Rusty funky dreams for a patio

"Once upon a time, there was a girl that dreamed of..."

lounging like this... 

... on this. 

Fool hearted travesty this patio was! Oh the shame.

Failed and broken projects turned this space into a drafty workshop.

But alas... summer was to arrive and the desire to have a pretty outdoor space pushed the girl over the brink! (Ok, it really was because SNS's theme is patio decor... but she really REALLY needed a pretty patio!)

The plan:

livingroom with coffee table

eating area with table

lounging area with firepit

laundry line area

cushions for existing furniture

BBQ area

Impossible! Or was it?

So she started to invent:

a cheater no sew cushion

A canvas material with grommets found at a thrift store was the perfect starting point. 4 bed pillows and a cat plunked on top later, there was hope!

Twine was threaded through the grommets, the backing was pinned and voila!

A cushion easy to dismantle, clean and could be anything else in a red hot jiffy was born! 

The accompanying chair got a pillow and case thrown into place and she called it done.

Fair enough. She made the seating area work. But what about a foot stool? What about a coffee table?!? *sob*

She wiped away her tears of fret and created

the sawhorse foot rest coffee table

The legs were cut down on the to-die-for dreamy sawhorses she had just picked off the curb recently. They received a sanding and a rough coat of paint for their new adventure.

A table top was created out of planks of cedar and thinner boards for supports on the back.

What was she up to... was she nuts?!?

Why yes, yes she was. But did it work?

Why yes it did! A low riding relaxing coffee table you could also use as a well pillowed footrest worked fabulously!

Until she ate dinner out there having to balance a hot bowl of soup in her hands. Not cool.

So she created...

a hack (aren't they all?) eating table extension

The deadline of SNS rushed her so there's abit more to add at a later date on this one.

But did it work?

Why yes, yes it did! Fabulously even!

And she pulled a fast one on you. There was a reason for these incredibly brain stormy like hackish table designs.

The table can completely collapse to accommodate...

... the propane firepit of course!

Propane firepits like this one can be lit anywhere off of any existing propane tank. The base gets hot however if you place the pit on it's own lid, there is no base heat to worry about. 

But hey... she snuck some really fancy schmancy details in that there pic.

Let's browse!

Desiring to bring a wooden beamed feel into the space to chime in with the willow furniture, cedar planks were screwed onto an existing roof brace.

A place of honor for her beloved rust was desired so a little somethin' somethin' was added for behind the central licence plate.

Fresh flowers were added to the picket toolbox.

(how to build the tool box is HERE)

"HELLO  hello  hello"

A thrift store search landed this brass trimmed light. A coat of white was added to the cord/chain and entire shade, then the sections were hastily wiped to allow the light to penetrate through.

Two simple sheets were thrown over the wood beam on both sides of the patio for curtains. (wash line is to the left, clothes pins are in the hanging basket)

She loves Flea Market Style so she had to put out the spring issue because she's in it after all... (no hint there!!!)

Rusty chimes were hung to catch the wind with moody song. 

(that speak was a little too floral for me btw)

A beautifully fluted crisp white teapot serves as a vase.

The inspiration for the colors used came from the floral fabric to the left found at the thrift. It had a feminine vintage feel that prettied up the patio without creating fuss. Everything else was on hand.

From "The Patio Picture Show of Horrors" to...

"Hansel and Grettle's Little Cottage Getaway" with a twist of "Farmer in the Dell Junk."

Suddenly the blur and haze cleared and her dream became reality!

So she stretched and yawned, 

got comfy with her blanket,

and lived 

happily 

ever 

ZZZZZZZZZZ.