more progress

why is it so hard to find stylish, budget-friendly outdoor pillows? at least for me, it is. (if you have a great source, fill me in please.) anyway, when the patio is completed (almost there!) steve and i moving our old west elm futon-like sofa (that we'd been using in a guest bedroom) out there. it's actually more like a low daybed. it has a white tufted mattress like the day bed below, metal framing, and tufted back cushions. perfect for reading on the patio!
i searched high and low for outdoor pillows for it and our adirondacks. after returning the latest batch i had ordered online (colors were duller than shown online), i popped into pottery barn the other day. wa-la. the perfect pillow. martinique map pillow. 24" square. pb features it on an outdoor sofa, although i don't think it actually is. but since out patio is now covered, i'm going for it. if it fades from the sun, so be it. it'll just look a little vintage. and it was on sale. even better. what do you think?

progress

this was our backyard last friday morning. the start of building the roof to our new patio.

these two (steve is on the right and his handy helper on the left)


and their supervisor spent 12 hours friday and 12 hours saturday building the roof. it is done. it is beautiful. it has the heavy hardware i requested.
the triple pane window will soon be french doors. it leads to our dining room. can't wait for those.

this is a glimpse of the final product. i love the ceiling!
good job, honey. nope, make that superb job, honey.

patio makeover

found this at canadian house and home. i love before and afters. here's before.
and after! after sports acacia wood floor tiles (laid over exisiting concrete), painted chairs, bubble chandelier (under $50!) from ikea, and palm beach pretty colors.

i love the two seating areas, plant boxes on either end, and clamshell lounger. i'd love to be curled up on that lounger reading... or knowing me, napping.

homeowner and stylist sabrina linn
photos michael graydon
room design suzanne dimma

i need shade

seriously. the chocolate chips in the cabinet melted. the butter left on the counter for 15 minutes melted. we have butter soup now. the hershey bars (for yummy s'mores) in the pantry are squishy. i need shade. like this.

from here

i need a tall glass of ice water. i need my book. i need a pillow. this is perfect. feel free to remind me of this post when i'm complaining about the 33rd overcast day in january.

Garden Stools

when we bought our adirondacks for the patio last year we didn't purchase the footrest.

from here

sometimes i need a footrest. i found this today on martha's site.

you buy a cheap campstool and customize it with your own fabric.

images from here

i think i can do this. i've got some burlap coffee sacks in the garage just looking for a place to land.

image via here

maybe on the stools? i wouldn't have to be concerned about the fabric weathering on the back deck. they'd also make great extra seating for when we entertain a larger group. i think i'll add this project to my to-do binder. yes, binder. started as a to-do list and grew and grew. it's now a binder.

look what designsmayamade has done with her coffee sacks.

pin cushions

image here

burlap bucketsimage via here

she even offers the sewing pattern for her burlap bucket here in her shop. check it out.

found here

i think this is going in the binder.

dreamin'

i've decided to start a file here on the blog to catalog photos of what i'd like in my dream house. let's start with the kitchen. i'm determined to have a white kitchen someday. this will take a lot of convincing for my husband. he prefers the natural wood look. my only defense is that our last 2 houses had wood (unpainted) cabinetry, it's time for white. good defense, huh?

via country living via a life's design

we can also check off black slab countertops , butcherblock island, subway tile, farmhouse sink, window above sink, glassfront cabinets, cool dual pendant (i'm sure there's some designers out there who are screaming silently at my design terms). i'll take it all. i even love the wall color and the cute clock. maybe i could just move into this house.

and it's even got a cool front porch. that's on my list too.

via country living via a life's design

love the daybed, no railings, painted ceiling. i'm telling ya... i should just live here.