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I had quite the extensive checklist when it came to purchasing my home. Among the many items on my list was private outdoor space... I should've been more descriptive when I stated that because I got the space, but it was incredibly inferior to the interior portions of the house. See Exhibit A.   Gross. After going back and forth in my brain about how to get this space going, I decided to get a patio installed.  Lesson 1: Do NOT go with the "round the way guy" he had the best price and my patio had the best dip... I didn't want my patio to dip. He did come back to "fix" it but it still dips.. but at least only slightly. I had a really small budget for this project so ultimately I was just happy to get my private outdoor space plans in motion. Now onto the furnishings... outdoor furniture is expensive y'all but I wanted my patio to look lit lit... so what's a girl to do? Perhaps make her own... see Exhibit B.  When I first moved into my house, I got a little heavy handed with gold spray paint. What was supposed to be an accent adorned almost everything in my living room. Gross. I have since swapped out that tacky gold shelf with the one below but what was I to do with that gold shelf?  I stored the gold shelf in my basement and when my parents visited, they used it as a towel rack... I knew it had the potential to be re-purposed into something better than that. Not sure what gave me to urge to place it on its side but I did and then I sat as best as I could on its frame and had a whole entire eureka moment... I'll turn the shelf into a bench for my patio! I began plotting on the materials needed to pull this off: 1. Rust proof/weather resistant spray paint 2. weather treated wood 3. weather proof foam 4. fabric and water repellent fabric spray 5. staple gun And then I got to work... Because I envisioned a bench and a coffee table type of situation, I made the additional purchase, in advance, so that I could spray paint everything in one sweep. While everything was drying, I began working on the bench portion. Oh...and I purchased bamboo fencing from Home Depot, adding it to my existing metal fence for privacy but more so for aesthetic purposes... I actually love my next door neighbor and struggled with "blocking" her out. Second I measured the width and length of the shelf and took those measurements to home depot to secure the weather treated wood and then to a store that specializes in foam (who knew), placed on a precut piece of fabric that my mom got me for this project, and stapled everything together. And then I assembled...  And... of course the finishing touches... me, my Yorkie-Poo, Cooper <3, flowers, plants, (the white pots are actually Ikea waste baskets... I drilled three holes in the bottom for proper drainage), candles (I got an old bird feeder, on the left, from a neighbor that I spray painted and placed white candles under), and an umbrella (I placed the base underground so that it wouldn't take up patio space). While I'm glad there is an entire month left of summer to enjoy this space, I am also looking forward to getting a fire pit and enjoying this space well into the fall.  |
