Quantcast

Bower Power

· 77 Comments

Great Outdoor Glimpses

OUR 2nd HOUSE

Each month we are attempting to redo one space.  Even with that schedule, we are gonna be busy for many years in this house.  It’s a first world problem.  Cry me a river, right?!     

So this past month (June) we started the outdoor patio…which we count as two spaces – one dining area and one lounging/sitting/growing-while-splayed area. 

With the help of Lowe’s Creative Ideas Magazine, we built one giant outdoor table.  It’s big enough for a family of sumo wrestlers…or my family…take your pick.

  

And the other side was the area that we wanted to tackle this month. 

We had added some furniture that I scored at a discount at Target (you can read about that here) but that is about when the brakes were applied. 

 

So here is where I tell ya what we tackled. 

First – we wanted to add some architectural details to the posts to make the deck/patio look a little more finished. 

So we came up with a simple plan to add two more posts (directly next to the house) and add braces to the posts to give it a barn look. 

And the space that once looked like this….

Now looks like this…

Along with the seating furniture, we added a coffee table (that we spruced up with some coats of Valspar’s Front Door Red paint) and a couple new side tables.  

And under the window we added a giant console table….one that’s beefy enough to give a cow a run for his money.  I love it because it ties in the dining table and is versatile enough to house a drink station or a couple bins of outdoor toys or even serve as a tv table for outside.

The side tables also tie into the console table and dining table….making them the perfect compliment for this space.  I like the fact that it looks cohesive but the coffee table keeps it from being too matchy matchy. 

We figured each one of these outdoor projects deserves it’s own post (because most of them involve building plans) – so be on the lookout for those in the coming weeks.  

So as we are doing family-stuff in Destin (surprise!  we got the chance to come back so we are here enjoying the local fare!) I hope y’all are surviving the summer-o-crazy with your own outdoor spaces. 

And big hugs to Lowe’s Creative Ideas Magazine for sponsoring these building projects.  You guys put the “treat” in my ‘pressure-treated wood” 🙂  

And

0 Shares

Comments

  1. You guys did a lot in a short period of time and it looks awesome 🙂 You guys made the console and coffee table right? If i didn’t mistaken?

  2. Oh, I love the farmhouse console and side tables – are they outdoor furniture? Where did you get those? Maybe you built them and that will be in one of the subsequent posts, so if so just ignore me! 🙂

  3. LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!!!!!! Holy Cats, I so wish you could help me with me patio! Will you please be my friend and move to Oklahoma?

  5. Yup – Jer came up with the designs based on making it similar to the dining table and built them himself 🙂
    xo – kb

  6. Yup – they are outdoor – made with pressure treated wood for outdoor use and sealed with varnish just like the dining table.
    xo – kb

  8. Gosh Katie, I love your outdoor space. It looks so inviting! You could also use the console table as a potting table. No, the area would get too dirty. Jeremy could just make that too! He’s talented. Has he ever thought of quitting his job & being a full-time DIYer? like John & Sherry? I think you two would be great team. Enjoy your vacay.

  9. so beautiful… love everything about this outdoor space.. especially how you tied in red with the coffee table.. great job

    p.s. where did you find the checkered area rug… great job as always..

  14. Wow! That looks great Katie! Where did you get that rug..I love it. What is in the tray on the coffee table? You have such a good eye, the addition to the posts really makes a difference I think.

  16. How much of the furniture do you have to move inside when it rains? I’ve always shy-ed away from outdoor cushiony things for fear they will get wet when I inevitably forget them and then all mildewy.

  17. Looks great! How in the world do you find time to do everything you do??? Do you have set times to work on projects, photography, your blog, cooking, cleaning, chasing a toddler and baking a baby? Seriously, how do you fit it all in and create a beautiful home, wonderful memories with your family and make some money on the side? You have great balancing skills! Any advice for me?

  19. Wow! What an amazing transformation! I love the details added to the posts: such a small thing, with a huge impact. Can’t wait to see the tutorials on the outdoor furniture! Great job!

  21. Did you use primer on the coffee table you painted red? I’m pretty sure I have that exact same one (I got it from a consignment shop for $20!) and it’s black, but I’ve been wanting to spruce it up. I just haven’t been sure what to do because I don’t think the very top is made of real wood. Is yours?

  22. Ok, umm, I live in Destin (you are talking about Florida, right?!) and I’m not gonna lie, I’m kinda freaking out right now that you are in the local area…haha, call me a nerd. Or call me crazy, either one is fitting 🙂 And I’m diggin’ those side tables, I’m waiting on that post then I’m totally gonna copy! Super cute.

  24. I did – a quick coat of exterior paint and primer in one. And my top is definitely real wood (it has the chew marks on the corners from the previous owner’s pet to prove it). Hope this helps!
    xo – kb

  25. Hi Rebekah – Well just to be completely transparent – most of this is completely staged for the photos. I pulled in all the indoor accessories and the cushions and the rug for rain – I probably could keep the cushions outside but we decided that it would probably be easier and best long term to just pull them in 🙂
    xo – kb

  27. Nope – it’s just a uber-cheap rug I’ve had forever in storage and it’s actually just a normal cotton rug. I pull it in so it doesn’t live out there 🙂
    xo – kb

  30. I definitely bring it in. We leave the furniture and the plants (and even the ships wheel) but all the accessories and cushions come inside for rain 🙂
    xo – kb

  31. haha…that would definitely require a bit more work on our part – we are most assuredly not pro bloggers like J&S!
    xo – kb

  32. Well…I stink at cleaning and it falls behind all the time. I sometimes cook nothing for dinner…or lunch…or both…and there have been many days of three meals of cereal and canned fruit. And I am always late…always. As much as I try – I fail all the time. It’s normal.
    xo – kb

  35. We are just in the process of trying to do our backyard. We built last year and our backyard is more a jungle than a yard. Bulldozers are coming next week to clear and we get to figure out what we’re doing. Your area looks great and the pictures are going to be a big help with describing stairs placement etc. 🙂 And I love your tables, they look great.

  36. Yowza! Check out the curvy legs on that coffee table– that was left by the previous owners?! Way to recognize a diamond in the rough…
    Love all the smokin’ new upgrades. Inspires me for my patio!

    Lindsey

  39. Where ya staying this trip? Based partly on your last Destin post, my family decided to book a condo in Destin for our Annual Thankgiving trip. We’ll be staying at the Majestic Sun Resort. CANT WAIT! 🙂 Hope to hear more about places you visit and good restaurants too.

  42. Off topic, but…

    Did you delete your instagram account or change your name? I can’t find you anymore 🙁

  44. KT, love the “staged” look 😉 Nah, it all looks great regardless! Have you thought about putting up something like bamboo blinds or outdoor fabric curtains on the sitting area end? I bet that would make it that much more cozy and perhaps even cooler in temperature? Or maybe you wouldn’t want to block the view… I was just thinking it would be something I’d try 🙂

  46. Are you going to be giving more details on that console table? I have been googling how to make one like that for 6 months now!! More details please (well, whenever you are done at the beach). Have fun!!!

  48. Absolutely love it! The red table rocks!

    You guys should add a tin roof under the decking to keep the rain out. We did and we
    love it. Slope it down for the rain runoff and add a gutter to catch.
    Ooops. Just added another project for you. 😉 But I bet you’ve already thought of that.

  49. Oh I think there is going to be a lot of furniture pinning from your blog in my near future because I love love love the console table and end tables… and I’ve been yearning to build Ana White’s farm house table and they look like they would go nicely

  50. Looks great! I’m definitely inspired to spruce up my patio once the temp falls below….oh, I don’t know….106? It’s hot here in Tejas.

  52. looks aaaaaawesome!

    i think you may need a faux chandalier though down the road! 🙂

  54. We are staying in the Islander resort near downtown…it’s definitely a different experience than last time!
    xo – kb

  57. We are definitely gonna do plans for it…just be forewarned…that sucker is stout…and weighs like a ton.
    xo – kb

  58. We just got back from a road trip to the beach in Florida! We stayed half at Sandestin and the other half in Grayton Beach off 30A just minutes from Destin! Love, Love, love Florida! Have a blast and enjoy the time at the beach!

    ~ Ali

  59. We definitely talked about it…but for now we are gonna pass on them simply because of the cost related to it. Since the ceilings out here are 11 feet, that would be one heck of a lot of fabric for drapes. I think we may put up a misting system though…that would be awesome 🙂
    xo – kb

  60. Did you guys add tin? I’ve heard of Underdeck – it’s not in the budget right now but I’d love to do that down the line.
    xo – kb

  62. Yes. We added tin. Like the roof tin. It has held up perfectly.
    We used supports between the tin edges and it overlaps so no drips.
    We thought about the Underdeck and there is another one *the name
    escape’s me* but the $$$ just wasn’t there so we came up with a much
    cheaper alternative.

    Hope you guys can come up with a solution cause it sure makes the patio
    much easier to use without rain drops falling on your head. 😉
    Although this summer it’s not getting much use. Too dang hot.
    I’m a N.GA. girl, too.

  63. Katie, I absolutely love how it turned out! Your random, bold style–not worrying too much about color schemes or being too cautious is what I really like about your house–and you keep it so real all the time–Ok, this is ‘staged’ but this is your style and I love it!

  65. I love the console and side table. Great design and perfect for the outdoor setting. Can’t wait for the design details! It looks great!

  66. I love it! What a great transformation. Have you considered lighting? Some nice big chandeliers would look awesome in there 😀

  68. Yes – eventually we want to figure out big lighting…for now, we bought a slew of round bulb stringed lights that we hope to get up once we get home!
    xo – kb

  69. Its awesome to have a handy man by your side all the time 🙂 I like to design things and my boyfriend loves to built them. Perfect combo lol and a great way to save money too 🙂

  70. check out our balcony makeover when you are free and let us know what you think! (how2home.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/how-to-boxshrub/)

  73. KATIE, please post the building plans for those tables!! I’ve been waiting and waiting, and all that pretty wood really gets my juices flowin’! THANKS, Chelsea

  74. Did you ever post the console or side table how-to? After much searching I am giving up trying to find it on here 🙁 If you did can you please post the link or give me a hint where to find it?

  77. The red Katie the red!…brilliant use of color! You always have a terrific way of adding just the right amount of accent color without overdoing it. That red just woke up the great architectural additions to the space. My compliments to you are me using your ideas on my projects! I always want to pull in red, but have been afraid to do it. With this post, now I see how its done without overdoing it. As always thanks for sharing your talent!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get the latest via email!