This house has been quite the journey, and if you’ve been following along, then you know that we have been up to our eyeballs in all things yard work recently. It’s the year of baby plants, but we believe in good things coming to those who wait. {Because we kind of have to… but wish my black thumb luck.}
So now that it’s pool season, our door is a revolving one… which is the entire reason why we purchased this house in the first place. Between family friends and kiddos, the back has to work hard for us.
Once upon a time, the side area where we added a dining space, looked like this.
So we decided to give it a little refresh.
The year 2020 was a busy one for us with all things yard, and then we got pretty distracted with client work and our own crazy addition. This last fall, we circled back around to build our back deck, because once upon a time, it looked like this… and now the back of our home looks like this.
But it was time for a BIG clean up after about a year of construction in the back, plus the building of the deck. Something had to give, and I’d let the dining area go. {Hangs head in shame, but we can only do so much. And after the rough winter we’ve had where we’re waiting for all our ship laurels to come back, the entire thing was looking rough.} There were weeds. Things are dead. Sad day.
No judging, but this is reality when taking on so much. Everything can not be picture perfect all the time. The table we built six {seven?} years ago was standing on its last leg. It was warped on all ends. The chairs were flaking their fifth coat since I’ve now owned them for about nine years. THERE WERE MUSHROOMS. It was time.
Between finally being in our primary suite {and only lacking a few things inside}, along with getting the front and back yard areas into shape… this house is FINALLY feeling like a great, comforting retreat.
And it’s perfect for these warm months that we love so much!
I decided to add a little color to our table, and share it all here.
With fresh plants, a nice cleanup and more… the back feels like we’ve always wanted it to feel.
As always, we’re all about those bright, happy colors! I found some great deals on all things furniture pieces here’s what I used: {definitely not sponsored, but I do have a few affiliate links below}
• I kept the yellow umbrella… I’ve actually replaced the original since 2020 because it needed a bright redo after a few years of sun fading and rain. {I get this question a lot- We have furniture covers that we use in the winter months, but since we enjoy the pool all summer, we never really close it down.}
• I found this table on sale + added it immediately. It seats 8, and holds an umbrella which were requirements of mine, and while the wooden one was great over the years, it was just too much maintenance to be outside. The pros with this one is the same as the con: it’s metal. Which means it holds up great, but also gets really hot. Since our kids are now older this is not a huge concern – we only tend to eat out here during the evenings.
• We paired them with these chairs which arrive in sets of two. Game changer from the metal ones we’d had, as we love that these are comfy so they encourage gathering… and again we loved the price.
• Table runner – similar.
For the tablescape, I used a hodgepodge of what I’ve already owned, with some new highball glasses, but I found almost all of them quickly on the internet. Here’s what I used…
All things tableware:
• These highball glasses – I decided to venture to our local store, and Emerson spied these. We love that they’re pool friendly and oh so colorful. She scooped them up and sighed “IMAGINE drinking sweet tea by the pool in theeeesssseeeee!” so I grabbed some. I’m a sucker.
• Charger placemats purchased a few seasons ago – but I found them here
• Base plates in this + a combo of things around my house + this + this for top plates.
• Tiny bowls are discontinued, but I found some here.
• Then I layered these napkins in stripe + floral!
It feels so good to be in that sweet mode of having things put together, so we can truly entertain this year. It’s something we missed out on last year, since the entire side of the pool was under construction.
We have more work in the future of course, but for now we just want to focus on our kids and building our little business.
It felt like we had the coolest, longest spring… and then suddenly this week it was definitely summer in the Nashville / Franklin area. We are ready!
So we hope you’ve enjoyed this simple little mini tour. It had been a minute since we’ve shared things like this, and we’ve been doing more like it lately. Sometimes it’s the simple things that are the very best.
Pssst… read all about our cabana here, if you’ve never seen it before! Once upon a time, it really looked like this: the slide is literally the only original piece still standing.
Have you guys been up to all things yard work? We’d love to hear! Have an inspired day!
Have an inspired day!
Ivory says
Fabulous. Bi love it all, especially that beautiful umbrella. Thanks fir sharing
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thank you so much! It was fun to clean it all up and get it ready for hosting season ;}