DIY Recycled Brick Patio & Walkway Tutorial

What DIY project has taken us all summer long to complete? [Not a valid template]Our DIY recycled brick patio and walkway under the grape arbor/gazebo is finally done! A true labor of DIY lovin’. ::high fives all around!::

Because of the large volume of pictures from start to finish (it took me days to organize and edit the MONTHS worth of photos), I put together a slide show of the progress from uncovering the brick on our property to putting it to good use by creating a walkway and patio under our grape arbor and gazebo. Now not only can we enjoy our backyard patio for dining al fresco, the covered barn patio for entertaining, we now this quiet beautiful private little space too. That’s where you’ll find me on pretty days. Just wait until next year when I can add some fun DIY decorative accents! 

I love the herringbone pattern and that we were able to use bricks we already had on hand. It’s such a good feeling and the fact that it’s old and not new? Loooove that the most! It looks as if it’s been here at least half a century and fits with the age of our old home. recycled brick patio and walkway tutorial

See the entire grape arbor gazebo before and after reveal here!

It may have taken all summer but Mr. DIY did an awesome job at repurposing all of that brick to create a gorgeous recycled brick patio and walkway, didn’t he? What do you think? Love it? Not your style? We’d love to know your thoughts. 

DIY Wire Cloche SucculentTerrarium

Succulents make for a great indoor/outdoor centerpiece. I’ve been using this wire cloche succulent garden as a centerpiece on our patio coffee table all summer. I love that it requires little maintenance. 

DIY wire succulent garden tutorial

DIY wire cloche succulent terrarium tutorial:

diy wire cloche succulent garden

Materials I used:

  1. Miracle Gro Cactus & Citrus Potting Soil
  2. Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray Paint
  3. Chicken Wire 
  4. Allen & Roth Round Serving Tray
  5. Pebbles
  6. Sand
  7. Finial
  8. Tools: Needle Nose Pliers & Wire Cutters
  9. Assorted Succulents
  10. Plastic Planter Liner
  11. Decorative Rocks & Accessories (not shown)

What I did:

In the plastic planter liner, I layered pebbles, sand and topped with the potting soil. Then planted the succulents and added decorative rocks. And placed the plastic planter liner into the round serving tray.

DIY succulent garden

I measured the diameter of the plastic planter liner and decided on the height of my wire cloche and using wire cutters, cut out my shape to create a cylinder to go around the terrarium.

DIY wire succulent garden tutorial

I cut the wire so that I’d have little wire “tabs” to secure the shape up along the side.

DIY wire succulent garden tutorial

To make the top (roof) of my wire cloche, I used a large round clock as a circle template (the biggest circle size I could cut from my chicken wire width) and cut using wire cutters.

DIY wire succulent garden tutorial

I cut a straight line to the center of the circle and created a ‘cone’ shape top for my terrarium and again used the small cut chicken wire tabs to secure my shape. Then I spray painted my cylinder and top.

DIY wire succulent garden tutorial

Once dry, I used an extra piece of wire (a twist tie will work) to attach a finial to the top. Glue and screws weren’t working so this takes some playing with, but the wire cloche is light so lifting it from the garden will be easy to do, even if it’s simply twisted in the chicken wire. 

DIY wire succulent garden tutorial

And using the same technique with ‘tab’ piece of wire from the cylinder, I attached the “cone” (sort of like a “roof”) to the cylinder.

DIY wire succulent garden tutorial

Then just slip the wire cloche over the terrarium.

DIY wire succulent garden

Here it is on the patio:

succulent patio garden

See more patio and outdoor projects in the DIY Show Off Project Gallery

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*Disclaimer: As a member of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Creators and Influencers network, I received a Lowe’s gift card to complete a DIY terrarium project, however the tutorial images, instructions and opinions are my own. 

Covered Patio Transformation

When we bought our home, the lower area of our bank barn was junky and scary.

Before – previous owner’s things. It’s dark, scary, spidery and a little dangerous with broken glass. Old picture…sorry about the tiny size.

barn-before

I shared some photos in our summer home tour but I wanted to share some true before along side the after pictures. 

After – paneled wall, a LOT of paint and a concrete patio. 

barn patio 

The transformation in pictures:

Yikes!

New Back Wall

The harvest table looked liked this before and was actually nailed to the back wall…we gave it a makeover too.

New Concrete Patio
 
Russ tries out the paint sprayer

Now:

barn party patio

On the far wall, two old barrels topped with a door serves as a buffet table near the electrical outlet…great for serving and keeping crockpots and slow cookers warm. 

barn patio makeover

Doesn’t the harvest table look 100% better with a paint job? The bench was ‘rescued’ too. 

party patio

A framed chalkboard gets a new message with each party. Birthdays, graduations, etc. The tire planter is on the wall when we entertain but gets moved to the sun/rain otherwise. My giant painted puzzle playmat serves as wall art. 

outdoor entertaining

Wicker furniture is all from estate and yard sales – just a fresh coat of spray paint. 

outdoor living

I still need to get two outdoor pendants/lighting. I’d love to stain/paint the concrete. I also have plans for moving things around and building a ‘bar’ type area. But for now, it’s perfect for parties and sometimes I come down here for some quiet time too. 

red and turquoise patio

It’s a fun area for hosting cookouts since it opens up into our huge back yard with plenty of room for volley ball, badminton, corn hole and a fire pit. 

tire flower planter tutorial at DIYShowOffWall art….

Painted Foam Playmat

Games…

DIY giant outdoor LCR dice game tutorial