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terri_stutzman

Blah wall on porch needs weather proof art

13 years ago
We live in MA, and replaced our back deck w/a 3 season porch. I've got a blank yellow clap wall against the house side that needs help. In the late spring through fall we put in screens. In the fall through spring plexi-glass windows all the way around. All spring, summer & fall long the porch gets damp from dew overnight. By the time we have frost & snow the plexiglass is in and it is dry in there. I'm looking for decor ideas for this wall with an off-set couch in between 2 sconces. We pre-wired cable and power access for a T.V. that we aren't going to buy yet and I want to hide. This is the only furniture layout that works. I'm looking for ideas and vendors for outdoor art that can handle our climate. Our temperature swings are huge, -30F at times in the winter to 100+F in the summer. I am most concerned with the damp. These 1 year old Sunbrella cushions already have mold from the dampness, they do not get direct rain. I thought about putting my husband's stuffed Marlin on this wall but I'm worried about the dampness. What are your ideas?

Comments (24)

  • 13 years ago
    Try a metal sculpture that is already pre-rusted!
  • 13 years ago
    The ceilings are nice and high, but with the beams I don't think I can use the whole wall. I wanted a cathedral ceiling but new building code is 110 mph for wind and we had to do these beams. Vendor suggestions are sincerely appreciated. A local photographer thinks this photo on aluminum will be fine but I wonder....
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    Check out the options for kiln-fired porcelain art at my Houzz profile. COMPLETELY waterproof, frost proof, fade proof. Anything that is not kiln-fired will eventually fade if exposed to sunlight. Here's an example: http://www.houzz.com/projects/115144/Outdoor-Kitchen-in-Pennsylvania
  • 13 years ago
    I would probably keep it simple and purchase a large blank canvas at Hobby Lobby or Michaels and then shop for a pleasing fabric table cloth or flat sheet or shower curtain from TJMaxx or Target. Simply cut to fit canvas then staple to back and hang. Instant art which you can coordinate with some new companion patterned pillows and very inexpensively update the space.
  • 13 years ago
    Pp p

    ,
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Weatherproof art is the request, right? Kiln-fired art is weatherproof!
  • 13 years ago
    My suggestion is to create a very cost effective art piece that could serve your needs for one season of course. Then the same canvas could be recovered again. There are many options at TJMaxx for Sunbrella table cloths and runners. I also live in an area with high humidity in Summer and I have 2 Sunbrella runners on my Deck/Patio that have held up well since May with no mold to date. So when purchasing fabric you may need to go with Sunbrella in order to have a weatherproof artwork.
  • 12 years ago
    Thank you for the ideas, there's some great ones here I might use by the Patio. "Marley" the Marlin my husband caught in Kona HI in 1995 was hanging in our finished basement. When he caught it I paid for the taxidermy so I could always say where it hung! They only really keep the sword/nose, fins and tail. The rest of the thing is really plastic (after nearly $2K in taxidermy, packing materials, shipping box, freight and insurance). I was surprised he let me hang it there. So far no mold! What do you think?
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    OMG…my friend just did the same thing on her porch! She lives in Sudbury, and has the same issues. I think it is great. It means something to your (and her) husband. Fun.

    We did find a great indoor/outdoor rug…,polypropylene, which also resisted the mildew.
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    I love the marlin, but would hate for the winter weather to ruin it! How about a few changeups, depending on the season?

    Just had a thought: I have a couple of large, but lightweight framed mirrors hanging outside in a lot less protection. I attached them to our walls with industrial velcro in addition to the nails they hang on. We have very strong winds from that direction also.

    It is great to have a reflection of the garden. Here is a picture, not the right style, but general idea:
    Garden mirrors · More Info
  • 12 years ago
    I like it! Good scale for the wall. Get some brighter blue pillows to tie in the fins.
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Yeah, hate to see it get ruined. It's a good idea though. What if you looked for a fake fiberglass version? Though it won't have the provenance of your actual mount, it might give you better peace of mind.
    Terri Stutzman thanked mmilos
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    In the hopes of preserving your marlin and not knowing the effect the elements will have on him, I'd suggest taking him back inside (although he does look great!) Give him a new place of honor. Like some above me, I'd suggest a kiln-fired tile mural. You can get all sorts of them in various places (including etsy.com). Find one your like, or try some other ceramic art that can handle the heat / cold / moisture. Good luck with your search!
    Terri Stutzman thanked Total Solutions Group
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    Here is another suggestion, we have an outdoor mesh that we use for creating stencils and custom pieces. The fabric is mold/mildew resistant, UV protected and cold crack resistant. Great for DIY projects!
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
    Something I don't see that anyone else has suggested would be some kind of fun antique or vintage looking sign. Since signs are made to display in all sorts of weather conditions they'd be ideal. My dad loves automobile memorabilia so if it were outside art for him I'd be thinking of finding an old gas station or other automobile related travel sign. You could also find some of the oversized decoys or other hanging wooden signs used at old time stores like the oversized fishing lure below...
  • 11 years ago
    I was thinking of an old road sign as well. If you can't find one for a reasonable price, then what the heck, make one yourself, by painting it and stenciling on letters. If it gets a bit weathered, well then...that's the whole idea!
  • 11 years ago
    This is from 2013.
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    Agreed, it's a dated post, but people are always checking older post for ideas. I know I do, as I'm finishing up my home and have used recent and older posts extensively to get ideas. That's what Houzz is all about after all.

    I'd like to add that a great outdoor art solution is an authentic museum street banner. We at BetterWall represent 30+ major art museums, selling their authentic street banners to people to put in their homes as spectacular wall art. As unique objects produced in limited editions, the banners embody great art, great museums, and contemporary advertising trends.

    All our banners are made to withstand the outdoor elements - in fact, there were hung by art museums to do exactly that. They are printed with UV inks that won't fade over time. We have over 175 different banners, but here's an example used near a staircase.

    Check out this installation by a customer of our.
    More banners at www.betterwall.com or on our Houzz Products: http://www.houzz.com/photos/products/betterwall
  • PRO
    11 years ago
    Tile imaging is ~$50/sq.ft. Weatherproof art that will last and last - even underwater!
  • 11 years ago
    What about some old windows with flower baskets -- this way you can add colour with the fresh flowers. In the winter you can put fresh garland, holly or wreaths. Garden Centres are great for having ideas as well. Old bird houses, wrought iron art, window with shutters on the side?
  • 11 years ago
    oops.. just seeing it's an older post.. ah well., what did you end up doing with the space, did you leave the Marlin there?
  • 11 years ago
    Marly the marlin is still up there. In the spring I'm going to look for outdoor blue pillows or accents to tie the colors together better. We're at that stage of life where no one uses the basement really and I do NOT want that thing (or any other dead carcass) upstairs. If he gets ruined.... oh well... But so far so good. It resists the damp better than the sunbrella.
  • PRO
    10 years ago

    Skyler Ethan creates beautiful custom art that is suitable for outdoor use. http://www.houzz.com/pro/skylerethanabstracts/skyler-ethan-abstracts

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