Kim's latest project
Sun, 7 Jun 2009I have been quite busy around my house (as usual) and because of this I don't have a Flickr find post for today. Instead I thought I'd show you all one of the projects I have been working on. My backyard. I love LOVE L O V E summer and since it's so short up here I wanted to put everything else on hold and get going on making my backyard a space I want to hang out in. A couple weeks ago I was out back on my deck and it was HOT. Really hot. The fence surrounding my yard is super tall and there are tall houses and big trees all around so it gets almost no wind and is very sunny all day long. So I decided I wanted a small deck under the 2 trees that shade the back part of the yard. That way when it gets too hot I have a place to chill. My boyfriend came over last weekend to help (thank you Jeff!!!) and we knocked out a deck. Yesterday I bought some plants and got all that in place and VOILA!, I have another place to hang out.
Here's a "during" photo. I removed all the grass from the spot and dug down a bit because I wanted the deck just hovering over the grass level. (I say I because I did ALL the digging while Jeff built me a cat house/bench for my front porch).
Before you check out the end product, let me warn you to pay no attention to the stuff going on to the left and right of the deck. Those are projects for another weekend.
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Yesterday I also did some planting of pots for around the rest of the backyard. It all took about 4 hours and resulted in a bit of a sunburn, some mosquito bites and some aches and pains. It was worth all that. And now you're all invited over for a BBQ. Bring booze. (Another warning - pay no attention to the peeling mess that is this deck. I'd like to shoot the former owner who thought it was a great idea to paint the deck instead of staining it or just letting it weather. That's yet another project.)
Reader Comments (44)
You guys did a great job! It looks so professional! Love the colors and plant choices. Nancy
I love the white plastic chairs with the white and blue cushions!
Thanks for sharing your back garden with us. What a great job. Love the bright colors.
I love, love, LOVE the container gardening. How long did it take you to amass a collection of such beautiful large planters and were you able to find any of them for under $100-150?
Such pretty little spot! Delightful!
Love your choice of colors and your pots all over!
I love the low deck - it's exactly what we want to do in our tiny downtown Toronto backyard - any chance of a step-by-step like you guys did of your most excellent sofa :) ?
It looks great! The "Summer grass Green" furniture is yummy and I love the pots on the fence!
This is truly wonderful. Your desire has been realized. I'm inspired!
Thanks everyone!
Back Garage, I didn't pay anywhere near $100 for any of my pots. I think the most I paid was $25 or so for the white pots on the deck from Ikea - and they are meant for indoors. I drilled some holes in the bottom for drainage. The ones next to the shed door were pricey, but my mom bought a bunch of them for a steal because they were all scratched and cracked. I just grab whatever I find that cheap. They're all mostly from grocery store garden centres and discount home stores.
Rebecca, let me say that neither Jeff or I had ever built a deck before and it turned out to be pretty easy (although a bit time consuming). Anna at D16 had blogged about a low deck she built so we went to the site she used for supplies and we got an idea of what we needed from there.
really nice blue cushions and colourful chairs!
great photos... I'm from Canada too and I agree that it's nice to take advantage of the short time that it's hot here... :) Good work on your backyard. It's beautiful and just the sort of place I'd love to relax and hang out in.
fabulous!
Absolutely lovely. Wonderful job.
It all looks so colorful and great! I'd love to know where the low white chairs on the deck are from. I think I saw them recently on an episode of small spage big style on hgtv and thought they would be great on my patio. Are they a vintage find or can they still be purchased somewhere?
Can picture you and Jeff there, beautiful project!
:) Thanks y'all.
Anon - the chairs, pots and stool on the deck were all purchased at Ikea several years ago. I don't think they still carry that chair.
Everything looks really great. I'm really quite jealous since I live in a high=rise. The colors are wonderful.
And, I actually think the peeling paint on the deck has an allure all it's own!
Looks great! Nice job!
Loving the grass-level deck and all accessories. It's so zen, no wonder your Buddha is smiling!
I love the planters too, esp. the foliage ones (ferns, ivy, etc.)--I do that out here every year in big planters on the back deck (I don't bother buying flowering annuals, they always die on me up here in the hills) and it really suits shady spots, makes you feel kind of cooler just to look at them.
Loving the ceramic barrel things too...I was thinking of picking a few of those up from Homesense for my end tables in my *new living room* :^)
(In case you didn't guess, Kim, last comment was actually me...oh the joys of sharing a computer with your hubby...)
LOL - I didn't think Jack would be on here talking about planters. The ceramic stools I bought at an independent grocer garden centre for $15 each. They aren't as nice as the Homesense ones though - mine are boring. Although be warned...the tops are usually not flat so putting a glass of wine on them or a lamp or something if used as end tables may be a bit dicey. Especially with small child present.
And I have such a thing for ferns. Love that they are a "retro" plant.
very colorful and retro. overall, looks like a thrift pull-together - but a look you appear to favour. good effort.
-M.
fabulous job! U make me feel tat i need 2 do something on my balcony ...
I need Jeff at my place next weekend for a bit of DIY. Can you spare him?
Great job, Kim! LOVE the new deck and especially LOVE the green wicker! Where did you find those? Is that a vintage thrift store find? If so.. can I PLEASE have some of your thrift mojo??
-Kath