My Life Outside

Brandon is Turning 30

I’m hoping that it will be nice out next weekend, because we’re having a party for Brandon’s birthday! I’d like to have our friends and family hang out in the backyard. I also want to set up a croquet course. :)

Brandon is turning 30

Folding tables and chairs are going to have to work hard to transform the space! Our backyard looks terrible, and we only have one week until the party.

The Backyard

I might head out to IKEA… I can get 6 or 8 of these TÄRNÖ folding chairs and the ÄPPLARÖ table for under $300.

IKEA Outdoor Furniture

I remember trying those chairs out last year, and I didn’t find them to be the most comfortable. I figure they’d be good to have on hand though, and they look cute. Eventually, we can upgrade to 6 nicer chairs, and keep the folding ones on hand as backups.

I was considering these folding chairs from Pottery Barn and Ballard Designs too:

But at $100 and $50 each, I think the $15 IKEA chairs are the winner. There’s always spray paint…

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  • Kathy
    April 28, 2008 at 3:06 pm

    Ikea also has plastic folding chairs at the same price that are quite comfy and good for the outdors. it wouldn’t be a perfect match tot he table, since they are molded plastic, but it would add a complimentary jolt of color to the set.

  • Jan
    April 28, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    I love the invitation. Great graphics.

  • SuzyQ
    April 28, 2008 at 6:18 pm

    Croquet sounds lovely!

    And don’t worry about the yard – as long as the food and drinks and game are in order – no one will notice (unless they are terrible friends and then they shouldn’t be at your party!) :)

  • Laura
    April 28, 2008 at 6:56 pm

    What’s so frustrating is that there are chairs just like that, in cute colors, for sale at many a French grocery store. I wanted to bring some back from our recent trip – a table and chairs for something like 30-40 euros. They are outrageously priced here.

  • Justine
    April 28, 2008 at 7:23 pm

    Rent some chairs and tables or buy one large folding table at Sams club and put nice tablecloth , fabric etc…you will use it a lot in the future. Hals has cheap cool old wood chairs for rent.

  • Emily
    April 28, 2008 at 7:25 pm

    I have that IKEA table and love it. The flip up leaves are really convenient for expanding to a larger group and its sliding supports get oohs and ahhs from bystanders. (Or maybe our friends just don’t get out much)

  • Ros
    April 28, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    I think those chairs will work just fine. If you really feel like it you should paint them, throw some of those cool cushions you posted from your trip to Ikea and voila! Perfection.

  • alivicwil
    April 29, 2008 at 1:22 am

    Australia’s Better Homes and Gardens has a cute fold-away table you can make that actually fits 4 of those IKEA chairs inside when you fold it up!

    some streamers, banners, balloons, those puffy-ball things you hung on your porch etc will brighten the yard :) as will the fact that is the home of you and your birthday boy.

    Enjoy the day!!

  • Karen in Maryland
    April 29, 2008 at 8:08 am

    I can vouch for the Applaro table. We’ve had ours for a few years now. My dad is a part-time carpenter and he LOVES this table. He eventually put a few blocks on the underside to strengthen the legs, and he resealed the wood. It’s still going strong and you can’t beat it for the price. It fits so many people + has an umbrella hole. One of the best buys I’ve ever made. Of course, you can always take a sheet of sturdy plywood, staple some fabric or tablecloths around it and put it on sawhorses and get a much more portable/storable and fun table. LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog. GOOD LUCK!

  • Laura
    April 29, 2008 at 10:10 am

    I totally agree with Justine… For our summer BBQ’s and parties I have a couple Sam’s Club tables and card tables. I cover them with neat vintage tablecloths that I just love to collect. I usually rent the chairs from the local hardware store or church. By renting the chairs, I don’t have to worry about storage and I save $$$ so I can look for more vintage tablecloths. :)

  • megan
    April 29, 2008 at 11:37 am

    I so have to get some of those chairs. Crossing my fingers for you for good weather!

  • katie
    April 30, 2008 at 8:58 am

    If you are going to Ikea, pick up a bunch of the “Salvia” galvanized metal planters and fill them with the cheap flats of flowering plants from the grocery store (whatever is in stock) to place around the yard. I did that last summer for our wedding shower bbq and it did a lot to help make our crappy rental’s yard look better for pretty cheap. I also made a bunch of the Martha Stewart tissue paper balls and strung those on the porch and along the fence and they were a HUGE hit. No one could believe that I made them. ;) Good luck!

  • marcy
    May 2, 2008 at 11:45 am

    What font did you use for the invite? Very nice, very you!

  • Jen
    May 2, 2008 at 12:00 pm

    Very nice on the invite! Those Ikea chairs are definitely the way to go…they’re almost the exact same (gotta love that place!). Can’t wait to see how the yard turns out!!

  • Monica Joy
    May 4, 2008 at 1:59 pm

    I am thinking about throwing a backyard party for my husbands 40th. We have the same size yard. Would you mind posting pics of your final set up? I would love to see you always fabulous work!

  • Curt-30th birthday ideas
    March 24, 2009 at 5:43 pm

    I dont know if those chairs would hold up to the big boys. I have some white wood wedding chairs and a few times with some heavyweights they always break!