A bunch of folks have asked for a little deck mood board, just to see what we’re imagining when this beast of a project is actually complete (oh man, that might make our year). Of course since money is tight and we have yet to finish furnishing the patio that we built last year, we won’t have this thing thrown together overnight (which means any or all of the items on this board could sell out before we get to snag them all – wah!) but here’s what I’m loving today, just so you guys can start to picture it…
1. This fun indoor/outdoor pillow from World Market is really pretty, dontcha think? And at 50% off, it’s pretty tempting…
2. I’m obsessed with the idea of these yellow metal chairs for the head of the table (whether I DIY them with primer and yellow spray paint myself, or find them as-is somewhere).
3. This charming outdoor rug by Dash & Albert would be sweet by the sliding doors (and would catch dirt when folks come back in).
4. Some big bulb string lights swagged over the entire length of the deck would make for such pretty ambiance for alfresco dinners.
5. A few cute and colorful planters in the middle of the table would be sweet, maybe even full of fresh herbs to add to our dinner…
6. This table is ours. Literally. After I saw the price while making this mood board ($82?!?!) we measured to be sure it was a good fit and ran off to the store to grab it. It was actually $73 at our local store (I think it would actually cost more to buy wood & stain to DIY one!). We think the white finish will look so great with the wood tone of the deck and those fun yellow metal chairs along with some understated wood chairs to fill out the rest of the table.
7. A few hanging tea light holders might be sweet mounted to the sides of the house, just to make those exterior walls feel more integrated and cozy.
8. We got these wood chairs from Joss & Main for a steal (around $40 each with free shipping), so we’d love to use them for seating around the table (with those fun metal yellow ones at the head of the table).
And as for the layout of the deck, here’s what we’re thinking thanks to a little photoshop rendering (it’s around 20′ long by 8′ wide):
You can see the little welcome mat by the sliding door (we just added some planters on either side of it, so anywhere you see a green dot, imagine that’s a planter with something leafy and green in it). We’d love to place the table (we’re guessing it’ll seat 6-8 people, but won’t know how many chairs fit until it’s all set up) in the middle section of the deck between the zipper seams we’ll be adding, and then there’s some room at the end of the deck for us to put something else that’s still TBD – perhaps a sand and water table for Clara (hence the blue rectangle with a chair) or a little sitting area for mommy and daddy.
Oh and for anyone worrying about the width of the table and chairs in that narrow alley of ours, before we got the table we taped it all out, and thankfully there will still be room to walk around the chairs on both sides when they’re in place. Whew. Our first house’s den was the same width (eight feet!) so I think we might just be used to working with long skinny spaces. Haha. We’ll keep you posted as we go for sure! Although at this point I’ll just be excited to sit out there on the deck boards themselves and sip on something cold…
Psst- Folks ask how I make mood boards so a quick explanation is that I used photoshop to cut things out, size them, place them, and add numbers. There’s more info about the process on our FAQ page along with some free alternatives to photoshop that we hear are lots of fun. Hope it helps!
My Fiance and I just picked up the same table on Sunday afternoon :) We couldn’t resist such a great deal! We close on our first house August 31st, and I can’t wait to get that bad boy out on our deck. I’m looking forward to seeing what your finished product looks like so I can’t steal some inspiration!
This is going to look amazing! I am loving that table!!!
I’m trying to figure out how to outfit our new deck. Thanks for the ideas!!
Looks great – I love the pillow. And what a steal for that table!!
Having an outdoor eating space is such a great thing. All your hard work will be rewarded.
I love the yellow chairs, but you might want to “audition” them at a dining table to make sure you can pull them up close enough to sit comfortably. Sometimes those high arms are problematic.
Thanks Clare! We definitely will have to measure things to make sure they’ll tuck under!
xo,
s
I JUST ordered that pillow from World Market a few weeks ago! What about the yellow wicker chairs they have
on sale for $39.99 – same shape as the one in your mood board!
http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12479306
Those are sweet we just saw them in person and many of them were unweaving (falling apart in the sotre – ack!) so we opted to skip them as a possibility!
xo,
s
oooh bummer!!!!
Love your mood board. I keep drooling over decor for our Sunroom that isn’t done yet…I know it will be gone by the time we get around to the Sunroom, but there is always awesome inspiration out there every year. ;) Can’t wait to see what you do end up with, but either way, it’s going to reflect your style. :)
I love it… Especially with the yellow chairs and lights above. Every year I tell myself we are going to string lights above our deck and I never get around to it. It’s gonna look great when y’all are finished.
Looks great! The price on that table is SHOCKING! Great find :)
I love the look! I want to warn you about the table. The outdoor pieces from World Market that we kept out in the elements didn’t hold up very well.
I’m not sure what we could have done differently. We sanded them once or twice and applied poly. but in the end they just rotted. I would say after about 3 years.
The table and chairs that stayed under cover were fine, no issues.
Maybe if you cover it when you aren’t using it?
Thanks for the tip Meg! It’s a great idea to add additional sealer, so maybe we’ll go with something thicker than poly so it’s more waterproof? We could also cover it when it’s too cold to use it! Will keep you posted!
xo,
s
I just bought this same table and the lady at checkout warned me of the same thing – she said definitely put a good protective finish on it, and to add a new coat annually. She said she wouldn’t even leave the table outside in this humidity for a few days before putting the finish on it, because it can become warped. Yikes! So we’re storing ours inside until we can get something protective on there. At that price, though, I’m okay with it needing a finish and not lasting forever.
Thanks so much for the tips guys!
xo,
s
IKEA has outdoor yellow metal chairs, but they don’t have arms. I saw them for the first time last week with the outdoor furniture, but I don’t see them online. I think they were like $19 or something and had been reduced.
They were really cute, but we just bought new outdoor chairs.
Wow- thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
Actually they were these: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70209812/#/30209814
They also have these: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60205881/#/30209809
Bright pink might be fun!
Love them!
xo,
s
GLorious IKEA! I just went there myself to look for outdoor furniture and also came across these yellow ones: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30209814/ :)
So cute and so cheap!
xo,
s
You made a floor plan for your deck? – LOL! So cute! Love those colors!
Oh yes, we’re crazy! Haha.
xo,
s
I used to have the same style of string lights from Target and they are GREAT! Highly recommended, they lasted a long time and were on sale constantly (I never paid more than $9 for a strand of them and sometimes caught them on sale for only $3!!). They give off a nice warm glow and look a little retro but also very clean and fresh. Good choice!
Random…but I though of you two when I saw these chairs today on Joss & Main…$50 each isn’t too shabby!
https://www.jossandmain.com/Baxton-Studios-Susan-Dining-Chair—Set-of-2~WHI2204~E1767.html
Those are cute!
xo,
s
Love the spots of lively, happy colors!
A potted herb garden sounds (and would smell) delightful!
Put a fresh sprig of mint (or even basil) in your tea or lemonade – refreshing. Ahhh…
I am curious as to the dimensions of your table…
My bottom dimensions would probably need more “swagger” room – haha! You would always have the option of pushing one side of the table against the house depending on what your needs are at the time.
If you click over to the site I think they have them there. It’s only 38″ wide, and the deck is 96″ wide, so we taped it all out and there should be room without pushing the table to one side. But you never know where we’ll end up!
xo,
s
OMG! I saw the table you posted and called all of the World Markets in the area and finally found one that still had one (it was the floor sample, and was only a mere $60!!)
We have been looking for a table just like this one for so long, and are SO incredibly happy to have found it… not to mention to have gotten the tip from our favorites at YHL.
:) Love, love LOVE You guys!
WOW!! That’s amazing. So glad you snagged it!!
xo,
s
My parents have two red chairs that are the same as the yellow one. They’re on the front porch and are super comfortable! She has to re-spray paint them every few years due to being outside all the time, but it doesn’t take long. She just made seat cushions and back pillows for them, too, which makes them even cuter!
Sounds cute!
xo,
s
This looks so good. For sure it will be comfy and inviting with so many colors meshing nicely. For Claras spot what is a sand and water table now? I don’t know if you meant that literally or if it’s some type of designer kids table I’ve never heard of.
My best, Lynn
It’s sort of a play table for kiddos where you put sand (or dried beans or pebbles) and water and they play around in it. Her grandparents have one at their house and she loves it! We thought maybe we could DIY something someday…
xo,
s
I just brought home a chair like the yellow one…my aunt and uncle have a cottage on a lake in Pennsylvania, and I spent most of my summers there growing up. Now, my husband and I go for the 4th of July every year since it’s tradition, and this year I got to load up one of her chairs and take it home! It’s a really special keepsake to me, and it’s also very comfortable. :) I really hope you can find some for your new space!
Aw, that’s sweet!
xo,
s
scour home stores and thrift stores at the end of summer for those planters and lights! I’ve found gallon jugs for $3 at Home Depot and have a great collection now. Ikea might have some fun lights pretty cheap too at their end of season sale but I’ve also seen them at Target!
Good luck finishing and furnishing the new patio! Although I think Sherry has a much easier job than John on this one…
Amen! I told John I’ll be bringing him cold sodas out on the deck until the end of time to repay him! Haha.
xo,
s
Hmm…but if I recall in a recent post, John gave Sherry a huge amount of credit for tackling book work (reference section, etc.) while he does deck work.
It seems this is an example of a couple who know their strengths and respect them while supporting each other… from an outside observer/reader.
Thanks Wendy! We definitely just try to focus on what we like to do and feel we’re good at- while juggling Clara and everything else!
xo,
s
maybe John should become the posterchild (posterman?) for “sweat equity” after all most of us home owners imagine painting daintily while rearranging flowers, not building a deck!
Haha! Will he be shirtless with lots of sawdust in the air?
xo,
s
Oooo! I love the colors! My husband and I have been trying to slowly update our back porch over time and we love our big bulb lights and are using mason jars to hang above with tea lights, but I am loving your colored hanging tea lights… I may have to change the plans!
just remembered I saw these on sale at pier 1 – super cute yellow chairs
http://www.pier1.com/Stacking-Armchair—Yellow/2506440,default,pd.html?cgid=outdoor_furnishings
Every time I watch Gilmore Girls I see chairs similar to ones you have. Including the yellow deck chairs. Did you used to like that show or is it coincidence? Either way I watch way too much GG.=)
Can’t say I was a Gilmore Girls watcher and I don’t think Sherry was either. So sounds like just a coincidence. :)
-John
I just saw several of those bulb lights on clearance at target (70% off!), about a week ago. They were clearancing out the patio stuff to put out the back to school stuff. Not sure if it’s too late but at 70% off it’s worth a look next time your at Target.
I love it! I looked at all the world market patio furniture and the table you selected seemed the most sturdy.
Hi John and Sherry- I have an off topic question for you. Comparing your new white cabinets in your last house to the ones you just painted in the new house- do you notice much of a difference? Is it still in your long term plans to replace your current cabinets entirely, or are you happy with how they turned out? We’re going back and forth about our cabinets and if we should A.) Repaint them ourselves, B.) Hire someone to professionally enamel spray them or C.) Just buy new ones. I thought having done both that you guys would have a great perspective. I’d like to save the $$ if we can, but I also don’t want to waste time and money and just wish we had replaced them all from the start. Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
I think there is a definitely price and look difference. You basically get what you pay for. If you want your cabinets to look new I would replace the doors. Just new doors that are made in that color by the manufacturer (not painted by you or someone else) are always better for decades than a paint job (even done by a pro). But they also cost more- a lot more sometimes! So it’s all about budget and that stuff!
xo,
s
I love those yellow metal chairs! What a great deal on the table! Sometimes it really is better (between cost and time) to just buy something rather than build it!
P.S. The Joss and Main link for your wood chairs wasn’t working for me.
Thanks! Got it fixed!
-John
I love the colourful palette you’ve chosen. The pillow, combined with the yellow vase and chair and colourful light jars… I think it will look great!
Love the yellow chairs! We have two in the exact same shade of yellow. I found them at a yard sale last summer for $25 for the pair. They were old and worn, but after cleaning, sanding, priming, and painting, they were good as new again. And I love that ours are actual vintage ones! I don’t think the new ones are quite the same. Keep your eyes open and you’ll find them. We live in Bon Air and I see things like this at local yard and estate sales a lot. Good luck!
Those yellow chairs (very similar at least) are on sale for under $40 at our Menard’s… good time to shop outdoor! Everything is clearancing!
(They are already yellow. They have red too. Doesn’t Kmart always sell these each year too. I know Martha had them thru Kmart for a couple years in a row.)
I can’t tell how large the globe light bulbs you posted are, but if they’re standard size (like golf ball-ish), I’ve found that Target sells them for pretty cheap. I just bought 500 feet of globe lights for our upcoming wedding…I did some research and found that the incandescent bulbs break SUPER easy, but I found that Target also has warm-white LED globe lights that have wonderful, non-breaking reviews. The “globe” is an ugly plastic casing, but once they’re turned on they look JUST like incandescent globe lights. Plus the LED option only cost $11 for 25 feet (25 bulbs)! The incandescent was around $12 for 25 feet, and they also come in a frosted option.
Thanks for the tip, Erin!
-John
I own two of those yellow chairs (they are a great height for short people. My feet actually touch the ground)! My dad bought them for me. He’s a good daddy! I also have two metal chairs that are green and white. I love the metal chairs but beware on a hot day. Buy some cute towels or something to toss on the seats because you will fry your hiney.
I love! How warm and sweet! I can’t wait to see it all fleshed out on the real deck! Maybe Burger will need an al fresco hang out spot as well?
yay! this is going to look so great! just remember with wood patio sets you need to re-seal them every year or so to keep them in good condition! and extra sealant is a great idea too.
on a completely separate note, i saw this ikea hack idea on centsationalgirl’s website, and i noticed ikea has a whole media center made out of this stuff. i think it would look neat in your living room in a fun color and distressed wood to coordinate w/ your console!
http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2012/07/versatile-vittsjo-more-ikea-hack-ideas/#more-29650
Thanks for the tip Tae! Love the idea!
xo,
s
Awesome! Thanks for the sneak-peek! I know it’s going to look wonderful when it’s finished. I love that pillow and the bulb lights.
I got my bulb lights at target for 9.00 and they’re almost three times as long as the world market ones, just FYI! :)
http://www.target.com/p/25ct-clear-g40-string-lights/-/A-14082180
Awesome!
xo,
s
I’m digging all the happy, bright colours you chose! My fave has to be the rug! Would love to see that on your actual patio!
Why not add these amazing eco-friendly outdoor sphere lights to the mix?
http://www.solar-powered-garden-lights.net/image-files/moonlight-lightsphere-outdoor-medium.jpg
Love that!!
xo,
s
I love your plans, your deck is going to look great and worth all that hard, hard work! I know that you are wonderful parents and always keep a close eye on Clara but I do have a suggestion. After you’ve built your railings at the end of the deck and going down the stairs, you might want to figure out a gate for the top of the stairs. It doesn’t even have to be attached. A friend of mine used some hardware to make “slots” at the top of his stairway, then built a wooden gate and just slides this gate into the slots when his grandkids come to visit. When the gate isn’t up, you don’t even notice the slots. This way Clara (and Burger) could play out there while you guys are getting stuff together in the kitchen and they won’t be able to run down the stairs on some impulse. I know she doesn’t wander, but boy, after raising three kids and taking care of four grandkids, I can tell you it only takes a second for a kid to see something and decide to explore it. I LOVE gates for peace of mind!
So this is just my suggestion, coming from a place of love. I know you guys will do what works for your family:)
Oh yes, that’s the plan! We had one at the beach house we rented this summer and loved keeping all the kiddos cooped up! Haha.
xo,
s
Oh good, cooped up kids are the best;) Clara is going to love running her toys up and down that deck! You can also throw a large old sheet over the table, so she can have a “tent”. Kids just love hiding, as I’m sure you know.
I’m excited for you, having an outdoor space for her where she is safe and you are close enough to feel comfortable without having to have eyes on her every second will be really nice. I know you have your fenced back portion, but at her age, that’s a bit far away when you are in the kitchen or bedroom.
Hurry up John ;) JK
Totally! We can’t leave her out on the patio alone (although Burger loves that – haha) so the deck is a place we can let her play and still be able to see her from inside! And go outside and blog from the table if we can!
xo,
s
Lookin’ good! Can’t wait to see it all come together :)
Hi guys!! I love the stuff you picked for the deck… and I am really INLOVE with the zipper pattern you are working on for the boards!! I just wanted to send you a little note regarding the light strigs – And you probably already know this/or may have them but I love the globe cafe lights. So much. So I bought some last year at Target to dress up our back yard. And they looked adorable. BUT. 1. They didn’t have an LED version when I bought mine so they are regular (incandescant?) bulbs which got VERY VERY hot and made me nervous, and also they were glass, which was soooo pretty, but they were also sooooo fragile and two bulbs on one string burst when the wind blew them against our forsythia bushes (note that I did not say tree, or ground, or hard surface) so just wanted to give you a heads up go with Plastic and LED if you have to buy new ones!! Love you guys!
Thanks for the tip! Someone else mentioned plastic LED ones that sound awesome!
xo,
s
Love your happy mood board! :) We just had our patio finished (sadly, not DIY – it is stamped concrete) and I am so happy you picked that pillow from World Market! I have been looking for clearance patio decor and they have some great stuff!
I love what you picked out here. I am dying to redo our backyard but I think it is going to have to wait until next summer.
Oh gosh, there are so many old people in my neighborhood who have those chairs, but they’re original ones painted dark green. Come here and I’m sure they’d be happy to take $10 a piece!
I really love your board! I saw that pillow recently at WM and definitely stopped and took it in. I recently had my own awesome outdoor furniture score there. I got two wooden outdoor chairs for $35 each after coupons and sale! I’m thinking a stencil design might be in order to liven them up a bit. Can’t wait to see your deck evolve in style over time.
Fun!
xo,
s
Good call on the yellow chairs– I’ve been dreaming of some metal lawn chairs for a couple of years now (just the sort we used to sit on at my grandma’s house as kids) but haven’t made a purchase yet. Feel free to document the search, and maybe I’ll join in! :)
I’m totally digging your vision for the new deck! I love that pillow and outdoor rug! And wow, you got that table for a steal. I can’t wait to see the finished deck and how it evolves over time.
Love love love the outdoor rug
Love the mood board! Can’t wait to try out the other options to photoshop and make my own.
Thanks for being so inspiring AND realistic in terms of price!
LOVE it all! I might have to snag a couple of those hanging tea lights!
I’d also love it if you guys made a post about how you keep your dog supplies “fashionable” I think a lot of people struggle with this in their homes!
If you check out our Projects page there’s a kid/dog section at the bottom that I think links to how we chic’ed up Burger’s food and water station! Hope it helps!
xo,
s