Updating Our Exterior : Cedar Posts and Ship Lap

Of all the things we did to this ranch house, nothing makes me happier than the front porch cedar posts and our shiplap stained ceiling. I love to come out with coffee and pretend I am on a ton of land somewhere. We knew we wanted to replace the iron posts but we didn’t know what size or color until close to the end of our rehab. I wanted everything about this house to feel modern and clean but also extremely cozy. Kyle and I are a little bit modern but a lot of mountains. Finding a way to blend that was key! Cedar Posts and Black windows helped it come together. The above Photo is the house in its original state. Rod iron trellis’ and Red Brick. You can walk through the whole before and after update of our 1950’s ranch HERE.

The Details of Our Cedar Posts
Above are the original cedar posts we brought home from 84 Lumber, a local lumber yard. They just were not big enough to make a statement. I tried adding four thin ones, but it still didn’t feel like home. They were really wonderful about exchanging them for big ones, even though it was quite a haul for Kyle. I do suggest going to a lumberyard for your beams to get the best quality. You will want to make sure they are not warped or waterlogged. You can check your local hardware store for 8×8 cedar posts, but they usually only stock 6×6. We bought 16-foot ones and cut them down. Here’s a deal on some 8×8 posts at Menards.



What you need for Front Porch Cedar posts
I wanted to give you guys an exact list of tools used to add these to your front porch. Check the list below. The most amazing thing about cedar is that it looks so good natural. It’s a really great way to bring warmth to your front exterior. The ceiling completed the cozy feeling in more ways than I could of every imagined. You can find the ceiling details here.

Front Porch Cedar Posts
Here are the tools and supplies we used to install our posts
Lag Bolts
Cedar Trim around Cedar Posts
Top:
1x6 Trim
1x3 Trim for the second layer
Bottom:
1x10 Trim
1x8 Trim for the second layer

Our Front Porch Story
I am sure the landscape here will be ever-evolving here, but for starters, we invested in well-grown boxwoods and blue spruce’s; again with the mountain themes vibes. Using evergreens is always my go-to landscape because I want the house to look lush all year round. I usually add in annuals in pots. I never realized how much the exterior of your house says about who you are. This front porch tells the story of us, Kyle and Kate. I didn’t even think about this until the other day, but we went to the mountains in Jackson Wyoming for our honeymoon 9 years ago and stayed in a cabin with Cedar Posts. I guess I was subconsciously recreating that magical place. Your house tells your story.

“The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar in Lebanon” (Psalm 92:12)
XOX Kate
