One of my very FAVORITE projects from last year was transforming this deck into something completely swoon-worthy…
I mean…is that even the same house?
Yes it is. Unbelievable but true.
We completely overhauled this sad before into a lovely entertaining space by partnering with Rust-Oleum and using their Restore product. I just got an update from Karen about how it’s held up. So far, it has survived the fall, winter and spring with no peeling or worn spots. We didn’t have a harsh winter here in Georgia – but I think that the success of the paint was the primer. The paint is a super-thick extra durable finish but unless it sticks…it ain’t working. So if you are thinking about using Restore for your weathered deck….that’s our update! We filmed the how-to commercial and you can see it here. Yes, I am impressively huge.
And now let’s go back and admire that before and after….
Now something I promised and completely forgot to share with you were a couple projects that are VERY inexpensive and literally take an hour each. Both involve the cheapest wood known to man…..the picket. First let me tell you how to jazz up any ugly pot and make it look instantly more substantial and beefy and beautiful. I like to call it the Pot Sleeve….
Basically it is a wooden box with no bottom that you can slip around any potted plant. You can make them in any size and the one I made cost about $8. So huge bang for little bucks.
First thing you do is cut your boards to length. I cut six lengths of pickets at 24″ and then cut four lengths of pressure treated 2×2’s at 16.5″.
Using a brad nailer, you simply attach the 2×2’s to three picket pieces to create one side. I use this tool. Repeat. Also stay hydrated. And never forget to wash behind your ears. And dream big. And smell rugs before you buy them. Just thought I would remind you of the basics since I was telling you what to do.
After you have two sides together, attach the other picket sides between the two original sides. Then rip one picket in half to create the mitered tops. It’s really very easy. Just measure as you go and using the brad nailer – attach that upper lip to the 2×2 in the corners.
We made two sizes – one with three boards per side…one with four….the one with four is HUGE….like it would make a great side table.
Lastly you just sand and stain or paint (we used Rust-Oleum’s Kona to finish it) and slip the old pot down into the middle hole.
I love these and the price is well…priceless.
The other picket project is this little artwork that we made out of branch clippings and five pickets. We used four full length pickets and cut the fifth one into two lengths of 22″ and attached from the back with brad nails.
The color we used was Kona from Rust-Oleum….you knew that was coming didn’t you!?
Then we cut lengths of the branch clippings (these are trimmed pieces from Crepe Myrtle’s in case you were wondering) and simply cut them to length we needed and attached them also with brad nails using our Ryobi 18V battery operated brad nailer.
You could literally make any shape you want! I love the idea of anything outdoorsy or nature inspired. We did a first aid cross because Karen is a nurse but you might like your monogram letter, an anchor, a pet outline or a favorite word (DRINK UP would be fun!)….or even something cool like a starburst….something that represents you never goes out of style!
We leaned it in the corner but you can attach it with velcro strips if you prefer.
Aren’t those the cutest projects? Those little finishing touches really add personality and spunk to a space. It’s basically the jazz hands in this porch dance. And as every theatre junkie knows…there is nothing like a good jazz hand 🙂
For more details about this space, you can check out this old post! And for all the mama’s out there…and anyone that has a mama or knows a mama….Happy Mother’s Day weekend. I hope your heart and belly are full and you are with the ones that you love most 🙂
Haley says
Thank you Katie for the pot sleeve idea!!! I’m aghast at the cost of pretty planters and really needed this idea!
Johanna says
I like the women’s Saneah in black!
Johanna says
I like the women’s Sanrah in black!
bethanyblntn says
🙁 I miss your old posts. for like the past year it seems like everything is a review of an old post or an Ad/promo post. *sigh* where are the long hard posts about life lessons full of witty humor and bad jokes and fun projects that didn’t come with an ad disclaimer attached? It’s like Bower Power sold its soul for a quick buck and some nice products. :/
I mean, I get it raising a big brood of boys can NOT be easy while running a blog as a paycheck but maybe throwing in a post now and then that ISN’T promoted or payed for or a review, you know.. just life once in a while again might be nice. I mean this in the kindest way because I also blog and know how hard it is to get real feedback. But readers will stop reading when they feel like its and ad every time or something they have read 100 times you know.
hang in there mamma. I know you’ll get your mojo back 🙂
Stephanie says
Hi Katie –
I’m so glad you posted this! We’re about to redo our back deck. If we power wash, sand, and prime, will that be enough without sanding first? Our deck has a poorly done stain that’s peeling off.
Also, how did you guys treat the lattice? Did you paint it with Rustoleum also?
Thanks!
Katie says
That lattice is vinyl and comes prefinished in white and is quite durable! The deck question you had – it’s really important to remove anything that could be peeling…it’s like trying to apply a nail polish over peeling polish…it won’t work if the under layer is coming up!
xo – kb
Lisa says
Hi Stephanie,
you might want to look up the lawsuits against Rustoleum by people who used the product Katie sells hier. It has ruined several decks. Check out Rustoleum restore lawsuits in google.
Don’t ruin your deck!
Katie says
I don’t know if your comment is necessarily encouraging. It feels very passive aggressive…like I should change to be something you want instead of just being me 🙁 Like maybe if I don’t have a joke or project that appeals to you that I’m not good enough somehow. I am sorry you miss my old posts…I don’t know how I do anything different…for the ad stuff nothing has changed…we do one post a week of sponsored content and that’s it. I get that maybe it feels like more but if you go back, we are in week 20 and I have done 16 sponsored posts so far this year. And that’s it. Just because I mention a company or a product doesn’t mean that I got paid to….I WISH! 🙂
xo – kb