'Haint Paint' for your porch!

Occasionally, I take on projects for clients needed help with anything from home business organizational help to decorating to party planning.  Recently, I was asked to help give a gorgeous, Southern-style front porch a "make-over", and I wanted to share the experience with my fun, creative readers.  I'm sure you're going to really help me with decisions, and ideas!  Here's a great front porch inspiration  found...

I love all the greenery used on this porch!

Do you know about the old Southern tradition of a blue porch ceiling?   I grew up in the South, where it was the very common to see porch ceiling painted various shades of blue.  I always thought it was pretty, and made the porch ceiling look like the Carolina blue sky.  Some say blue helps extend daylight as dusk begins to fall, and many believe it keeps the bugs away, as I had often heard.  Mosquitos apparently don't like blue?  Who knew!  


I also heard it called "haint paint", and had no idea what that meant, until as a young teen, my family visited some of the South Carolina low-country's plantations, where it was explained that the people of the Gullah culture believed the blue paint kept away evil spirits. You can read more about the traditions of a blue porch ceiling here.

Front porch with a blue ceiling

I'm just getting started on this porch project, and so far I have cleared the porch, and have had the porch ceiling painted blue.  I chose a beautiful pale grayish-blue by Sherwin Williams,  Atmospheric

Atmospheric SW 6505

The home-owners are still making some decisions about their style choices.  We've looked at many designs and inspirations, but they are looking at a Transitional/French Country/Shabby Chic look, and I am attempting to mesh those styles together for them.  If you would like a look at some spaces that are inspiring this project take a look at my Pinterest board for porches.  Don't know about Pinterest?  

You're going to LOVE it ~ I promise!  

I'll be posting some pictures soon, as we begin the porch makeover journey, but I wanted to tell you about it first, and give you some background and history on a great Southern tradition.  Do you have a great front porch?  I would love to see it!

Keep Shining!

The Woo-Hoo Gal

"Whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."