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

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

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

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

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

Designing Your Great Outdoors

03 Monday Jun 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Guest Posts, Janet Majors, The Great Outdoors

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awning, budget, colors, design, fabrics, gazebo, landscaping, natural sound barrier, outdoor space, outdoors, patio, seating, space, trellis, umbrella, water feature

Whether you live in a house, condo, or an apartment, you probably have some outdoor space. From a lush but boring lawn to a barren balcony, you probably have something. However, knowing how to spruce up that space can be challenging. Especially if you’re limited in terms of actual square footage or money. Here are some tips:

Come up with a plan.
Whenever you simply begin throwing paint around or purchasing furniture and accessories without any thing more than a vague vision in your mind, you run the risk of ending up with a space that embodies the term hodge-podge. This goes for an indoor and an outdoor space. Before you get down to the nitty gritty, take some time to think it through. Come up with a clear image of what you want the space to look like. Do some research into materials, prices, and the like. Having a plan will ensure you get the gorgeous outdoor area you deserve.

When you’re planning, consider what you want to get out of the space.
Do you want your outdoor space to be an area for partying the night away or an outdoor retreat for relaxation? Knowing what you want to get out of the space will help you design it properly. For example, if you want to relax rich, comfortable fabrics and materials will be ideal while if you want to entertain you’ll want to make sure to have plenty of seating.

Photo Credit: Amy Kimball Events

Take into account the elements.
When planning your outdoor space you’ll want to think about how much sun, wind, and water the area is regularly exposed to. If you get a lot of sun you’ll want to make sure all the materials are fade resistant so your space won’t look dull after just a season or two. In addition, you’ll want to find ways to work in shade such as an umbrella, gazebo, awning, or trellis. If you live a rainy area you want to make sure all of the materials you use are mold, mildew, and rust resistant and possibly consider screening in part or all of the space to make it more usable. If you have your fair share of wind you’ll want to make sure your accessories and furniture are weighted down. For example, get cushions that actually tie to the chairs to keep them from blowing around.

Think about the neighborhood.
Another important element to consider when designing your outdoor space is the noise level. Do you live next to a busy road? Do you have noisy neighbors? If noise is a concern there are a couple of things you can do. One, use landscaping to act as a natural sound barrier – trees are great for this. Two, install a water feature because the sound of running water will act as white noise and drown out other (less pleasant) sounds.

Photo Credit: Rocky Mountain Rock and Trucking

Don’t be afraid to get creative.
Your outdoor space is an extension of your indoor space and should express your personal tastes. Use colors and textures that you enjoy. Outdoor materials including furniture and area rugs come in a wide variety of patterns and colors. If you can’t find the exact shade your looking for, many materials (ex. wicker) can be painted or spray painted.

Photo Credit: Houzz

Getting creative is especially important if you’re working on a limited budget, with a small space, or with a rented space. For example, if you rent, you may not have electrical outlets in your outdoor space and because you rent, you may not be permitted to add them. Luckily, there are a variety of lighting fixtures and options that run on batteries alone.

If you are dealing with a small space, you’ll want to get furniture that serves multiple purposes such as an ottoman that can serve as an extra seat or with a lid that flips over to make a coffee table. Furniture pieces with casters are great too because they allow you to move things around to fit different purposes. Casters come in all different styles and colors so don’t worry about them looking too industrial or utilitarian; here are some great caster options. All in all, just remember that when you run into an obstacle, don’t give up – just think outside the box.

Photo Credit: Decoration Trend

Put natural features to good use.
Before you start constructing your outdoor space, take a good look at the natural features the space offers. Sometimes brining in a second (or even third) pair of eyes can help you spot things you’ve overlooked or grown accustomed to. For instance, a hill or raised area can be an excellent place for seating or a gazebo because it offers a good view of the rest of the space. A tree can serve as natural shade or an extended tree branch can be used to hang a chandelier from.

Photo Credit: House Beautiful

Keep your budget in mind.
Know what your budget is from the beginning. There are things you can do to keep your costs down. For example, buy patio furniture in the off season when stores are offering great clearance deals. In addition, you can do some landscaping (ex. mowing the lawn) yourself. Another idea is to build your outdoor space in stages rather than doing it all in once. For instance, maybe the first season you do some major landscaping, the next you purchase one or two pieces of furniture, and the third season you purchase a few more items.

Written by Janet Majors

Outdoor Goodness

15 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Great Outdoors

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brick, classic, cottage style, decor, flowers, garden, greenery, herbs, landscaping, nature, outdoors, patio, plants, rocks, shabby chic, slate, stone, traditional, trees, yard

Here are some more outdoor inspirations for all of you who love nature. Take time to appreciate what is around you and create a beautiful space in your backyard, porch or patio. Summer is here so enjoy it!

Spring Sweetness – A Backyard Makeover

06 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Great Outdoors

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backyard, cherry trees, colorful flowers, dusty miller, flowers, fruit, garden, gardening, gorgeous space, grass, greenery, hydrangeas, iris, leaves, nature, nice weather, patio, peonies, plants, rose bushes, roses, spring, summer, trees, vegetable garden, weeds, wildflower seed

Now that spring is here and summer is right around the corner, Dan and I have been working on our backyard so it looks beautiful for the warmer seasons. From our garden to the patio, we have transformed the space with the determination and love. When we moved in this past February the backyard was a great example of neglect. It was sad how people could let such a gorgeous space go to ruins. Then we came along and gave it life.

So here is a little preview of what it was like before. I know fall was coming to an end but there were leaves everywhere and dead bushes and plants all over. The fence they put up around the patio seemed silly and just blocked the beautiful view. The whole yard needed work for sure.

Then slowly we did our magic and turned this backyard disaster into our heaven. Even though there is a little more to do, we are so happy with how it has turned out. Since the nice weather is here we were able to get more done and now that the wedding is over we can dedicate more time to making it perfect.

As soon as spring came around, the weeds came popping up! So the first step was to get everything pulled out and cleaned up. But it sure looked nice with actual greenery showing its face.

The end of our yard is beautiful on its own. We love the overgrown greenery and pretty rose bushes and flowers that love blooming for us to see. It reminds me of the secret garden. This is where we plan to have our vegetable gardens next year. So excited! Our cherry trees are finally showing some fruit as well.

The next step was to pick out various flowers and plants that would thrive in our garden and bring life to the space. We chose hydrangeas, hollyhocks, tulips, peonies and other tiny colorful flowers. We already had roses and iris which was a nice bonus. For some green and other color we added some small bushes, my Grandmother’s hosta, dusty miller and low foliage around the edge.

In between everything I planted some wildflower seed bombs we had left over from the wedding in hopes they would help to fill in the space. Although it needs some time to all grow in, I think its a huge improvement! I wanted it to feel whimsy, pretty and romantic while also looking wild and free. This is why I chose a number of delicate bushes and flowers along with some that are lush and elegant.

The patio was our next project and we were excited to get it ready for summer. First, we took the fence down which was an improvement all by itself. Then we cleaned it up and painted the cement gray. As soon as we purchased our patio set (from West Elm) we worked our butts off to bring beauty to the space.

With the addition of some greenery and flowers, the patio now looks like a patio. We chose to surround the space with nature and border it off with a small cedar garden fence. We also through in some solar lights and created a small path into the yard with slate stones the previous owners left behind. The dirt area has been seeded so we are crossing our fingers grass shows its face soon. Add in a charcoal grill and we are good to go!

I hope this project will inspire you all to get our there and make Mother Earth shine even brighter. Even if you have a small space to work with there are tons of things you can do to enhance the look and feel. I know as the days pass by it will look even better in our yard so I plan to post photos for all of you to see the progress. Happy Gardening!