Monday, May 9, 2016

Patio Refresh Ideas

We built our barbecue patio about 7 years ago. I moved our table and chairs there and later worked on a flowerbed around it.
In the beginning...clearing out the grass

shortly after it was completed

It was a great spot to barbecue and eat dinner or to sit out in the evening and relax. But what with Buddy and Herbie's destructive puppy stage, things got rather neglected. Now that they are past that stage, I decided it was time to refresh it.
We're so sweet though

I began by cleaning it and moving things around. Then I assessed the umbrella and chair cushions. The umbrella needed to be replaced and the cushions had gotten black stuff on them from the trees and then sitting in the shed for three years. I washed them but they were stained. So, I'll have to do something to them to refreshen them up.
Add more plants to this area and mulch:

Buy a new umbrella - done! I went with lime green. It's my happy color.

Try painting the cushions. I figure I have nothing to loose and just maybe they'll turn out. I'm going to paint them off white and then add a black pattern to them. Fingers crossed! I love the stripe and the one on the left:

Get Bruce to move the boat that's against the shed. It needs to go up to the farm. Once that's done, I want to get a metal shelf or something to place next to the bbq pit so we'll have somewhere to place the meat tray. Something like this:

Add decorative accents to the fence. I have a large metal lizard and will probably use him and then add things as I find them.
My lizard looks a lot like this one only very colorful 
Perhaps a wooden sign like this one
Rustic metal letters perhaps
Or wooden arrows and other wood signs
Solar lights for the umbrella. We don't have an electrical plug out there so these would be ideal. They are from Wal-Mart. I'll have to go check them out.


 Large flower pots planted with mosquito repelling plants. It would not only keep the bugs down but would also soften the area. Here's a few:
Mosquito Plant
Citronella Grass
Catnip

So that's my plan. Here's my idea board:

I'll keep you up to date as I complete each project. I'm so looking forward to Summer and cooking and relaxing outside!





12 comments:

  1. Looks like a fun project and you have some great ideas. Can't wait to see your plan come together.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the BBQ sign, I think it would look awesome. I really like the lime green umbrella, it's a HAPPY color!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't it fun? I think next time I go to Canton, I'm going to get the letters to make it. I can get big metal letters pretty cheap there. And woohoo, we now have grass in the backyard! Fingers crossed it grows!

      Delete
  3. Cecilia ... just love your idea board. The happy color is great. Good luck with the plants keeping the mosquito away. I have tried the geranium mosquito plant, but not very successful. Just have too many mosquitoes ... May try the Citronella Grass as I love grass plants. We have a nice patio, but do not spend time out there ... maybe the grass would help.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like you have a great plan...curious to know about the cushion painting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. heh, I'm writing a post about that now. Let's just say it was interesting. ha.

      Delete
  5. I love your idea board...looking forward to seeing how it comes together!

    ReplyDelete
  6. That's going to be a great place to hang out! Every spring brings hard work outside. Doesn't it? Can't wait to see how it all comes together.

    Your dogs are so precious.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's going to be a great transformation! I tried lemon grass last year for Mosquitos and it seemed to work great.

    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Such great ideas, looking forward to seeing your finished project. You reminded me I need some mosquito repelling plants.

    Yes, tell your doggies they are the sweetest ever. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love all the ideas! It is going to look fantastic when you finish. The sweet tea sign is so neat and with your talent, I know you will paint one even prettier. I had forgotten how much puppies get into things. Sadie wasn't too bad but Rooster sure likes to drag things around the house and chew things up! He is a mess...lol!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. But what with Buddy and Herbie's destructive puppy stage, things got rather neglected.windproof umbrella

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by!

Springtime Projects 3: Have A Seat!

It might still be Spring, but here in Texas, things are starting to heat up and feel like Summer. I knew I needed to get the last of my Spri...