Showing posts with label Outdoors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Outdoors. Show all posts

Exterior Detail | Charleston Green


When J.D. and I first started thinking of ways to fix up our backyard, we knew we would need to address our fence.  We had a chain length fence around the entire backyard, and it wasn't in good shape, if chain length can ever be in "good shape."  We had a local fence company remove the chain length and add a simple wooden fence and two wooden gates, but we did leave a portion of the chain length across the back because it was primarily covered in ivy, and I liked the green growth.  We debated about what color to paint the fence - should we leave it natural or paint it white.  I love a classic white fence.  Then I started thinking, maybe we should paint it black.  (I pretty much think black paint is the solution to almost everything!) 

Real Life Southern Porches | Chassity Evans

All the work we've been doing to get our porch and back yard in shape has me studying perfect porches lately.  Heath and I LOVE a perfect Southern Porch.  Why doesn't every single house have one?  That should be some sort of rule!  We're starting a little series showing off some of our favorite real life porches.  First up we have the seriously so amazing front porch of Chassity Evans, super stylish author of Look Linger Love.  Take a look at her stunning porch below.  I don't think I'd complain about spending an afternoon on this porch sharing a spiked sweet tea with her!


Thank you Chassity for sharing your porch with us, and we have to be in agreement that a good spiked sweet tea is best enjoyed on a porch.  We kind of forgot about that drink after Master's Weekend, but it's time to pull the fixings back out to enjoy the rest of summer!

~ Mary Keller

Photography by Gray Benko for Look Linger Love

Backyard Garage Before & Afters


We have some fun before and "after" photos from the backyard garage/shed renovation to share today!  We're sharing them on 702 Park Project today so stop by and take a look!!  If you aren't familiar with 702 Park Project, Sarah's blog documents the renovation of their amazing (and huge!!) historic home.  I cannot imagine how wonderful this home will be when they're finished.

I say "after" regarding the photos of our garage/fireplace renovation, because is any project ever really done?  These are the after shots for now!  These are basic quick pics with no styling, and these also show that obviously there is no landscaping (or even grass) out back right now.  Also, you'll notice the new back gate hasn't been installed or the new fence.  We have some landscaping plans, but they won't happen until the temps cool down in the fall.  I'll be sure to take lots of pretty pics too because I think that's when things will really start to look good. 

Anyway, hope you head over and enjoy!  Last thing - I'd love to hear, do you vote to paint the brick fireplace or leave it as is?  Our original plan called for painting the fireplace, but now we're a little on the fence.  Good news is we cannot paint the brick until it settles for a few months so we have some time to think on it.  I'd love to hear your vote.  See you at 702 Park Project in a bit!

~Mary Keller

Progress out Back

Guys, I'm so excited because our backyard is really finally coming together.  (For a refresher, we shared some of our inspiration pics here, and analyzed which direction we should go for porch and patio furniture here.)  Unfortunately, we don't have too many before pictures to share, but what we do have I'll share below.  Keep in mind, this before picture was the best the yard ever looked.  It's a little misleading.  (It's from the real estate listing when we bought the house!)  I think sod was laid a week before the house went on the market because it died and never looked the same a week after we moved in.  You can see all of the new progress below. 


 


Things are obviously not finished but we're getting there!  Basically, the backyard went from being a reason that we almost didn't buy the house, to being what I think will become one of our favorite parts.  By shrinking the size of the old garage/shed, we really only gained about 3 feet or so of yard, but it just feels so much bigger.  And, our house is small.  Adding an outdoor space for us to treat more like another living space, well that's huge.  We likely won't tackle landscaping until the fall.  (We think the extreme summer temps would kill any shot we have at laying new sod.)  And, we still have cushions and a few patio pieces to order.  On that note, your votes were consistent, everyone loved look number two so we're planning on some sort of variation of that look for the furniture.  I'll keep you posted when we're all wrapped up, and have you all for drinks by the outdoor fire. :)

~Mary Keller

Porch & Patio Ideas

J.D. and I pulled the trigger on some of the back yard plans we were planning.  We're reducing the size of our current garage/shed and adding an outdoor fireplace.  It already looks SO much bigger back there and we're super excited.  J.D. got a set of patio furniture off of Craigslist, but we need to order cushions, pillows and other fun stuff to give the space some life.  I've pulled together a lot of ideas on Pinterest, and I've narrowed it down to 3 directions.  I'd love your input and vote!

Option 1: Earthy Neutrals
I LOVE, LOVE Olivia Brock's Charleston garden pictured at the top.  It's absolutely stunning and who wouldn't want to spend an afternoon there?  For this look I'm picturing lots of natural materials, rattan furniture, jute pillows, and neutral and green cushions.  This look also kinda reminds me of Barefoot Contessa, it's earthy and elegant.  (The rest of our home isn't so earthy if that factors into your input.)


Option 2: Black Wicker
Option 2 goes for classic black wicker, neutral cushions and then I'd add just a few fun throw pillows for color.  I'm also imagining emerald green garden stools with this look for some reason.  I just think the rich green would look beautiful with the black.  I've had this image of Muffy Faith's front porch (pictured below), again in Charleston, saved forever.  It looks so effortless, chic and inviting. 


Option 3: Classic Stripe
This look is just so timeless to me.  J.D. said it reminds him of an old school country club.  For this look I'm thinking black frame patio furniture and a combination of stripe, gingham check and neutral cushions and pillows.  I'd also like to add a few hits of blue and white chinosierie with this look, either a garden stool or planters.


So what's your vote?  I'd love to hear!  If it makes a difference, our house is very classic, very small and is gray.  All of these looks would be easy to pull off from Pottery Barn, Ballard, Lowe's and Home Decorators for your own porch or patio too!  Also, I'll be sharing progress pics of the backyard soon!

~Mary Keller

Earthy Neutrals: Oliva Brock's Beautiful Patio via Southern Living . Pawley's Island Hammok . Pottery Barn Pillows . Serena & Lily Barcart

Black Wicker: Muffy Faith's Front Porch via Southern Living . Stunning front porch via Architectural Digest . Pottery Barn Pillow . Garden Stool

Classic Stripe: Outdoor patio via Domaine Home . House Beautiful Patio . Black & White Stripe Patio . Furbish Garden Stools . Ballard Pillows

Backyard Dreaming

One of the things J.D. and I really wanted to get done around here this winter was plans for some work in our backyard.   When we did our kitchen renovation, we added French doors out to the backyard which I totally LOVE, but that of course drew more attention to our little backyard.  Our backyard is tiny, as in really tiny, almost didn't buy the house tiny.   Since living here, I've come to really love our tiny backyard.  Tiny yards are kinda the norm near us and yard work is really no fun other than on the first pretty spring day of the season.  So, instead of wishing of a bigger yard, we've decided to try to give our small yard more of a garden (a Charleston garden if I'm really dreaming) feel.  We met with someone this week and have plans in the works.  We have a super old "carriage house" that really is more like a dilapidated shed back there now.  Our plan is to shrink the size of this shed and add an outdoor fireplace and plants to give it more of that charming Charleston garden feel.  These images are our inspiration, and even though I know our end result won't be as beautiful, they still have me daydreaming...


~Mary Keller

Happy Friday!

 

Happy Friday everyone!  I'm so excited that the weekend is here.  This is the first weekend in a long time that we are in town with no plans and these types of weekends usually turn out to be the best.  I'm looking forward to relaxing, finishing up book club reading and doing a few projects around the house.  If it's beautiful where you live, I hope you enjoy a wonderful spring weekend outdoors!

~Mary Keller

Image via Frederic LaGrange

Time to Pot




Last fall, to my surprise, my husband Andy brought home a Meyer lemon tree. We're still new to the gardening game but he has been doing a lot of research so I'm excited. At the time, we looked into transplanting the tree from its original small plastic pot but learned it's best to wait until spring. Now all of a sudden spring is here and we just realized our little tree is still in its sad plastic home. So I've been on the hunt for the perfect planter for our tree lately and these photos have been my inspiration. 
We need a pot suitable for indoor and outdoor use since lemon trees can't withstand our winter temperatures. Our little guy is currently about 3 feet tall but we're hopeful to have a full grown 5 foot tall lemon tree within a few years, so we want to find a pot that it can grow into. We have one lemon thus far but I'm really hoping in years to come we'll have more lemons than we can handle. 


- Heath

Image 1 by Mikael Duboi; Image 2 via Domino Magazine; Image 3 via Michael Penney Style; Image 4 Top Left via Well Appointed House, Center via Jayson Home, Top Right and Bottom Left and Right via Home Depot. 

Classic Outdoor Spaces


With Spring right around the corner, I've got my eye on classic outdoor spaces.  We have a great little porch on the front of our house, but it's currently filled with bare Craigslist pieces.  I'm dreaming of a few additions that would give our porch more presence.  I love the classic look of Rattan with Blue and White, or my true favorite, Black and White cushions with classic greenery to add color.

- Mary Keller

1. Black and White Stripe Pillow via Mazizmuse Etsy  2. Marble Bowl via Terrain  3. Solid Stripes Arm Chair via Terrain  4. Arches Laterns via Pottery Barn  5. Hampton Bay Patio Set via Home Depot  6. Chippendale Planters via Chinoiserie Chic