FINAL REVEAL OF THE OUTDOOR ROOM
WEEK #8 AND THE FINAL REVEAL
Ok Folks, this is the final reveal of our ONE ROOM CHALLENGE project and for me, it is the reveal of THE OUTDOOR ROOM.
This past week was hectic and last weekend we worked hard on this #OUTDOORROOM. There is a lot going on in this room and we had to shift things to one side while we cleaned and touched up, went through our very own punch list, then shifted things to the other side and repeat.
These challenges are all about transformation and how we get there. If you continue reading you can expect to find information on many topics but here are a few:
home styling, accessorizing, decorating, renovating, transforming spaces, interior design, interior décor, outdoor décor, decorating outside, patterns, textures, colors
Where did this Outdoor Room Makeover ONE ROOM CHALLENGE all begin?
Back when I did an entryway for the ONE ROOM CHALLENGE I realized that there were several areas in my home that needed my attention in terms of updating, designing and styling. So, I started with the smallest space, the Entryway. Then, I tackled the primary bedroom and now this back patio of our little 900sf condo.
We probably went a little crazy and away from our original budget because after being in quarantine for over a year our jobs got busy and things began to happen. Our freshman went back to school, my husband's medical sales business woke up and so did mine and when we got busy we had less time to source items leisurely so we purchased a lot on line and had it delivered for speed and convenience. After quarantine it was time to pick up where we left off and get back to making our condo back into our home, or at least, more of our style.
This process was unlike any other for the ONE ROOM CHALLENGE. We had an actual budget to work with, an actual tangible $$ budget- a lot easier to work with than previous projects where I didn't really have a budget. Remember, this condo has been our home for almost 8 years but we are renters, so everything we do has to be done with that in mind.
Check out the whole ONE ROOM CHALLENGE progress week by week here:
Week 1 - Week 2 - Week 3 - Week 4 - Week 5 - Week 6 - Week 7 - FINAL REVEAL (you are HERE!)
THE INSPIRATION WAS THE TROPICAL WALLPAPER AND THE OCEAN.
AFTER ALL I LIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL PLACE WITH THE OCEAN ONLY SEVEN MILES AWAY. I AM SO FURTUNATE TO HAVE THIS OUTDOOR SPACE. THIS SPACE PROVISDES RESPITE FROM THE SMALL CONDO INSIDE.
Before & After
IMAGE #1:
ThE corner where the armchair is used to have a Ficus tree that died. There were rocks on the ground so the area became unusable. We pulled out the old roots, the rocks and added pavers. This outdoor patio area now gives us an extra 25sf of floor space.
The area with plants was undefined. The patio was so disjointed that it was just plants without rhyme or reason and over the years it just became a messy patio. Can you believe that when we moved in we had just one cactus and one elephants food, that was all that we could bring from AZ.
home styling, accessorizing, decorating, renovating, transforming spaces, interior design, interior décor, outdoor décor, decorating outside, patterns, textures, colors
WHY CUSTOM SEAT CUSHIONS?
Your typical patio chairs come with a tiny thin bit of collapsible foam as seat cushions, and with a bland off white polyester cover. I had to do something about these, so I set out to source an outdoor fabric that would last, stand the test of time and the elements but that it was also fun and fit in with the many patterns and prints I chose for this makeover. The result was even better than I thought and that deserves a huge thank you to my workroom lady, Mary. Thank you Mary for always doing such a wonderful job.
Before: Our Backyard Outdoor Patio Before the One Room Challenge
CONSIDERATIONS.
originally my inkling was to buy black patio furniture. Acapulco chairs to be precise, a concrete or concrete look top table and continue with a more modern and minimalist vibe. Although my plant collection is far from minimalist, our backyard outdoor patio is the one area of my life where I don’t think less is more, I want more- more plants, more trees, more flowers.
Back to the furniture. My other half had different ideas in terms of patio furniture, he liked the brown faux rattan furniture, and he wanted a right height table and chairs for outdoor meals. We had a lower table and chairs before but he didn't like them, what can I say? he is picky. Yes! I am saying that out loud- he is so picky and with strong opinions. After almost 20 years of marriage I have learnt to navigate that in ways that has worked out well. First do then ask, 99.9% times he will love what I do in the end. The exterior colors of our community are brown and beige, so... I decided to go for it and take my husband's input.
Having to compromise on the patio furniture made me look for solutions for the old island, I wanted and needed to think out of the box. We still needed it for storage, and originally as additional surface for the grill, but age, weather and wear had had its toll on the old island. So, what ever it was that I found needed to be way creative. The drawer fronts could not be painted, at least not for a long lasting effect. The wood top needed to be sanded and re-finished and if I stained the top; then I would have to stain the legs also for cohesiveness.
I set out to look for not only a way to refresh this old outdoor patio island but, also a jumping off point of inspiration for the overall patio vibe. Then, like it happens a lot in design- while looking for one element- you find another, I found something else that caught my eye. I found “Pineapples” blue and yellow… decorative pillows with Pineapples – and the muse started to run ramped. I chose these pillows, then the stripe rug and a few more details and soon, it drove the "concept" to mix of patterns and colors.
See? now I was having fun, I let myself run lose with patterns and colors and the Cuban Florida vibe was born when I found the tropical paper with large scale foliage and a pink background of all things. I could chalk up my love of this pattern to my Latin roots and this time I was going for it.
Everything else grew and evolved from there. The original yellow pillows to contrast with the blue and yellow (goldish yellow) pineapples were sent back, added blue lumber pillows instead. I found the tropical paper, then found the outdoor poof… large scale foliage also… but the peel and stick paper was circling around in my head & there were sparks just like a cartoon character when they fall. I couldn’t wait for it to come in the mail… was it as pretty in person as it was online?
THE OLD OUTDOOR KITCHEN ISLAND IS NOW A NEW BOLD PIECE.
THE OLD KITCHEN ISLAND BECAME THE FOCAL POINT OF THE OUTDOOR ROOM.
Now we have surface space to add beautiful details and accessories, plants and also a place to put food and drinks when entertaining. This piece also offers great storage.
Don't forget to check out the other guest posts at the ONE ROOM CHALLENGE page.
https://www.oneroomchallenge.com/blog/spring2021week8
CHALLENGES: What Problems Did We Face During This ONE ROOM CHALLENGE?
The challenge with the metal cabinet and adding hardware became real. The holes on the thin metal doors to install the handles became too big when trying to screw the handles in place. So, another hole had to be drilled and another. Finally, we had to cut a piece of wood to install as the backdrop to the handles. The piece of wood provided the tooth- per say- for handles to be securely screwed in place.
Because this was not a client project but a personal project, worked on between work-work, family life and everything else that happens in between- we did not have any parameters, guidelines, or “rules” set. In addition, I had to be gone a lot during this challenge as work and family called me away, and I had to leave my husband in charge more than once. (Honey Dew lists ensued) …
His friend the person who installed the handles came up with the idea of the piece of wood in my absence. My husband did not call me to discuss prior to painting the wood piece, and so here we have an installation that is functional but it is not what I would have done. (Friend labor = no complaints).
Personally, presented with the choice of adding the piece of wood to the outside of the door and this being the only option- I would have painted the piece of wood the same color as the cabinet, so the sexy long handles by @schaubhardware would stand out and improve the look of the cabinet. This is something I will do, but I do not think I will get it done before the challenge is done on Thursday, today is Tuesday and I am away again.
I will update photos when I get this done. The hardware is a way to elevate an inexpensive piece and make it look more substantial. In my opinion, hardware is the jewelry of any piece, cabinet, door etc. @schaubhardware you can find all the styles, sizes and looks that will enhance the look of your pieces.
Updated Bar Cabinet in Our Outdoor Patio Space
IMAGE #1:
New bar cabinet, garden tool storage and more.
IMAGE #2:
New bar cabinet and new island in new respective locations. ( These two were flipped-flopped before) But now the island makeover makes a statement at the other end of the patio.
I switched the bar cart for a cabinet with doors so we can keep our glassware, bar tools, ice buckets, vases and garden tools behind close doors and dust free.
ADDING A FUN ACTIVITY TO THE OUTDOOR ROOM.
CHALK PAPER, DARTBOARD & TOWEL HOOKS
Installation of the Dartboard, that had a certain level of difficulty for the following reasons: The doors where the dart board was installed are metal. We had to get a backing for the dartboard, so the rogue darts bounce off and not lose their sharp tips.
But we did it, this challenge was a lot less stressful than the hardware on the metal Ikea cabinet. While trying the dartboard with its backing, I hit my first bullseye of this dartboard!
Side note, growing up in England I played darts a lot as a young lass, but have not played in years.
We added blackboard/Chalk peel and stick wallpaper to the metal doors that lead to the laundry space. (Space, because it is not a closet, and it is not a room.) The chalk paper provided better looking doors, a nice backdrop for the dartboard, a place to keep scores when we have our friends over for a dart match. The black also goes with most of our plant pots, the top of the island that is now black too and the shelf on the other side for plants.
We added hooks on the other patio door around the corner from laundry doors to hang towels, suits and wet items from beach or pool. In the past they were draped over chairs which did not look pretty.
THE ENTERTAINMENT AREA
The Main Elements of Our Outdoor Patio Makeover
THE OLD ISLAND GOT A MAKEOVER
- Transformed an old Ikea Island by adding a wild and pretty peel and stick paper on the drawer fronts, sides and back. Also, added beautiful hardware from @schaubhardware. Sanded and stained the butcherblock top and wood legs black and then sealed it with a satin poly.
OUTDOOR CURTAINS PANELS
- Hung outdoor curtain panels to give the patio that outdoor room feeling, a cabana look, and add to that Cuban-Florida vibe we wanted to create. Loved the pattern and the color, although at some point all that color worried me.
CREATING VERTICAL SPACE FOR PLANTS AND DECOR
- We also painted an old pine shelf black to tie in with plant pots, chalk paper and top of island. This shelf gave me surface space "UP" to place plants as it was getting pretty crowded on the floor. Now my herbs and the hydrangeas have a great backdrop and the semi shade they need.
home styling, accessorizing, decorating, renovating, transforming spaces, interior design, interior décor, outdoor décor, decorating outside, patterns, textures, colors
FAUX GRASS & BLUE RUGS FOR COMFORT AND STYLE IN OUR OUTDOOR PATIO
- Added two faux grass rugs, one long one in front of laundry space doors that will serve dual purpose. A) So that when we come out bare foot to deal with laundry or hang a towel, we don’t get rocks, debris and dirt on our feet. The faux grass rug also hides how bad the concrete looks and, it provides a pleasant surface to do stretches, and floor workouts.
The second smaller faux grass rug under the zero-gravity chair provides my other half a cozy space for his therapy and to give a feeling of being in a lush backyard. (Now there is a dream).
The smaller blue rug is cotton woven rug with fringe that fits perfectly in the relaxation/meditation area. It is blue and off white as the striped rug under the table.
CARVING OUT MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE ON THE PATIO
- We cleaned up the plants, trimmed the Ficus trees, dug out the root of the space by the window and added pavers. Adding the pavers gave us another 25sf of usable space, in the past it was just rocks and where we tended to put ugly items like brooms, the scooter, and things we didn’t have space for.
& THAT IS A WRAP! HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS FROM OUR NEW OUTDOOR PATIO MAKEOVER
THANK YOUS
Many thanks to the ONE ROOM CHALLENGE for organizing these events and BETTER HOME AND GARDENS for their sponsorship of the ONE ROOM CHALLENGE.
A big thanks to my other half and those who were generous enough to donate free labor.
A very special THANK YOU to @schaubhardware for their generous sponsorship of every ONE ROOM CHALLENGE where I have used their exquisite hardware. Couldn't complete my projects without you.
