I'm on a bit of a chair kick. After owning/selling 4 sets of dining chairs before finding the perfect set, we now have a chair policy - 1 chair in = 1 chair out. Sadly I really can't afford a set of those blue & purple lovelies, but I'll be keeping watch for something similar I can makeover for a future space.
I’d like to start this by apologizing to everyone who reads here on a regular basis. I know that the posts have been thin recently, and I’m sad to report they will probably continue to be thin for the next little while. My desire to look at pretty things has up and left since someone broke into our house earlier this week.
We have a lot to be thankful for; the dog was fine, there was no visible vandalism, most of our most personal effects stayed put, but at some point in time I lost my joie du vivre. I try so hard to always remember that there is good in everyone, but after being robbed, I’m finding it hard to smile, to be polite and not to suspect everyone I see on the street of stealing my security.
On top of it all, the thief (thieves?) stole my computer, and with it, all of my pictures and all of my favourite things. The police are doing their best and we’re happy with the measures and steps that have been taken so far, but I can’t help but to feel a little sorry for myself and wonder, why us? Of all the 20 houses on the street, why ours? The Dr. tells me everything happens for a reason and something good will come of this, but I’m having trouble believing this was in our plan.
When my brother and I were wee, my mother would pull us around our local garden centre/petting zoo/bird sanctuary/play centre in a red metal Radio Flyer wagon. I hadn’t thought about our adventures in the little red wagon for years until Saturday, as we were walking around our neighbourhood community street sale and we spotted the exact same Red Radio flyer wagon for sale. We bought it immediately and despite the fact that people could hear us coming for a mile, I couldn’t have been prouder of our purchase. For the time being we’re using it as a plant stand in our backyard, but I can just imagine the adventures we will have with it in the future.
{via}
As you can see many of my original inspirations have taken shape and we managed to pull off an eclectic backyard setting. For our main seating arrangement we incorporated picnic benches {made by the Dr} for a relaxed feel + maximum seating, and a folding table which will make storage easy come Fall/Winter. Originally I had planned to incorporate our two vintage fiberglass Eames chairs at each end of the table but instead we decided to repurpose to leftover chairs we had kicking around for an all-weather option. We opted for the Weber Genesis grill {just barely shown on the right edge of the photo} and we couldn't be happier - it's stylish, it's hot, it's fast and it makes outdoor cooking fun again! The plant boxes and lattice {built by the Dr} were a bit of a change however we decided they worked much better in the space than galvanized tubs, and it gave the Dr a project to complete during the nasty month of April.
The plants in the boxes and around the garden are mostly perrenials {lillies, iris, sedum, hostas, ferns and hens &chicks} but we plan to add in some marigolds and impatients once the weather cooperates. Our herb garden will be housed on the bakers rack we managed to score for a song. Our intention is to paint the rack antique white to better suit the space, but the weather hasn't cooperated to date.
We decided againt a second seating area and opted instead to make the boxes a bit larger and more of a focal point for the space. That however did not discourage me from picking up a lifeless iron chair and updating it with a coat of bright turquoise paint and the following oilcloth for the pad.
It took some time to really come together, but we couldn't be happier with the outcome. With a few final decorate touches, and some sun, we'll be able to entertain in style.
Etsy is my kryptonite and since I discovered the Finds Décor feature {posted on Sundays} I’ve had to put my credit card on lock-down. Check it out for yourself here, but don’t say I didn’t warn you first. I’ve got dibs on the next fab 50’s hairpin leg bench that comes up – I only narrowly missed this one from fabulousmess and I’m still pouting a little.
I just found this great idea on Apartment Therapy and I just had to share. I ♥ twinkle lights so I'm always interested in ways to incorporate them into non-holiday design.
I'll have to start being a little more selective of the carton when I am buying eggs so I can replicate this although it looks to me as though the carton and the wires were painted. What do you think?
How To: Egg Carton Flower Lights - Be sure to use LED lights!
One of my favorite things about Apartment Therapy is the Small Cool Contest they run every year. While I no longer live in a home that is considered small by these standards, I still enjoy looking at the entries and trying to incorporate the very resourceful ideas that are featured. Last year AT broke entries down by geographical location but this year the entries are broken down by size {ranging from teeny-tiny to small and international} and include a thumbnail picture. This new breakdown is much more user-friendly and I can’t wait to see the finalists.
Click here to see the Small Cool 2008 entries and the winners by rank {1st place}{2nd place}{3rd place}{4th place}
Entries for the 2009 Small Cool Contest are being accepted until 4/13.
{via Apartment Therapy :: Small Division #02}
We had fantastic weather last weekend and the Dr was able to design and build two 6 ft. benches for the backyard patio set. They are absolutely perfect and I am so proud of him {it was his first attempt at planning and building his own product}. To further coax the Spring fairy, we planted seeds for a small kitchen herb garden. The seeds are currently germinating on top of our refrigerator in a makeshift greenhouse but soon enough, after the last frost of the season, we’ll have an outdoor herb-erie. This is our first attempt at growing a kitchen garden and if all goes well, I’d also like to try growing lettuce, carrots, onions, tomatoes and peppers… Oh my.
There is only one thing holding us back…. It is currently -12° Celsius.
{ current blog crush: The City Sage
{{I've lost the source of this picture}}
I'd like to create a space for eating, and a small space for sitting. I love the relaxed atmosphere of eating together on benches instead of oversize patio chairs. For times when extra seating is required, we've decided to incorporate two vintage Eames fiberglass chairs from inside. In the sitting area, I'd like to use two patio chairs leftover from a previous patio set and a colourful garden stool such as the yellow lucky coin version {shown above} as a table. Galvanized tubs are perfect for raised herb gardens and will lend an industrial edge to the backyard, as well as complement the steel of the Weber grill. In the garden and in our metal urns I am picturing hostas, irises, sedum for texture and annuals {pansies, marigolds, and impatients} for colour.
As a finishing touch I'd like to hang solar lights and group a collection of brightly painted vintage frames on the fence to add that extra finishing touch.
{photos via: Lowes / ApartmentTherapy / DWR / Garden Life / Home Depot }
Kudos to Peter Shire for having a great imagination. Although whimsical, I won’t be jumping on this wagon. I like my Eames shell chairs as is. What do you think?
via: Apartment Therapy
