A porch that says hello every season

By Michelle Mercure

A welcome mat becomes an understatement when a house is adorned with a front porch — at least, that is, when a local resident sees her dreams come true on each step leading up to the doors of her neighbors’ homes.

The steps might be lined with colorful mums — some deep orange, others bright red — nestled between pumpkins of all different sizes. A cozy plaid blanket might drape over a wicker chair, with fairy lights twinkling overhead — all leading up to the door as if to say “Hello” to guests who arrive at the front step, to which the guests might automatically reply “Hello fall.” But fall isn’t the only season that invites this kind of welcome.

“I’m in the business of saying hello to my neighbors,” said Melanie Kilmer, a homeowner in Barrington and founder of Tandy