It feels like we've cleaned off the porch many, many times over the last year or so. And that's because we have. It's a wonderful space - long, deep, and covered - which means it accumulates stuff. These pictures were from before we worked on the board & batten. Before we could get boards on the walls, we had to get crap off the porch.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbeBiHx0VHb76oJEcj48ZeWa0ZHYYEVNxoiETqQgX26rwsZWVN02HK1CnAoP2NdPphOLx-7uTlLmWBgk1PZCairJ24EcxDnBOHjW9cE7B6SWBm1syfIlvrnWNLMGPQulohURtU-e9kuk/s1600/porch+1.jpeg) |
Full of stuff. Again. |
Some of it was needed for the siding work, including an entire stack of stained boards and battens.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDhyEhowFoFpMot-A_AqI5eosgEYX3mnRrs4cNd3D3yKGsTQJcpJ5mI_CseQ56cDhiA0NnFBsqQ3EMRqCHjGdJxBweRZLt5JAszeJRv3pVT6eRUwjkWvGkxC-ecktJMTdQ7j07yLL8qQ/s1600/porch+2.jpeg) |
Stuff on top of the required work materials. |
My Dad likes to call it FSS - flat surface syndrome. If you've got a flat spot, crap will end up on top of it.
We decided to empty out the Nest (which is supposed to be a cute camp type spot) and make it a temporary storage unit. Temporary! Most of what is in here will properly go in Chris's workshop when it's done; the rest will go back into the garage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEcalmi9w8d3UyipXEcEueMA25twKe2em5X1X8EASo8CsyCctSxiUNsJeqapIYnKKiTFewakSgU0d0RLaWxFhrW-U646BRAhHqiN6KgGuqtA6bU7C5mwd88iNqlNy0tpzI3K_ri9uo48/s1600/porch+3.jpeg) |
Empty shelves waiting for stuff |
Cleaning out the porch and garage made us realize that we have usable wall space.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5yvk-ETPoM0puOo-xjnf5ua30WZ62XsmX2_CeyGdSMIXoKXCjNH7tswpQA3hgCoOFS-suMAKIjCKC9GLoKZcu2oiX-DBnVazq9OW1tYQY8mBr_eYen3mYFzecVtwqnRlZvl684oECwY/s1600/porch+4.jpeg) |
A blank slate |
So we built a high (around the 10 foot mark) storage shelf for those rarely used items like camping gear, moving blankets, painting cloths, and coolers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmlf03YJgjfzI4krL_LpvufXHFoZA6LTZVUxG77FlU0MBZfXnRuQvyJyAkDye6KRMNrXhTPiFoYMxue1C6FXFW5EGesByMzpfE9VQ1MdQQR_q_J4KdjAbvl-w3rjei0HP9yCoA40mSpg/s1600/porch+5.jpeg) |
Soon to be filled! |
By the time we got done, the working materials were at the far end (in the car port) and the porch furniture was actually usable.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZU1GNLVceANeQmyg7H5B5axZIxz07PeijL5bGpmE2pttSW17DVAawJqXecTnFMZgQlV_0E3yy823Kqu0mbAqD8aSzvuyuiyC_FecS-5_gCpKfHeKZNDrX2ThEmWHgIwXmIdK1XJmDfsY/s1600/porch+6.jpeg) |
Better... |
I'll be posting a true "after" picture soon - we got the porch ceiling done!