Frequently Asked Questions From Readers: FAQ Answers

My Life

Answers to frequently asked questions from On Sutton Place readers including my front door paint color & porch decor sources!

Do you have a question? Below are some of the most frequently asked questions I get from readers, especially people visiting for the first time. If you have a question not answered here, simply shoot me an email at ann@onsuttonplace.com and I will respond as soon as I can.

*Some links lead to websites where I am an affiliate. Click HERE for my disclosure statement.

On Sutton Place
Frequently Asked Questions

Where did you get your front porch black planters?

There are actually several sets of planters that have been featured on my porch. First, there were these Mayne Nantucket Tall Planters that are pictured above. These are the ones that get asked about the most. My family gave me these planters for my birthday in 2011, which was the first year of my blog. At some point I moved them to our back deck and replaced them first with galvanized washtubs, and then vintage olive buckets. Currently, I have Mayne Cape Cod Square Planters. Last summer I filled them with ferns and loved the way they looked. I just may do that again this year!

Where did you get your olive buckets?

I got the set featured below on eBay. They are genuinely vintage and are almost matching in height, but they aren’t identical. I think olive buckets are tricky. Some of the new ones look like they are vintage…in fact, it’s very hard to tell sometimes. A new, reproduction olive bucket is usually much less expensive than an authentic one. An authentic one can cost anywhere between $45 and $80. I have seen them on Etsy for even more than that. From my research and years of shopping online, I think a good price would be in the $50 range.

Sources:

Etsy.com
eBay.com
Target.com
If you happen to be attending a Country Living Fair, I know there are usually sellers who have stacks and stacks of olive buckets.

Do your front porch pillows get wet?

Yes, actually they do! Of course, it depends on the way the wind blows, but they usually get a little damp when it rains. I decided a long time ago that I was not going to let that stop me from using pillows and throws on my porch. I try to use washable fabrics, but there have been occasions when I have not. (Like this Christmas porch.) Even if the pillows get wet, they eventually dry out. I have never had anything get ruined from rain or snow. I have a covered porch that is open to the elements from the front…so my rockers do get some protection. That is definitely something to consider when making your decision.

Have you ever considered painting your wood furniture?

The short answer is “Yes, many times.” The long answer is that even though I would like to, my husband is dead-set against it. I agree with him when it comes to the dining room, but there are other pieces that are not as valuable that I would like to paint. We’ve been married 38 years, and he has never had much of an opinion about the decor in our home. I can pretty much do what I want, if it’s within budget. I figure since he feels so strongly about NOT painting our furniture, I should respect that and just let it go!

Why don’t you ever show your kitchen?

When it comes to frequently asked questions, this one is always hard for me to answer. As always, I will try to be as honest as possible…and there are actually two reasons. First, my kitchen is difficult to photograph. There is a huge window and I am limited by my camera lenses as to how much I can fit into a shot. The lens that I really need is more than $1,000.00, and there has never been a time when I felt I could justify that expense. Second, it’s outdated. The appliances are nice and of course the floor is new, but the rest of it needs an update. I have a plan in my head of what I would do. I know what counters I would choose, what cabinet style, and the exact sink. I’m not saying it will never happen, but it’s not happening anytime soon. So…I may show bits of my kitchen, like when I shared my kitchen herb garden basket, but that’s about it for now.

p.s. I don’t want to come off as being ungrateful or spoiled…because I am neither. I’m just trying to be honest. I am comfortable in my kitchen and enjoy the time I spend there. I recently finished a complete reorganization of my kitchen cupboards, which made the kitchen function much better. See it HERE.

Where do you store your pillows and inserts?

My pillow storage has changed over the years as my collection has grown. When I had a sewing room, that’s where I stored all my pillow covers and inserts. I had a shelf filled with bins of covers and stacked inserts. I recently dismantled most of my sewing room so the two pillow cover bins were moved to a linen closet in our family bath. I kept the inserts in the sewing room closet. It’s not perfect storage for sure but it works for now. My friend, Kelley Nan, came up with an absolutely brilliant way to store pillow covers. Visit her post Gift Wrap Organization and Throw Pillow Storage Solutions to see what she did. It’s on my list of things to do!

(Pillow fabrics in the image below are no longer available.)

My #1 most asked question: What is your front door paint color?

The color of my front door is Naval from Sherwin Williams. It is, in my opinion, the perfect navy blue. The door was red originally, so to cover that we used a coat of gray primer followed by two coats of Naval in a satin finish. We used the paint specifically made for outdoors. I really love how it looks up close and also from the street. I highly recommend it!

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