Once upon a time at the house of BohoHandyman and a WhimsicalBohemian the two decided it was high time something was done to their sad and dreary back yard. They were tired of mud in the winter, pea gravel stuck in the bottom of their shoes, dirt and nothing to look at but dry weeds in summer and high growing green weeds in winter. They didn't want to even go out the back door except to get to Garagapalooza. It was sad.
Then one day the Whimsical Bohemian started on a fact finding mission to have someone come out to talk to them about having a new patio installed. Things began to evolve.
The tiny wooden deck that was the old back porch did not hold their interest to sit out there, the steps got slippery in winter and of course it was all exposed to the elements.
Getting ready to pour and stamp the concrete
They finally found someone to make the plans they had begin to happen. The old driveway (not used anyway) was torn out and the patio and colors they chose came to life in a man named Al's capable hands.
BohoHandyman and the Whimsical Bohemian would just stand and walk around the new surface. No more weeds and pea gravel and it was a big area AND they had a nice new back porch. BUT everything was still open to the elements as it had been before.
Luckily the WhimsicalBohemian was a good researcher and obtained information and contacts. That's when she met THE man......Mike. He came, he saw, he conquered with a great bid AND a complete understanding as to what the Boho's wanted.
In comes Bill and John......they installed with such friendliness and humor and the first time they were there told WhimsicalBohemian that the cover should have been extended on either end. WB agreed as that was precisely what she thought but had been talked out of it (won't say by who). So back they came another day and the patio cover was finally fully complete. There was much rejoicing!
At the back of the patio near the neighbor they knew they wanted some sort of privacy as well as a wind blocker. Having 4 fence panels WhimsicalBohemian suggested they use them 2 of them BUT they were too wide to stand side by side. Then one night it hit her, why can't we stand them on end and see if that works. YO HO it worked and fit like a glove top and sides BUT there was a gap. She put on her thinking cap once again.
WB thought maybe they could put a small window in each panel to let some light in but still maintaining privacy.
Old pieces they'd been saving in Garagapalooza were hunted down to add as an architectural element on the panel as well.
This stood this way for a while as they put their heads together. Many suggestions flew about until one day WB went to the local lumber yard to look for trim when an older gentlemen gave her the perfect suggestion. They had lattice already framed in precisely the size to fit that gap. Home she went with it and while she drove another idea hit her. She went to the local glass company and ordered a piece of tempered glass to fit INSIDE the new piece of lattice. Therefore letting light in but not the wind. The glass still needs to be installed, but it's here waiting!
And so began figuring out furniture and placement and decor and so on and so on. Every day WhimsicalBohemian goes out there to tweek this or add that.......and every night BohoHandyman comes home to see what's new or what is waiting for him to install, saw, screw in, nail, hang etc.
THE PHOTOS YOU SEE BELOW ARE HOW IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW.
I would say it's a bit EclecticBohemianShabbyChic if I HAD to pick a style
I wanted this side(garage wall) to resemble a little outdoor bistro. The bakers rack was in the house but we brought it out and it works perfectly. The table and chairs were on the front porch but we brough them to the back and added new chair cushions for color and comfort.
This is the back porch. You can only see a tiny glimpse but on the right is a 3 folding screen. Our back door is a dutch door, the top half opens. We found the perfect frame to create a screen door for it at a salvage yard, we need to add the screen and modify it for hinges. I can't wait because we've never had a screen door at the back.
You can see the lattice between the panels and the 2 old windows installed. The curtains were a scarf from the local Indian store that I cut in half. I made 2 curtain panels to cover the lattice on either side. As you can see the panels don't go all the way to the garage....that's an overhang issue. For now we have a louvered shutter there but we are still working on fashioning something we can open and close to go out to the side of the house.
I decided to hang some lovely curtain panels I already had on the OUTSIDE of the window. I think it warms it up and creates that look of being an actual room. We are still waiting for the upholsterer to cover the cushions I had made for that outdoor sofa. (it didn't come with any)THAT sofa I found on Craigslist BRAND NEW in the box all wrapped up for an AMAZING price, plus the ottoman. It's a 7' sofa from Smith & Hawken! I will be adding even more pillows for the back.
The rug is an outdoor rug woven entirely of recycled plastic. It's soft under the feet and any dirt can be just hosed off.
The Malabar chair, we've had this for years and though it is not intended for outdoors it's perfect on the patio and out of the sun or weather. It's really comfortable and adds more seating. You can see the panels closer here too. We are on the 'fence" (pardon the pun) as to whether we will stain, dry brush or what to the panels.
This is basically the same shot but you can see the long side curtain panels.
This view is looking out towards the yard. The wooden table in the foreground goes back inside (we were trying something). That area of the patio will be next to set up for the BBQ and eating. (sort of the "kitchen" for the space)
I plan to hang more wind chimes around as well.
The coffee table is an old wooden cart used to haul luggage at a train station. It was sitting forlorned behind the garage for years as we had planned to use it in a garden. Again, middle of the night I awaken thinking "the cart!!!!it may work as a coffee table!!" And so it did. We found a window at a salvage yard to place on top and I painted haphazardly red for some color.
I've had these wooden pieces from Indonesia for years too. Last night I asked BohoHandyman to hang them up at the top sort of like wings. He was NOT convinced but once both sides were up he liked them. I have 3 more of these to play with elsewhere. SEE, all this time we stored this stuff paid off!
This is the new patio heater, it needs a table to set on but works well. That wall behind it is waiting for me to find the perfect shabby chic cupboard or hutch or some tall piece. I am on the look out now........I want something with maybe chippy red paint.
Well I hope you enjoyed this little tour in to our new outdoor world. Months of work has paid off each time we step out there and remember what it looked like BEFORE. I know it's all I've posted about but these kinds of projects take time, energy, planning and a lot of trial and error to make them come in to fruition. As with any decor there are just a couple things I need to do still. I'll show you those when they are done. But mostly, it's done for now.
It doesn't look it from this photo but it's a good sized area. It still needs lots more plants AND the electricity hooked up so we can install a ceiling fan and fairy lights all around. Is anything ever REALLY done?
Next will be the open part of the patio and then on to other outer areas that need mowing and rock and sod and plants and decorating and...........not to mention ol' garagapalooza and my new studio. But we won't dwell on ALL that right now or I just may run screaming and not be able to enjoy what we HAVE accomplished so far!
So? Ready to stop by for a cuppa and a nosh al fresco? We'd love to have you.
The winking Queen I made in the Darjit class we took a couple of years ago.......I added my Mom's bowling ball to her crown. She reigns over the BohoKingdom signifying that at the end of the day it's all about having fun!
Love,
Lisa
XOXO
