Don’t get too excited. It’s not so much aesthetic progress, as it is functional progress. We got our old spray painted metal and glass coffee table from our first house‘s living room…
… back from John’s parents (they used it when their house was on the market and then it accidentally got hidden away in storage). Then it dawned on us that although we didn’t have a spot for it inside, a ton of outdoor furniture is spray painted metal and glass (like the round table that the old owners left on our upper patio). So out to the patio it went.
Is it perfect for the space? Nope. Is it great for resting my pasty need-to-be-shaved mom legs? Yup.
Sometimes you just gotta work with what you have (whether it’s a pale set of stems or an old $30 thrift store coffee table). At least until you upgrade (when it comes to furniture, not so much with legs). Here’s another table shot sans any pasty appendages:
And check out the happy surprise going on in the background. Yup, our hydrangeas got all booyah on us and bloomed. We wondered what color they’d be (and actually guessed they were white when we saw the buds) but they surprised us with happy blue flowers when they opened. I know we’ve said it before, but it’s SO much fun to experience the first spring/summer in a new home just to see what sprouts up to surprise you. It’s kind of like Oprah saying: “You get a hydrangea!”, “You get a hydrangea!”, “You get a hydrangea!”
And although the patio looked so charming with some not-outdoor-friendly furniture that we stuck outside for the big patio reveal (John thinks I’m weird but I just got such a kick out of trecking stuff out there for the afters – you know, to help with scale)…
… this is what it’s looking like these days:
Yup, that’s a baby pool in the shape of a whale. It was a gift from a friend who had the very same one when she was a baby and Clara couldn’t love it more. And yes, being the protective momma bird that I am, I totally put a bunch of towels under it so it’s not too hard on those swim-diapered buns of hers.
Oddly enough, although the patio is faaaaar from being “done” when it comes to outdoor furniture and pillows and all the other things that we eventually want to work in, for now… it’s paradise. And it’s such a nice reminder that spaces don’t have to be styled within an inch of their life and filled with perfectly scaled and coordinated furnishings to do the trick. Sometimes a whale shaped baby pool plus an old coffee table = happiness.
Oh and before I go, check out how much our backyard continues to fill in since our first house tour. Here’s a shot of the left side of our backyard that John snapped a few months back:
And here it is now:
Va-va-voom, right? And here’s the right side of the back yard a few months back:
And now:
Crazy lush, eh? Welcome to the jungle. Burger and Clara seem to love exploring. And check out what an old bush that we couldn’t identify turned out to be…
… roses!
At least I think that’s what they are. I’m plant illiterate so that’s my best guess. One thing’s for sure, there’s enough monkey grass to tickle my pale legs for hours.
Anyway, do you guys have any spaces like our patio (laughably unfurnished but blissfully functional)? Did you own the same whale pool that Clara plays in (apparently they’ve been around for decades)? Are your legs as delightfully chalky as mine? You can tell me. I promise I won’t gossip about it. Much.
Stephanie says
With all that lushness of the back and side yards, I gotta ask – have you found woodticks on Clara and Burger yet??? I’m dreading the day that the boys come in with them – Seirously, I now feel like they’re crawling on me in my office. UGH!
YoungHouseLove says
Nope, but we did find a tick on John’s leg from our visit with the Bowers! He came all the way home from Georgia with us! Haha. They’re gross but we both grew up playing in the woods so we just check Clara and ourselves whenever we go outside into the jungle. Haha.
xo,
s
Kim says
This is patio decor for parents. Soon it will be covered in toys and you will love it. When Clara is older you will go back to the staged life. Enjoy the kid-ness while it lasts!
Future Mama says
Love it! And now I have that song “Welcome to the Jungle” stuck in my head. The problem? That is the only part of the lyrics that I know…so it keeps playing over and over and over, ha!
Much love,
Future Mama
http://expectingablessing.blogspot.com/
Stephanie Phillips says
The coffee table is a total “doh!” moment. As in, “doh, why didn’t I think of that?” There is an adorable wrought iron coffee table that keeps popping up on my local Craigslist and I just couldn’t justify buying it. But maybe I can… ;)
I love, love, love hydrangeas. We have five humongous ones on our property that make my heart happy. And they remind me of the simple bouquet that I carried at my wedding. Sniff. I hope my daughters learn to appreciate the simple things like a glass of tea on the back patio looking out at the beautiful foliage.
Shoot, I went all sappy.
Holly says
I prefer “milky white” because it makes it sound like I’m pale on purpose. :) Rock it!
Loved this post, especially the whale pool! You are sucha ncie mom to make sure her tushy is cushioned!
Marissa says
Lovely! I still can’t believe that’s a DIY patio. It really looks like a pro job. Just curious– now that you have a patio, do you regret selling the patio furniture from your old space?
YoungHouseLove says
It really wouldn’t have worked for our layout (we had a big rectangular table and two long lounge chairs) so I try to make myself feel better that we sold it and got moving money with it. And now we can save up for something that’ll work better down there (we like the little table on the upper patio, but don’t think we want a dining table on the lower lever or two big lounge chairs – since we don’t have any time to lounge now that we’re parents, haha).
xo,
s
Allison says
Oh my do I have pale legs. And that’s the way, uh huh uh huh, I like it. Everyone should watch this video about skin cancer. So good. And important. Basically, sunscreen rocks!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh I love it! I have goosebumps!
xo,
s
Ashley @ DesignBuildLove.co says
Allison- I just finished watching the youtube video. It is such a sobering reminder of why sun protection is soooo important. As a redhead, I should totally know better, but even I don’t protect myself as often as I should.
Thanks for sharing the link. I posted it to my blog’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/DesignBuildLove)and will likely share it on my blog at some point soon!
Thanks again!
Erin Lowetz says
Your ideas and projects are so inspiring… but there’s only so much decor that I can incorporate into my cute little 1 bedroom city loft here in Grand Rapids MI. My fiance and I talk here and there about buying, but we’re not sure…. How the heck will I know when it’s “time”???
YoungHouseLove says
That’s such a hard question. Maybe when you have enough to put down a deposit on a house that’s in the price range that you’re gunning for? Moving to Richmond John and I learned that we had paid about three times as much on NYC rent as a mortgage in Richmond (and had some money saved up for “cushion”) so we went for it! But there are great financial people who can help you- like bank lenders and stuff. They can let you know if you qualify for the price range of house that you want (and our rule is always to be conservative about that stuff- for example, we were approved for a house that was 40K more than the one we got, but we felt better not capping out at the top of our approval zone, you know?).
xo,
s
Reenie says
I love hydrangeas. Your roses look like knock-out roses. Your yard is filling in nicely ~ looks great. :)
Jen says
Our house has a big screened porch that we haven’t yet bought furniture for. Nothing fancy — just deck floor with screened walls around it (for now! :) )My parents and in-laws are both after us to fill it with furniture we can’t afford, but we have another use right now: our 2 1/2-year-old loves driving his cozy coupe out there. It’s big and shady, and flat so the car won’t roll down into the street (we had a scary incident where he lost control on the slanted driveway). Someday we’ll get furniture more permanent than a card table out there, but for now, it’s suiting our family fine. In fact, he’s out there right now, driving around out of the rain.
Bethany says
Awwww…I miss that excitement of figuring out what the new plants are. The house we moved into has zero landscaping, so no fun surprises for us! I just imagine the people who bought our old house and the fun they must be having discovering the new plants. I will live vicariously through them for now. Your patio and yard are amazing, by the way.
Julie B. says
Sprinkles of lime will change the hydrangea’s to pink/purple from that blue if you need/want to!
The roses are knockout roses and they will get huge -so, we always cut ours back every end-of-summer.
Much luck! Your yard is beautiful and I only WISH my house were as clean and neat as yours is. Ugh! I can dream:)
Meg says
Ha! “Pasty” is in my blood – gotta represent! So glad to see that it’s okay that it’s sometimes the simple (and, at times, unrefined) things that are still “allowed” to make us happy. :-) Working on painting/staining our deck and going through an outdoor furniture conundrum: table with chairs or comfy couch-like furniture with coffee table. May just grab a blanket like an above commenter mentioned. :-)
Amanda says
The hubs just built a pergola over our patio. For Mother’s Day he got me a candle chandelier for it. Now we’re looking for the perfect dining set!
Michelle says
I love that you share everything even the pasty legs. Makes me feel not so bad about my own…Besides, my dermatologist highly recommends pasty as a summer look.
Torrie @ a place to share... says
As for the legs- yes (but using tanning lotion to get ’em a little summer-ready at least!) :).
As for the backyard- we have no chairs right now! My husband works for Starbucks, and one of his stores was closed down a while back. He was able to take the chairs for our backyard. So, we replaced our old ones with these. But my kids started to feel really uncomfortable and itchy when sitting on them. It really irritated their skin and we didn’t want it to happen to our guests (or them!), so we got rid of them. In need of new chairs!
But I do have a quick (unrelated) question.
Where did you get your yellow rug from? Did you have trouble keeping it clean?
The “shelf-life” of our rugs (under our sofa/coffee table) is proving to be very short (even if I’m *on it, in terms of maintaining/keeping clean).
We don’t want to spend a fortune, but will soon need a new one!
YoungHouseLove says
We got that from Pottery Barn about three years ago. It still looks great but we do have a no shoes in the house routine (and Burger has like four outdoor mats that he runs over to get inside to shake stuff off his feet). A good vacuum really seems to keep it looking fresh though (ours has awesome suction so it literally sucks the darkness out of it). Oh and it’s 100% wool, and I have heard that natural fibers are easier to keep clean for the long haul.
xo,
s
Rebecca @ the lil house that could says
I think I can beat you, I’ve been told by multiple people that I am the palest person they have ever seen. I think you should host a palest person contest where the winner gets some SPF 50….
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- it sounds like it would be a thirty-way tie! Pale girls unite!
xo,
s
Ginnie says
We have the same baby pool! We will be using it at the beach in a few weeks for some fun in the shade when we aren’t in the ocean. Can’t wait!
Rachel says
I rock the super pale look year-round thanks to being a natural redhead. I always joke that maybe one day all my freckles will run together, and I’ll look somewhat tan.
Hydrangeas are my favorite, and yours look beautiful! We used them as our wedding flowers. We got married last November so once I saw hydrangea plants out this spring, I had to bring two home. The tough thing now is that I have to keep them potted and alive since we are still renting. I hope to keep them alive for a very long time…kind of like your maple tree. :)
Ashley @ DesignBuildLove.co says
Rachel! I totally relate to your redheaded whiteness! I have the same problem!
JASON says
Sherry,
Actually TEMPERED glass means that, while the glass is much stronger and resistant to breakage, should it ever be subjected to a strong impact it will actually shatter into millions of very small pieces (not large shards as you state). This is actually a benefit (and why tempered glass is used in doors and tables, etc) because these small pieces are not really sharp (the edges are slightly rounded) thanks to the tempering process.
YoungHouseLove says
Oooooooh gotcha! Thanks so much! I guess it is a good thing! Whew. We can just shop-vac those small rounded edge pieces if disaster ever strikes. Here’s hoping he lasts as long as the glass topped iron patio table (on our upper patio) that we inherited from the previous owners who’ve had it outside “for decades.” Fingers crossed!
xo,
s
Ashley @ DesignBuildLove.co says
oh Sherry, how I can soooooo relate to the white legs! I’m a redhead and let’s just say that while I dream of one day being able to spend even an hour in the summer sun without burning, I have never been so lucky, and probably won’t be! So… pasty-white I stay! I’ve learned to embrace it. ;)
As for our patio… we’ve had a fairly functional but not fully attractive patio for the last year since we bought our house, and we are currently in the process of overhauling the backyard for a result that’s… hopefully more attractive but still very functional! In fact, here’s the plan for one of our upcoming functional/stylish backyard additions!!! http://designbuildlove.co/?p=711
Torrie @ a place to share... says
Okay, that really helps… thank you!
Barb says
Could your backyard get any more perfect? So private and green. But…my only concern is the up-keep. How is that workin’ for you? Do you need to spend hours weeding? Watering? Mowing?
I love your patio and don’t worry about the furniture. Fill it with furniture and then there is no room to live…right? I think it is nice and you can fill it as you live in it.
Sherry…..Keep on…keepin’ on!!! You are doing swimmingly (had to put the in) well with the patio.
B.
YoungHouseLove says
We have spent zero point zero zero hours weeding or watering. We just let it grow and it sprung up around us. John does mow but it takes him less time than our last house (which was soooo much more grass than bushes/trees/paths like we have here). So far it has been easy- but there are definitely some things that need to be weeded! Ack. Our plan is to slowly naturalize as much as we can so we just have a few spots to mow and tend to, the rest can be an enchanted forest. Haha.
xo,
s
Jessica says
I just wanted to say that I not only have the same pasty white legs this year, but I’m also wearing the exact same shoes today!
Love the patio–makes me wish for some more outdoor space than our apartment balcony!
Ashley says
No way! I’m the palest(fairest) of them all! When people comment about how pale I am I always joke back, “Nah uh, I’m see-thru!”
DemMom says
My husband had a glass top coffee table when I met him (it wa so dirty I thought is was “frosted.”) We had it on a screened porch in one house for years, now it’s back inside in the basement. Very very useful. And indoor furniture is totally fine outside. It’s the other way around that gets worrisome!
Krys72599 says
Let’s not talk about pasty, need-to-be-shaved mom legs, but let’s get to the important thing:
What book are you reading?
I LOVE to know what people are reading, as I’m a complete book addict!!! I’m reading Committed/Elizabeth Gilbert right this very second…
Actually I’m reading YHL but you know what I mean… ;-D
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I’m actually reading Bethenny Frankel’s A Place Of Yes (I’m a huge Bethenny fan, and it’s actually really fun to read about her upbringing and all that good stuff- even though it’s kind of like a self help book).
xo,
s
liz @ bon temps beignet says
I’m crazy jealous of your lush backyard. And, I’m not sure if anyone else mentioned this yet, but if you stick a few rusty nails in the ground near your hydrangeas, they’ll turn a really deep shade of blue.
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
Those previous owners sure did like their monkey grass! Hydrangeas are my absolute favorite. We moved into our (new) house 2 years ago and unfortunately the builder had landscaped much of the property (not how I would’ve done it) and there were no hydrangeas in site. I spent the entire first summer digging plants up so I could put hydrangeas in :)
Paige says
High five for pale legs! My arms, chest, and shoulders are already tan (I even have a white spot under my watch), but my legs are albino. I think we should make it a trend.
Sadly, our bedroom is the unfinished part of our casa. We have the basic bed, dresser, and nightstand, but that’s it. Nothing interesting except for the duvet cover we bought with wedding gift cards. Womp, womp!
Sue says
Hey, that black coffee table goes perfectly with those two back metal chairs by Clara’s pool!
aly says
I love your pale legs. They look like mine! :)
myhonestanswer says
Eeeew, you need to shave your legs? Way to overshare on the internet, Sherry!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s my job. And I take it seriously. Haha.
xo,
s
Bet says
My legs are fish-belly white. YUCK! Not much hope of them being any different here in upstate NY.
Laura says
Am I completely pathetic because I get really excited when I see a new YHL post? It almost feels like Christmas or my birthday. And when there are 2 posts in one day?? Forget about it!
Rachael says
Def Knockout roses!! Beautiful & you can’t kill them!! Yay for black thumbs!!
Steph H. says
Love the garden! My parents yard used to look like that until all the trees slowly fell, boohiss. My legs are just as pale as yours! I’ve even spent a great deal outside…I guess my dad’s irish genes and my mom’s dutch don’t give me much hope for ever being tan. haha!
rachel says
totally loved the Oprah bit :)
Allison says
My mom, who works for a dermatologist, keeps telling me, “Tan skin is damaged skin.” I just keep thinking about my unwrinkled, un-sunspotted skin thirty years from now.
I LOVE your hydrangeas, and I think your patio looks perfect for your family!
Angela Griffith says
I bought some foam floor tiles similar to these:http://www.amazon.com/Sell-Mats-Anti-Fatige-Interlocking-Flooring-Set/dp/B0012KUDPE/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1308235077&sr=8-5 to put under my kiddos’ inflatable pool to have some cushion underneath their tushies. It works great!
YoungHouseLove says
Great idea!
xo,
s
Teresa (Our Corner House) says
Oooh, I wish we had hydrangeas! They (and peonies) are my faves!
Instead, we had spikey Canadian thistle come up (it’s our first spring in a new house, too) and after we poised and tilled it, we discovered another yard beneath our yard…complete with buried, long-forgotten brick-edged beds and broken terracotta pots.
Your yard is awesome. Ours will get there (fingers crossed!).
-Teresa
Briel K. says
My legs are just as pale as yours are Sherry (if not paler)! My mom always tells me to embrace my whiteness. haha I plan to have that remedied though by getting a spray tan (my first one ever and I don’t plan on going a crazy dark color) before I leave for my big road trip in 10 days! Woohoo.
What book are you reading?
YoungHouseLove says
That was Packing For Mars by Mary Roach. Fascinating! Now I’m on to Bethenny Frankel’s book (A Place of Yes). Kind of self-help-ish but I love her and get a kick out of reading about her family.
xo,
s
Jessica says
We have the same whale pool too! Although, it was so hot here a few weeks ago, I invested in a slightly larger pool because I needed to cool off too…haha!
GoHausGo says
Love the before and after’s of your yard! The growth is amazing! It looks very Secret Garden. You might stumble into small children with English accents out there! (Creepy now that I write that)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I wish!
xo,
s
Christina says
I don’t have the same swimming pool, and I don’t look at my 39 week pregnant legs much these days… but I do have the same cute shoes!!
Callie says
Love your patio! Also, this fellow member of the pasty leg club thought I’d mention that my heart sung a little bit the other week to hear you’d been down our way in Charlotte–seriously, if I’d known you were in town, I would have spent all weekend long looking for you at the Teeter and the other boring places I go. I’m now very inspired however to go check out that awesome looking fabric store (I learned it’s in Gastonia, is that right?) and make curtains!
Hope you guys are having a great day!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw I wish we had bumped into each other. As for Mary Jo’s, yup it’s in Gastonia. We think it’s exit 21 off of 85 (near that new Target). Have fun!
xo,
s
Emily kidd says
Do you listen to Dane cook? His skit on oprah sayig that is hilarious!
YoungHouseLove says
Never heard it. Off to google him!
xo,
s
Teri says
The “roses” might be Camilla…. here’s a link, what do you think?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Camellia_x_williamsii_%27Brigadoon%27.JPG
YoungHouseLove says
A few people have voted Knockout. I have no idea! Haha.
xo,
s
Meghan says
Hey guys! Those are in fact roses! They are Knockout Roses and are AWESOME! You CAN.NOT.KILL. them! They grow really fast and only require a little bit of fertilizer a few times a year! No need to cover them in the winter either! I just planted 10 of them in a big DIY project in our backyard. I made a large berm that runs the back of our property and planted them with Green Velvet Boxwoods and Bonanza Gold Barberry! The colors look fantastic together!
Erin says
You two have been such an inspiration since I happened upon your blog :) !!
We have been working on our new-to-us backyard since the spring.
We have just finished (well almost) 2 new fences and 2 simple pergolas for 2 grapevines (ouch $$$$). We have ripped up 2 hideous lg.cedar planter boxes that had overgrown the patio doors.
I have dug up/turned over removed the 30+yr old weeds/roots in the multiple flower beds, where we plan to make raised planters. We have tomato/ hot peppers/ eggplant/ basil patiently surviving in Aquablue tubs (left over booze/drink-tubs from our summer 07 wedding).
We have installed a much needed retractable awning on our south facing backyard. We still need to fill in the holes in the interlocking brick where the planters are and sort out where there are tree roots running below the 30+ year old interlock.
We have miss-matched old wood and new recycled plastic (Muskoka chairs) & woven resin loungers :p
We don’t have a Adorable whale pool to dip our toes into :( ……….. but we do have an inground pool to jump in (that I am so excited to own!! whoot whoot) !!
Lots of work eh! (that’s a Canadian “eh”) lol we still have a side yard filled with ugly miss-matched cement pavers, a ugly shed (made by previous owner) that I am attempting to beautify with paint :p and another area near the front gate to be made into raised beds for veggies. DH thinks that we can tackle laying limestone pavers in this area and a path along the drive in the front yard (thankfully it came with some curb appeal lol).
Phew!!
Hope you are have great sunny weather where you are!