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The Design Inspirationalist

~ Inspiring Ideas | Spectacular Creations

The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: grass

Backyard Makeover 2014

13 Friday Jun 2014

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Great Outdoors, The Home

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backyard makeover, crafty, diy, flowers, gardening, grass, home makeover, landscaping, patio, patio stones, resurfacing, resurfacing concrete, summer

The past month or so my husband and I have been busy getting our backyard ready for summer. Besides gardening and the usual cleanup, we seriously improved the space with a few projects that were long overdue. Now that we got everything checked off the list, we can finally enjoy the summer and relax. Something we are not used to. Lets just say I am very excited.

The first project on the list was to make the area where our garbage cans sit a little nicer to look at. At the time it was just dirt and I hated how it looked. On top of that, when it rained it was muddy and not fun to walk on. So, I thought of a simple solution. With the help of Craigslist, I found someone about 30 minutes away that was getting rid of tons of pebbles and stones on their property for free. You bet Dan and I were there that weekend shoveling as much as we could get our hands on. Once we got home, we sectioned off that side of the house and filled it with all our free goods. Much, much better!

Backyard Makeover 2014

The second project was to create a stone path from the side fence to the back patio. We bought the stones from Lowes and some white pebbles to fill in the spaces. Then, just grass seed to finally bring some green to the space. I was very happy with the result. Especially, after the grass was all grown.

Backyard Makeover 2014

Backyard Makeover 2014

After that was checked off the list, we had to tackle the fence situation. Our neighbors to the right is a nursery, which is awesome. But there is an ugly chain link fence in between us that allows no privacy at all. Since we don’t have the funds to have a new fence installed professionally, we chose to put up lattice. I saw this somewhere and thought it looked really good so we tried it and love the results. And with the overgrowth we have from the trees, it looks even better! We do plan to stain it to match the fence but whenever we get around to it is fine with me.

Backyard Makeover 2014

I also had a little project of my own, which my mother helped me with. Along the fence, its so hard to plant anything because the roots from the trees are crazy. So I used 3 old crates as planter boxes and created a small garden by the fence with hydrangeas and hostas. I thought it came out really cute.

Backyard Makeover 2014

The next big project was all done Memorial Day weekend, thanks to my husband. I wanted to create a small side patio with the same stones from the path so we have another seating area. To do this, he had to break up all the old cement that was there, which was a job all in itself. After he was done, we laid down 16 inch stones and filled in the spaces with the same white rocks. Then, laid down grass seed. The grass isn’t fully grown yet, but what a little space its turning out to be. I been looking at water fountains for sale online and visualizing what it would bring to our yard.

Backyard Makeover 2014

Then, it was finally time to conquer our back patio. We had planned to build a deck but after thinking about it more we decided to just resurface the concrete as best we can to save some money. It was a difference of $750 and a lot of work on our part since we were going to do it ourselves. This plan seemed better for us at the moment. So for $250 we bought all the supplies and concrete we needed, along with the stain to paint it with, and got to work. Although its not perfect, I have to say it came out pretty good considering I did all of it by hand. My husband mixed and poured, while I did the spreading. It was hard work but it got done. And what an improvement!

Backyard Makeover 2014

Backyard Makeover 2014

I also gave our back porch a makeover to freshen it up a bit. I stained the stairs to match the new color of the patio, painted the rails a nice black to pop, and added some art and plants to bring some style to the space. I also made a quick skirt with leftover fabric to hang under my potting bench so no one can see all the not so pretty stuff underneath. I am currently looking for a few more items but I am loving it so far. We are also hoping to purchase a new back door this summer, which will really add a nice touch.

Backyard Makeover 2014

Backyard Makeover 2014

And as far as the garden, it is doing the best it has ever been. Peonies are blooming, the bushes are full of flowers, the hydrangeas are growing super fast, and the rose bushes are showing their beauty with glee. I planted a few new things but everything that was already there is growing full force and smiling under the sun.

Backyard Makeover 2014

Backyard Makeover 2014

We are loving our backyard even more now. All our hard work has paid off for sure and we are so excited to share this peaceful space with our family and friends this summer. DIY all the way!

Backyard Makeover 2014

Art Inspired Palette: Mae Chevrette-Sweet Carolina

06 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by melissaoconnor in Art Inspired Palette, Color Inspiration

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art, barn, birds, clouds, collage, color, color palette, design, farm, grass, Mae Chevrette, mixed media, music, nature, pastels, sky, sweet carolina

Art Inspired Palette: Mae Chevrette - Sweet Carolina

Inspiration Photo Friday: Falling in Love

06 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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autumn, cherry trees, earth, fall, falling in love, grass, harvest, heaven, home sweet home, long island, love, mother earth, nature, new york, overgrowth, pear trees, seasons, spring, summer, trees, weather

I have been in love with nature since I can remember. Always wanting to be surrounded by grass and trees and getting inspired by the beautiful varieties and colors of plants and flowers, Mother Nature will forever have my heart.

The spring and summer seasons are nice but fall is my favorite. It’s full of rustic hues and woodsy tones and sets up the stage for the Earth to shed its skin. Baring it all for us to see. How romantic is that? And through the whole process, we can experience the most beautiful weather filled with crisp air, refreshing winds, and just enough warmth from the sun. And although the trees will eventually let go of their leaves and flowers no longer bloom, the idea of harvest sets in. It’s time for a whole new world of color, flavor, and adventure.

I took this photo in our yard yesterday. Every now and then I take a walk to the very back and look around. From the cherry and pear trees to the overgrowth on the fence, there is just so much to love. The funny thing, we didn’t create any of it. All this beauty was here when we got here and has been part of the property for many years and I wouldn’t change a thing. Now we can experience history and the future in this little piece of heaven we call home.

I believe falling in love with people is not healthy because you should be uplifted when love is in your heart. But when it comes to the glorious Mother Nature, I fall in love more and more everyday. There is just something about the Earth that makes you want to fall into it and breathe it in. To climb a tree and be within its branches, to lay in the grass and feel it between your toes, to explore a woodsy trail and feel at peace when the forest consumes you….there is nothing in the world that can bring this much pleasure. And to experience this everyday in my own backyard, is the best gift of all.

Inspiration Photo Friday: Falling in Love

Open Your Door to Spring

29 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Great Outdoors, The Home

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brick, concrete, curb appeal, exterior, grass, greenery, home, moss, nature, plants, rocks, spring, stone, trees

Open Your Door to Spring

Soon the cool weather will be gone and before you know it, spring will be knocking at your door. Now is the time to start thinking of how to welcome the season in your home as well as showcasing its beauty on the outside. Curb appeal is an important thing to consider when you have a home. Creating an inviting entrance and beautiful exterior can make all the difference sometimes.

There are many easy and affordable ways to jazz up the exterior of your home. Most of all, you want to complement the architecture and design of the house. You can do this by considering its colors, size, details, and all the elements that stand out. Nature is not only a huge inspiration, it is what will give your home sweet home a fantastic makeover.  Flowers, shrubs, trees, and other natural materials like brick, stone, and wood, are all great examples of what to use.

Here are some great inspirations to get you moving. Enjoy!

The brick pattern in the pathway adds interest to the path and the open feel of this entrance way is clean, organized, and inviting.
Open Your Door to Spring
Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Giving shape to the landscaping helps build interest around the whole house. Suddenly, lines and patterns appear, which help the eye move with a unique perspective and help the architecture stand out more.
Open Your Door to Spring
Photo Credit: Laurie Heredia

The use of gray and black really adds a nice contrast to the earthy greens that surround the entrance of this home. The lush feel is vibrant and fresh.
Open Your Door to Spring
Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Have fun with gardening and plant lots of different kinds of greenery. Mix and match colors that complement each other and play with texture. For some tips, you can always ask your local nursery for some suggestions.
Open Your Door to Spring
Photo Credit: Garden Design Inc.

Just by updating hardware or adding a planter box filled with colorful plants can revive an entrance in no time.
Open Your Door to Spring
Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Dress up your driveway and backyard with large potted plants and fresh greenery.
Open Your Door to Spring
Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Get creative when it comes to your driveway and pathway. Concrete isn’t the only material you can use. Explore your options with other natural elements like stone, brick, rocks, and even grass and moss.
Open Your Door to Spring
Photo Credit: Down to Earth Landscapes

Landscaping can make all the difference in creating an overall finished look for your home. You want to create an environment where the structure of the house looks as if it was always meant to be there.
Open Your Door to Spring
Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

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