Making it Lovely

Tag: patio

  • A Groovy Kind of Porch

    A Groovy Kind of Porch

    We reused what we already had for our front porch, and it looks pretty good out there right now. We’ve been sitting out there a lot though since I set it up, and it’s clear that what’s missing is a comfortable chair with arms and a back high enough to rest one’s head on. Everyone appreciates a comfy seat, yes? Like, maybe a hanging swing type of seat?

    Hanging Rattan Chairs
    1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8

    I like the idea of something that hangs from two ropes or chains, as I imagine less crashing into the house possibilities with the kids around. Serena & Lily has a hanging rattan chair that I’ve admired for a while, and now they have a wider double version too. Then while I was out walking in the neighborhood, I spotted a version in the window at Pier 1. Turns out, they have several “Swingasans” to choose from right now. Anthropologie has one too, but it’s a little too mod for me. Because yeah, turns out I’m kinda into seventies’ and eighties’ style wicker and rattan for the outside of the Victorian.

    Peacock chairs are so trendy right now, but they really would work well here. There’s a house nearby with a set outside that has a his-and-hers vibe with different bases. There are plenty of new and vintage options online and locally to choose from.

    Peacock Chairs

    Peacock Chairs
    1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 (kid-sized!)

    I know, that second one above (the Handwoven Boline Chair) isn’t really a peacock chair, but it is pretty amazing. Or ZOMG, something like this, below, would be adorable! Actually, it wouldn’t really work out front — I just wanted to share this pretty picture, ha! Anyway, I saw a vintage set of these years ago, cheap, in Palm Springs. I doubt they pop up that often here in Chicago.

    Pink Vintage Patio Dining Set

    More realistically, I still like these chairs that I blogged about several years ago. Here are a few similar styles. Only some have a high-back, but even just having a chair with arms would be an improvement over what we have now.

    Rattan Seating
    1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5

    What do you like? A hanging rattan swing, peacock chair, or the more simplified style of the last set of chairs and benches? I’m about to leave for a trip and won’t be back for a couple of weeks, so I’m going to take a little time to think it over.

  • Hold on to Summer

    Hold on to Summer

    October in Chicago is funny. The temperature is in the high seventies this week but we could just as easily be thirty degrees colder, so we’re spending some time outside and enjoying the warm weather while we can. Wouldn’t one of these rattan chairs be cute on a porch or patio (like Jaime’s below), or in a sunroom?

    Such a sweet chair.

    • Photo by Raya Carlisle for Prudent Baby. Rattan chairs from Anthropologie and IKEA.

  • Social Space Makeover Contest Winners

    Social Space Makeover Contest Winners

    Thank you all for voting for your favorite finalist in the Social Space Makeover Contest! After a lot of drama in the end, and a lot of data crunching this weekend, I can officially announce Heather as the first place winner. Today, I’ll be sharing the custom design board that she has won. And after resolving some issues with the voting data, the second place actually goes to two winners: Lisa and Mary Sue. They were only six votes apart out of thousands, and in my book that’s close enough to call it a tie. They will each receive a $100 gift card to The Home Depot, courtesy of the American Express Membership Rewards program. Congratulations to all three winners!

    Heather’s Winning Entry:

    Help! We’ve been remodeling the inside of our home for the past 2 1/2 years but have totally neglected the outside of our home – including our front patio that has a lot of potential but is just barren and boring! When we had our daughter Zoey 10 months ago we really stopped all work on our home and now that she is getting close to walking we want to spend more time outside with her and entertaining friends and family but have no place suitable to do so (our backyard is even worse than this, with a death trap back porch!) […]


    • Heather’s blog post
    • Heather’s original entry

    Here’s how I’d use Heather’s 150,000 Membership Rewards points to redo her front patio.

    Heather and her husband, Mike, are handy and they’d like to build a custom bench for their space. They may also replace their existing firepit with something custom, but I included a ready-to-go option in case they want to go that route. They’d like to change the exterior of their house to be yellow and gray, but Heather tells me that they’re saving up for a big siding replacement job. When they’re ready, I think they should go for it and paint their door a cheery yellow, like my friend Erin Loechner did. I’d set aside $400 to use at The Home Depot for materials and paint.

    I would add a sleek table out there with six colorful chairs (in a green/yellow color that isn’t a perfect match for a yellow door, but that goes well). Tubtrugs are inexpensive and perfect for corralling toys, holding drinks for a party, or even as big planters. The solar lights are the only thing in the design plan not available through points, but they’re so good for the patio that I had to include them, and then cute accessories from west elm finish off the space. And plants! I can’t advise as to what’s good for the area, but I’d be sure to use some of that Home Depot money to add some greenery out there too.

    Heather is free to use her points as she wishes, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she does with her space. Congratulations again to Heather, and also to Mary Sue and Lisa! Thank you, everyone, for following along with the contest. I hope you’ve enjoyed it!

  • Porch and Patio Seating?

    Porch and Patio Seating?

    Yesterday it was 65 degrees. Today: 27. Still, I keep thinking ahead to spring and all of the things I’d like to do outside.

    As cute as our front porch is (and it is pretty cute), I’m wondering if maybe it should be more of a lounge area.

    front porch

    Right now those chairs are on the patio in the backyard, mixed in with some other wooden folding chairs. The white ones are much more comfortable, so I’m thinking about picking up four more so that we can have a matching set. It bugs me that the chairs are all mixed up! I don’t think I could ever go for the artfully mismatched look, even though I think it looks great when other people do it.

    The Yard With My New Egg Chair

    But… I can’t decide.

    Option 1: Put the four white chairs we already have back on the front porch and keep it as a little dining area (it’s nice to sit there when it’s raining). Store the uncomfortable wooden chairs (we have 6) for extra party seating. Find 8 new matching (and inexpensive) chairs to go around the table in the backyard.

    Option 2: Keep the four white chairs on the patio and pick up four more (they’re only $30 each). Store the 6 uncomfortable wooden chairs for extra party seating. Find lounge furniture for the front porch. Maybe two comfy chairs and a little side table? Maybe a porch swing or a gliding bench?

    Any ideas?

  • Elsewhere: A Sunny Patio

    Elsewhere: A Sunny Patio

    First, Holly created a pretty little living room. Then Ez created a fresh, inviting home office to coexist in the same (virtual) house. Which brought us to… the Blogger House Party.

    Several bloggers (myself included, yay!) are each creating another room for our virtual client’s home. We have Holly’s short bio to go on, and a general palette of “yellow, white, and pretty pastels”.

    Home owner: Young single mother (cookbook author) with a son living in a 18th century Georgian townhouse in Savannah Georgia approx. 2000 sq ft., 2 floors, 3 bedrooms (one is an office), and a large patio off of the kitchen. She loves to entertain, enjoys pastels and Swedish decor, decorating on somewhat of a budget but she can splurge on one expensive item per room. Loves pattern and feminine touches but can’t deal with too much clutter.

    I have to say, I love this whole idea. How fun! I can’t wait to see what everyone came up with. I created our client’s patio…

    A Sunny Patio

    I chose to splurge on the chairs (so worth it). The lovely egg-shaped planter could be considered another splurge ($95 for a little planter), but it adds such a yummy, glossy pop of color that I just had to include it. The table is a bit on the expensive side too, and honestly? Inexpensive wooden tables are going to pop up all over the place once summer gets a little closer, so I’d just keep an eye out. I think IKEA had one last year for about $100.

    OK, I’m looking forward to spring and summer now. :) Thanks for putting this together, Holly and Ez!