Fantastic Porch Ideas from the Road

Abingdon VA

Abingdon Virginia

Abingdon VA is a quiet community with an illustrious history and not far from the Great Smokies.

Abingdon VA is home to the famous Barter Theater, brick sidewalks, and porches loaded with ideas. Rich in history and the arts, you are sure to find a relaxing time in this quaint town.




The columns on the porch above give it an almost delicate appeal. The column brackets help transition the smaller diameter columns to the porch ceiling. The hanging light fixture and red cushion on the porch swing give it a real comfortable feel.

Most probably don't know that Abingdon was originally named Wolf Hills and later Blacks Fort. It wasn't named Abingdon (after Martha Washington's family home) until 1778. Rich in history, this small community boasts some pretty neat front porches.

We found several wonderfully decorated porches with haint blue ceilings (a traditional color for porch ceilings). We like the outdoor decorative flag on the porch steps and the hanging baskets adorned with ferns.

Haint Blue Porch Ceiling

We sure did and enjoyed taking in all of the wonderful porches. Friendly folks and welcoming porches - it doesn't get any better than that.

Athens GA

Pulling into Athens GA, Mary and I were instantly reminded that this is a true southern town. When driving through the University of Georgia's campus, you will find grand southern front porches, especially on the fraternity and sorority homes.

The surrounding neighborhoods are picturesque with comfortable, stylish front porches to give us a myriad of front porch ideas.

Porches are spaces you naturally gravitate to and offer both hospitality and a respite from the hurried world. We think you will really enjoy our front porch ideas from Athens and a few other northern Georgia areas.

University of Georgia

Athens GA is home to the University of Georgia and grand southern porches. Stroll along fraternity and sorority row to capture the true essence of these beautiful homes and front porches.

But that's not all. We found a myriad of front porch ideas along the side streets of pleasant neighborhoods. We discovered several front porch ideas we know you will want to see.

See our Athens GA Pictures. Corinthian columns are the most decorative and therefore are usually used most often. The shafts also have an entasis (bulge) and the capitals (the top part) contain leaves, flowers, and scrolls.

Example of Corinthian Columns

Athens Ga Corinthian Columns

Mary and I found some interesting porch decorating and furnishing ideas as we walked the neighborhoods of Athens GA. More often than not, it is the little things that catch our eye.

This trip was no different and our goal is to inspire you to use these ideas on your porch. Better yet, hopefully these ideas will inspire you to create your own!



This small round table and outdoor lamp, along with the rocking chair, makes for a very inviting space.

Outdoor porch light ideas, like the one at right, are popular and not only look decorative in daylight, but also cast a nice soft light at night.

We enjoyed our visit to Athens GA and know you would like it, too. When visiting, be sure to walk the many quaint neighborhoods to see a variety of porch ideas.

Beaufort South Carolina

Beaufort South Carolina

Beaufort SC is a quiet seacoast town that you are sure to love and we love their porches!

A wide sweeping staircase, wide front porch, and a balcony porch to boot!

Very common (and popular) double front porches. Note the haint blue porch ceilings.

A southern lemonade-sipping front porch

Love the outdoor porch ceiling fans

Beaufort, along with Port Royal, is home to Parris Island, home to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot for the Eastern Seaboard and the Marine Naval Air Station. The Beaufort area is also known for one of the worlds most productive and unspoiled salt-marsh ecosystems.

In addition, many films have been made in the local area like Forrest Gump, The Great Santini, The Big Chill, GI Jane, Platoon, and Forces of Nature!

We loved the area so much we spent an extra day taking pictures of their wonderful porches to give you porch ideas. Afterwards, we relaxed on swings placed in their park along the waterway and watched the sun set. It's a tough job but....

The Pier from the movie "The Big Chill"

Beaufort South Carolina was a wonderful surprise. Their park along the waterway has "porch swings" so you can relax and enjoy the wonderful view. It was so good that we spent an extra day!

Mary and I hope you enjoyed our front porch photos from Beaufort SC and that you were able to capture some ideas for your own porch. If ever in South Carolina, be sure to stop by Beaufort - its a neat place to explore.

Bell Buckle, TN

We arrived in Bell Buckle TN on a beautiful December day to see "An Fashioned Christmas" complete with horse and carriage rides, Victorian-dressed carolers, and plenty of porches.

Bell Buckle, Tennessee

Bell Buckle TN is off the beaten path but well worth a stop. Really small southern town hospitality at its finest. We were there during the Christmas season and got a real taste of southern charm.

As small as it might be, Bell Buckle has some happening front porch ideas and goes all out for the holidays.












Bell Buckle is well known for its restored Victorian style houses, The Webb School and walking horses. Many people enjoy visiting for antiques, beautiful quilts and hand-crafted items, along with partaking of genuine Southern cooking and hospitality.

Victorian Homes of Cape May NJ

We had heard Cape May, New Jesey, had wonderful Victorian homes and just had to see them for ourselves. Mary and I had an amazing day walking the Victorian-home lined streets on one side and the ocean on the other.

See all the Victorian porches

Cape May NJ is a charming seashore town on the southern tip of New Jersey - with the most beautiful Victorian porches you'll ever see. Dave and I kept pinching ourselves as we walked up and down the streets of this small town.

These are but a few of the most beautiful Victorians we've seen:




Note the wrought iron fence which has ornamentation painted the trim color of the porch. Little details like that help to create the overall appeal.

A beautiful street lined with colorful Victorian-style homes

See lots more of our lovely porch pictures and our video from Cape May NJ.

Charleston South Carolina

Historic Charleston SC homes

There's nothing like the porches in the South. From wide wrap-around's to side porches, Charleston South Carolina has gorgeous porches!

Whether you walk the streets or take a horse and buggy tour, there's a grand porch on every street. From seafood to history, Charleston attractions can be fun of the whole family!

See our porch pictures and videos of Charleston, South Carolina.

Deland, FL

Dave and I visited the enchanting town of DeLand FL located in Volusia County midway between Orlando and Daytona Beach. Deland is often referred to as "the Athens of Florida".

Deland's lively and vibrant downtown area has been the recipient of the "Great American Main Street Award".

Known as one of Florida's "small town treasures", we enjoyed visiting their historic downtown - which is lined with all kinds of fun gift and artsy shops as well as inviting local restaurants.

Deland, Florida

Deland Florida is not only a great place to sky dive (Dave took the plunge), it is also fantastic for front porches. They also look neat from 14,000 feet and falling fast!

Check out these Deland porches:

Love the angles of this craftsman-style home

Pretty in pink

The porch curtains add whimsy to this pretty porch

Lovely yellow and green on this inviting home and porch

Curb appeal galore!

We enjoyed the many streets lined with beautiful front porches in all designs and colors. You'll love the town of Deland as much as we did and wouldn't might going back.

Duck North Carolina Beach House Porches

Welcome to the Outer Banks and Duck North Carolina! What fun it must be to wake up each morning to hear the Atlantic Ocean at your doorstep.

Better yet, enjoy the view from an exquisite beach house porch.

Mary and I are always in awe when we see these beautiful beach houses with their extensive porches. Front porch ideas and front porch designs abound on a grand scale.

See Duck North Carolina Beach Porches

The Duck NC area is known for lighthouses, the Wright brothers, and for family memory making!





A Cape Cod on the beach! Unlike most beach houses we've seen near southern beaches, this cape cod has lots of appeal. With its large wrap-around porch, it has a porch design worth copying for any inland cape cod home design.







I love the entrance on this beach house. The wood door and side panels definitely make this very attractive along with the gable roof and wrap around porch.


Mary and I had a ball walking the streets and taking photos to share with you. You'll see some amazing homes with grand porches; a nice way to enjoy the beach!

Durham North Carolina

Durham North Carolina is home to Duke University and is renown for its medical technology centers. But we love their array of fantastic front porches!



Walking the quiet neighborhoods of Durham and capturing their porches on camera to give you great porch ideas was nothing but fun!

Durham NC

Mary and I visited during the spring and had fun taking photos of Durham's porches. We hope you enjoy our pictures and ideas to help design and decorate your own front porch.





Pay particular attention to the roof design over the porch in the above photo. They combined a gable roof over the steps with a hip roof to maintain the architectural style of the home.

The combination of craftsman-style pedestals along with round tapered double columns makes this a substantial-looking structure.





This is a very good example of a gable roof (again over the steps) on a shed-type porch roof (photo above). The exposed brackets and arched vine create a visible main entry to the home.

Also noteworthy, are the fluted round tapered columns.





The porch above is adorned with triple craftsman-style square columns on corners with stone pedestals underneath and heavy-duty brackets. We also like the outdoor curtains which are slightly visible beneath the beam.

Durham North Carolina is a fun place to visit. Mary and I really enjoyed walking the neighborhood streets of Durham and invite you to explore this great city and great porches around every corner!