it's just nice to see it when people do say 'thanks' and acknowledge we're all helping and inspiring each other. BTW: thank you, you really inspire me! Little Bit from www.DecorateWithaLittleBit.com
Inspiring! I'm about to redo my unsightly side steps and wanted to know how this paint project has help up for you now a 2 months later. Any additional tips? Thank you.