Black and white backyard makeover

Well, i have to give the boyfriend some credit.  He was totally right about the patio, and i was wrong in my need for immediate gratification.  I didn't want to put the extra time and money into leveling the yard around it by adding dirt to perfectly fine and green grass, and then putting sod over said dirt.  I was fine with the step down into the grass because it meant it was done.  And you know how projects go.  Done is good, in fact, done is better than good.  But done done wrong is never good.  You follow?

Since all the main furniture is neutral-the table and chairs, the swing, the gazebo-it allowed for a bold pop of pattern with the rug and the pillows. 



And you can see how there's no step down from the patio into the grass, it just floooowwws.

I have wanted to put out these thrifted plant stands for years, and they look great now that there's a patio for them to stand on.  Imagine that garage stuccoed.

Love how the bold black and white stripe works with the bold square planters on the garage wall herb garden.

These pillows are double sided, and were a steal at 2.99 from Ikea.  Got 'em in case the ones on the swing get ruined, but since none of them are technically outdoor pillows, they'll only be put out when we're entertaining.

Remember how i felt bad about covering the herringbone pattern?  I think we still get a good sense of it around the outside of the rug.  The patio itself is 12x14, the canopy is 10x12, and the rug is just shy of 8x11.  Shout out to Dawn at Inspired Living for giving me the heads up on this Frontgate rug.  It is exactly what i had in mind for this space.

The Hampton Bay dining set is 7 years old from Home Depot and has held up fabulously.  The viney backs were never my cup of tea, but in the past i let things being on clearance count for way too much.  I'm trying to get away from that mentality.  I actually think the bold rug balances the more traditional table nicely, and think this space does reflect my style now.

The swing is about 5 years old, and it looks much more updated with bold pillows.  Such a relaxing spot. Swinging should not just be done by children. 

Trifecta of backyard gorgeousness.  Listen to your partners sometimes.  Sometimes they might be right.  Sometimes. 

The netting, you can see, is just collected at each pole and fastened until we need it, like if we're eating a meal and we want to be bug free.

Obviously this is before the rug, but we were testing out the lighting.  So cute, right?




These are just strings of globe lights attached with electrical tape to the hard structure.  This, too, has held up for a few years.  Hopefully i'm not jinxing anything with talk like this!


Bold, graphic, colorful, lush.  Finished.  Never thought these words would describe my backyard.
 
Ready for summer and outdoor living, right here. 

sharing is caring:  living savvy outdoor extravaganza, thrifty treasures @ southern hospitality, travel photo mondays @ travel photo discovery, places i've been @ the tablescaper,  travel photo thursdays@ budget travelers sandbox , Monthly projects @ Evolution of Style , inspire me mondays and power of paint @ domestically speaking, Places I've Been @ The Tablescaper,  Before and After @ Thrifty Decor Chick,   Sundays @ Suburbs Mama  Mod Vintage Life, Motivate Me Mon @Keeping it Simple,   home stories a-z, show and sharev@ Coastal Charm, be inspired & garden party @ elizabeth and co, the scoop @ stone gable, the makers @ persia lou,  inspire me tues, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. inspire me weds @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style,  work it weds @ the blissful bee, outdoor weds @ a southern daydreamer, whimsy wednesday, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman,  whatever goes weds @ someday crafts,  charm of home, link party palooza @ tatertots and jello, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, open house @ no minimalist here, creativity unleashed @ shaken together,creative connection @ making home base,  inspiration gallery @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, my romantic home, jennifer rizzo, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now,  furniture fridays @ mustard seed, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, design it fridays @ finding fabulous, best diy @ 36th ave, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming. inspire me please @ liz marie blog,sunday best @ the girl creative  shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,  lump it or link it @ delineate your dwelling,pinterest party @ just us four, diyers @ homecoming.

Recycled brick patio

The patio project is completed!  Weekends have gone by where i didn't have to help the boyfriend move the table and chairs in order to mow the lawn!  Dinner has been enjoyed outside without swatting bugs away from my face or my food!  Legs and feet, no longer in the grass, remained bug and itch free! 

Patios are the shit, yo.
 

 Like most things in my household, the project isn't yet 100% complete.  The yard needs to be graded, adding dirt around the sides of the brick so there isn't a step down, i clearly want to style this and can't wait to add the rug i bought, bring in more plants, put the swing out on the frame, etc.  But-it's totally at the stage where one can enjoy it!

 
My plan was always to add a rug, because truly i didn't want more brick.  The house itself is brick, and i thought it would be overload.  But it really isn't, since the sunroom is stucco and takes up most of the back of the house.  And since the brick was given to us for free, it didn't make sense to use another material. 



My darling and i did this nice border, the herringbone inside, these fancy little corners...and now i'm going to lay a rug over all this hard work.  I feel guilty, but he knew that going into this project and a rug will modernize this space. 

So now you might be wondering how we keep this tent structure from blowing away in the wind. When it was on grass, we didn't use the yard stakes that came with it, we came up with a more secure idea.  And while the structure stays up year round, the canvas is always put away.

And this is how.  This is 10 inch long galvanized steel piping that is sheathed by the poles of the tent structure, making it sturdier and more secure. We cut it in half, to make 2 pipes, each 5 feet long.  They are bolted to the ground with a stainless steel bolt and stainless steel locknut. So my darling tells me.

We drilled the holes in the patio (crossing our fingers it wouldn't shatter the brick)...
 

We then used the mallet to pound the steel pipe two feet into the ground/brick to solidify the structure so it isn't at the whim of the wind.  The remaining 3 feet is above ground and comes to about halfway up the gazebo once it's fully built.

It is imperative that the pipe go into the ground straight in order for it all to fit properly and for the structure to come together.  These magnetic mini levels are perfect for the job (and so cute, too.  Seriously, i was amazed at how smart this is allowing you to be hands free).

Then you just put your structure over the piping, and lift the top part of the gazebo up and attach it to the bottom which is securely in the ground with the interior piping.  The two pieces then clip together about halfway up. S tells me this thing isn't going anyway.  He likes to demonstrate this by taking hold of it and vigorously shaking it, making his own severe weather pattern.

Voila.

The white caps at the base of each pole secure the canvas so the pieces aren't flapping about, and the caps themselves are attached to the brick by being between the sleeved pipe and the pole. Then there's a clip to the canvas and a clip to rod.

So to recap, the bricks that have lived on the other side of the garage have now been replaced with the grass we dug up to make room for the patio.  Green space is always much nicer, and i'm sure our neighbors enjoy this more than a pile of brick.

The garage wall herb garden is out of hand in a good way.

And we got a fabulous new patio to enjoy.

Go forth and enjoy your outdoor space!  Is anyone else not getting as bitten up this year by mosquitoes? We enjoyed the patio yesterday without the netting, and it was totally fine.

sharing is caring:  living savvy outdoor extravaganza, thrifty treasures @ southern hospitality, travel photo mondays @ travel photo discovery, places i've been @ the tablescaper,  travel photo thursdays@ budget travelers sandbox , Monthly projects @ Evolution of Style Make it Pretty Mon @ Dedicated House , inspire me mondays and power of paint @ domestically speaking, Places I've Been @ The Tablescaper,  Before and After @ Thrifty Decor Chick,   Sundays @ Suburbs Mama  Mod Vintage Life, Motivate Me Mon @Keeping it Simple,   home stories a-z, show and sharev@ Coastal Charm, be inspired & garden party @ elizabeth and co, the scoop @ stone gable, the makers @ persia lou,  inspire me tues, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. inspire me weds @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style,  work it weds @ the blissful bee, outdoor weds @ a southern daydreamer, whimsy wednesday, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman,  whatever goes weds @ someday crafts,  charm of home, link party palooza @ tatertots and jello, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, open house @ no minimalist here, creativity unleashed @ shaken together,creative connection @ making home base,  inspiration gallery @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, my romantic home, jennifer rizzo, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now,  furniture fridays @ mustard seed, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, design it fridays @ finding fabulous, best diy @ 36th ave, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming. inspire me please @ liz marie blog,sunday best @ the girl creative  shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,  lump it or link it @ delineate your dwelling,pinterest party @ just us four, homecoming.

I got the need. The need for green.

Springtime gives me what i like to call the "itching for the greens." It's like the running of the bulls, but with a lot less goring. I get in a "what can i make green" or "where can i add green" or "man, i want more plants but my cats will eat them" mindset. I need green!

Enter free sample of paint called Herb Cornucopia.  Springy green goodness?  Oh yes. You down with OPPP? Other people's painted pots? It was time to paint some of my own.

Oh heck yeah. 

Loving this punched up view of the garage!

So why the green love?  Just look at how well these front flower beds are growing.

Not bad for someone who has no idea what they're doing, eh?

And inside, the best green space, and the best place to observe nature but be removed from it (oh yes)

Le sunroom.

Le sigh.

Anybody else get the itching for the greens?  Not to be confused with poison ivy, or anything...


I'm partying here: Before and After @ Thrifty Decor Chick, Pinterest Challenge @ Bower Power, Power of paint @ Domestically Speaking, Outdoor Extravagnaza @ Living Savvy, Sundays @ Suburbs Mama Craftomaniac,  Mod Vintage Life, Motivate Me Mon @Keeping it Simple,  Anything Goes, home stories a-z, nifty thrifty @ Coastal Charm, home stories a-z, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, beyond the picket fence,  whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, 52 mantles, spring into spring, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, charm of home, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, tutorials and tidbits, simply link @ simply designing, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, open house @ no minimalist here, happy hour @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, my romantic home, jennifer rizzo, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove,  overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming., shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,   a round tuit

This weekend i was one of THOSE bloggers....

the one's whose partners OK their DIY/honey do/latest idea and get right to it.  Usually when i ask the boyfriend to help me hang or make something, it goes a little like this.

Me: I'd really like to ....insert random DIY idea here....
Him: Yeah, I'll get right on that.
Me: Frowny face

OR

 

Me: Did you see, across the street, they ...insert random DIY project here...
Him: How am i supposed to finish the basement/bathroom/current project if you want me to do that?

OR

 

Me: I really want to ...insert random DIY wish here...
Him: How's it feel to want?
Me/Him mimicking me: Oh, i know exactly how it feels to want, don't you worry.

 

But this weekend-this weekend of glorious Saturday weather-it went a little something like this.

Me: I'd really love it if you built a flowerbox under the garage window.  Don't we have any wood lying around? 
Him: And what would this box look like?
Me: I'm sorry, what now? 
Him: The box, what would it look like?  Just plain?
Me: However you want the box to look, darling.
Him: What color would you paint it?
Me: White?
Him: We have extra tan paint that matches the shed, you could use that.
Me: And we could add white trim to really match the shed?
Him: Let's go, get your painting clothes on.
Me: Woo hoo!

And then there was skipping.




This was early spring last year.  Note the frustrating rate at which the hostas unevenly grow.  But don't you think that window is just calling out for a window box?  And imagine this with stucco, as i have been doing since we built this behemoth.

So while i was basking in the sun and the breeze, enjoying the fact that there are no bees out yet, and painting the trim,

S was constructing the box.

This is what the shed looks like look, so we painted it to match.

Then Lily and I watched as S hung it....

under the watchful and approving eye of the Lady of the Garden, aka creepy garden lady whose partial body we unearthed whilst building the garage.  I propped her there to keep an eye on things. 

This will look so good when i can fill it with flowers!

 Or, apparently until the time comes, gnomes. 

Me: Don't you think it would look great if we built huge flower boxes for the front of the house?

Him: Yeah, I'll get right on that.

 

Sigh.

 

What have you been up to?  Finally feeling like Spring?

Craftomaniac, Motivate Me Mon @ Keeping it Simple, DIY Showoff, Met Monday, Anything Goes, home stories a-z, nifty thrifty @ Coastal Charm, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, 52 mantles, fall into fall, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, tutorials and tidbits, simply link @ simply designing, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, happy hour @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, my romantic home, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove, show and tell fri @ my romantic home, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming., shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,  power of paint @ domestically speaking, a round tuit