If you ever come to my house and I don’t answer the front door, this is where you’ll find me:
I never knew that an outdoor space could feel like another room in the house, but this area does. I think it’s the pergola that gives it a “room” feel, and even though there are no walls or privacy fences, I can still sit there and feel like I’m in my personal outdoor living room. I cannot even tell you all how much I love this space!!
A huge part of that loving comes because of how improved it is. If you’ve been following the Cottage blog for any period of time, you know we bought this house as a foreclosure, at a time when it needed a lot of work. The inside was our focus for the first couple of years, and finally last spring we started doing more outside projects. Our front porch was first, and then, on July 4th weekend a year ago, we started the back patio.
My husband is very careful to do things debt-free, and so we have not done some of the bigger projects around here until recently, after we were able to save up for them. So that makes the finished product even more exciting. When you wait for something, it becomes even more special! :)
This is what it looked like for the first 4 years we were here. Lovely in its time, but with many years of wear and tear the boards were rotting and falling in, and they gave many splinters to poor bare feet!
{Before, July 2014}
Soooo, the perks of having a husband who can do literally ANYTHING with wood are pretty awesome. He can envision something, and make it and built it. I can decorate it when it’s finished, but he’s been the vision behind most of what we’ve done here at the Cottage. He’s really great like that.
So, to give a little perspective of where this is (and there were some people who thought this is the front porch – no, it’s the back deck, off the back/side of the house :)) , this is the view from the front of the house. The back deck is only slightly visible, so it gives a very private feel sitting back there.
First off: tear off the old deck, beginning on July 4th, 2014
The process of tear-out was quick and easy, and then the building took a bit longer because of working at it evenings and weekends for several weeks a month or two. The entire process from beginning to end, including staining the wood and all of that, wasn’t finished up until November. So! We don’t do everything super fast around here. ;)
The little man was so thrilled with his apprenticeship to construction.
And I even got out there with a drill – because my husband taught me to love that kind of thing too. :)
And things slowly started taking shape…
The first dinner on the patio – enjoying it even before it was completely finished because we were just THAT excited about it.
Art time – outside! When they find me outside in the mornings, sometimes they’ll bring their own things outside and we’ll all be together for a while.
Break time.
And adding the final touches – finishing the pillars, putting lights on the pergola, staining the wood, planting ferns and shrubs in planters…
I love lots of whites indoors, but out here, I wanted lush green and full of color. It feels like my happy place.
{And after, July, 2015}
Unless it’s raining, this is where you’ll find me, every morning. I’ll even wipe off the raindrops from the table and chairs if I need to, so that I can use this lovely spot. My Bible, a hot cup of coffee, and quiet time outside = the best way to begin a day!
My view from the kitchen door. I mean. I cannot even resist going out there. My love of running is even being affected because I just want to BE HERE.
French-pressed café al fresco, anyone?
And these little cuties that sleepily join me after a while… ♥♥ Sometimes it all feels like a beautiful happy dream, these moments of my life, with my precious children.
Sometimes I can hardly believe this is the same location; same outdoor furniture, same potted plants, but a whole new design.
Friends and visitors are welcome! :)
