Spring Time Porch Primping

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Roeshel

Spring is the season to freshen up the porch! Meet: Amy from

Amy is a very new blogger (welcome to blogging, Amy!!!) who has a strong passion for creativity and a real talent for stunning decorating. I’m just sharing one part of her gorgeous home…how her porch went from blah to beautiful!

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DIY Show Off – DIY Grape Arbor and Gazebo

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Roeshel

The Grape Arbor Transformation in Progress.

I fixed up the bistro set I scored for $15 at a yard sale. It’s painted to match our existing patio furniture for extra seating under the grape arbor.

The cushions we have are brown for the most part except for the swing which has sage/tan and gold stripes so I felt limited by that. 🙁 But, I was able to find a fabric that looks good with everything!

It’s called Magic Carpet (walnut) by Waverly.

I wanted round extra-poofy cushions for the chairs. Goal achieved and then some. Oops! It’s cushion overkill. But, it is what it is. No pattern and my first attempt at round, 3D cushions with piping. Not too bad but definitely Poofy. Tall. Unique. 🙂

First, here was the grape arbor when we bought the house. Quite a rustic eyesore but potential beauty in those old vines regardless and a 50 foot mostly shaded area not to mention tons of grapes!

Before Pictures – Here is what it looked like the day we closed on the house.

Yikes!

Here’s a close up. “Hello Chippy!”

Even at it’s ugliest, it was a beautiful space for my brother’s small wedding in 2008.

And a great space for shaded seating for my sister’s baby shower last year.

Mr. DIY (and talented stepdad, Butch) built up the new wood structure around the old rusty iron skeleton, lifting and shifting the grapes in the process before removing the old iron poles. It’s about 7’x7’x50′ (except for the gazebo area). The grapes survived the stress!

Here are the after pictures with the new bistro set and sheers.

I sewed ribbon to sheers that I got here (very cheap + no fading from being outside for two summers) to tie to the grape arbor to disguise the imperfections…I mean create a romantic atmosphere.

Too windy for candles in the candelier but we do have white lights at night that follow the lines of the gazebo.

And the grape arbor now ‘in progress’

Still a little work with the pavers or flagstone path underneath. It’ll look so much better after staining the wood structure, but what do you think so far? Care to join me for a glass of wine and relaxing under the rotunda? Perhaps with Keanu Reeves from a Walk in the Clouds? 🙂

And some new pillow covers for the existing patio furniture (and the swing fabric that I had to consider with the new fabric).

And my window boxes:

DIY Show Off – Barn Patio Before and After Makeover

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Roeshel

Barn Patio Before & After

I’m so excited to share my barn before/after pictures. This space was completely un-usable, except to store/throw junk. Now it’s a functional clean party space hidden from the rest of the house and road. I’m still working on some additional DIY touches, but in the meantime, I think you’ll agree that the transformation is a HUGE improvement.

To keep costs low since this area is only used for occasional entertaining, we re-used a lot of the things we discovered in the barn already (and more DIY coming). We also obtained a few things from estate sales.

Before (left side):

The “barn red” paint was faded to a really ugly pink. The ‘floor’ was dirt with broken bricks/pavers. There were LOTS of spiders.

We took out the crumbling brick and concrete pavers that formed a broken floor on top of dirt, some broken glass and weeds. We added paneled siding to the back wall and painted (thanks to Butch for his help!). We poured a concrete patio (professionals did that part since it was a large area).

My husband framed the door and the wreath was on clearance at Joann Fabrics for $8.

I’ve had these old looking milk bottles for years … in the basement/storage.

I also have special plans for the short table (hope to finish it this week).

I love it. I changed my mind – it’s not all about entertaining. This is a great spot to relax! The wicker furniture was picked up at an estate sale. Isn’t the footstool the cutest? I didn’t even bother with repainting it. I loved it the light faded blue that it is. I did give the wicker chairs a coat of white spray paint to freshen them up.

I sewed cushion covers with fabric I bought at Goodwill. (I’ll spare you the nasty before picture.)

We found the old Coca Cola sign in the barn.

I made a table from a crate and old window we also found in the barn.

The other accents we got at estate sales (the book and gauge). The blue canning jar I confiscated from my brother. The bird house was hanging on the old grape arbor.

The only thing new is the birdie cloche I got at TJ Maxx a few months ago (how perfect for a barn!) and the white lantern (above).

I also ran out of time for replacing the hanging light bulb fixtures since I’m so indecisive. Paper lanterns for less than $2 on sale at Michaels (until a more permanent choice is made) and I already had the area rug too.