Deck Updates- Easy Ways to Make Outdoor Spaces Cozy
Summer is finally on the way! And we’ve been getting the deck and yard all ready.
Last year getting the deck built was our project. This year making the deck cozy and entertaining worthy is my mission. So we added a few things. Not done yet, but progress!
Plenty of cushions and a new rug make it cozy! Rug is from Mark and Day, our favorite rug place! (You can still use my code at Mark and Day too- JESSI10). AND, they are doing a free rug pad promotion right now too!
Some cushions and Walmart and Dollar General, but old, and the two darker green are new from Target Dollar Spot. Scotch Guard them to keep them longer, and I take in or put in a deck box when weather is bad. 😉
The other cozy trick is to add little areas. When we have company, chairs can get pulled anywhere, but they start out set up in cozy little spots. These stackable chairs we got to have extra seating, are from Best Choice Products. Different rugs also help tie different conversation areas together.
Another easy thing to add for coziness is plants. Plants bring brightness and life to spaces, and same with outdoor spaces! You don’t have to have a green thumb, mine mostly isn’t 😉, even fake plants do the trick.
I like my plants colorful! Plus, remember the rule of three, add a centerpiece, and outer plants that will grow and hang and you will be potting like a pro. These were all recently planted, but will soon be big snd overflowing! 🤩
One more cozy add is lighting and sound. This can be super simple too. My lanterns are all inexpensive and have solar lights in them. We also added this umbrella light from Brilliant Evolution recently and it adds such a beautiful glow in the evening! You can use code JESSICA15OFF on their lighting too!
The quickest, easiest DIY to up your outdoor game!
Right now I use a simple Bluetooth speaker sat on the table too, but we are in process of installing a whole system with speakers on the house wall. Either way, tunes add to the vibe!
What else would you add?!
XX,
Jess
Deck Reveal
Its been a two year wait since moving into this house and several weeks of work this summer… but she’s finally done! We have a deck!!
Now mom has a spot to relax and watch the family magic happen! 😉
Yes, its huge! The land directly behind the house used to be another house attached. This left the ground hilly, dead, full of bricks and glass, and in general, useless. So, cover it up we did. We filled in two giant cisterns and started a deck slab. Next year we will add a pergola to the blank spot of house where the table is now. We will put a pool in down below and then the following year add another piece of deck to half wrap around the pool. It will be the ultimate dream area when we are finished.
We do still want to add trellis to the bottom to keep everything out, but that will happen this fall.
One thing that was super important to us when adding the deck was having some shade, as we have very little from the one small existing tree.
My favorite umbrellas?! From Abba Patio! (You can use code La10 on your order with them too!) The 11 foot red stripe is gorgeous! And so easy to use. We custom installed it with brackets we made, but it can go on a table or a base as well. This keep it so much cooler in the shaded areas!!
Next I need to find some outdoor rugs to tie in the different areas. Suggestions?? I’m being so indecisive!
Also, looking for an outdoor sectional. Maybe a hot tub?! 😜
The table and chairs are from Menards. The wood lantern is from Walmart, along with the orange striped pillow and turquoise planters. The beach bag below is from Amazon.
The kids table is Step 2 and an awesome thing to have if you have littles. We use it all the time!
Tip- use a beach bag or tote like the one below to hold your deck or patio essentials. We take it in at night and bring out each day. Super helpful to keep things corralled while not getting ruined being left outside. We keep sunscreen, bug spray, santizer, sunglasses, beach towels, a speaker, and anything we want for the day inside. So handy!!
XX,
Jess
A New Addition
Well, it has been a busy weekend around our house. Nope, no house projects, no scrap-booking, no treasure hunting. We got a puppy! Yes, we picked out a new little puppy Saturday night. It has been crazy at our house ever since. The dogs seem to get along, but are wild right now. So, I thought I would show you a picture of our cute little girl. She’s 9 weeks old, and she’s a Boxer/Rottweiler mix. I think she is going to be huge! We are considering naming her Wrigley, but let me know if you have any other ideas!
Does she look like a Wrigley? And, did you see all those wrinkles she has to grow into? And the size of those paws!?
P.S. We are still undecided on a name, but have narrowed it to Wrigley, Marley or Ridley, so let me know what you think!
Little Christmas Shelf
For Christmas, my Secret Santa (my sister-in-law-to-be, Jess) got me the cutest little shelf. We have been debating where to hang it since then! After we arranged some things the other day, we found the perfect place in the living room. The colors match perfectly! She also got me the little diamond studded candle and the LOVE sign that are sitting on the shelf. It was just so adorable I had to post it. Take a look!
I know its dark, but this is the shelf hung in the corner of the living room behind the Eames lounger.
My Christmas gifts from Jess!
The Little Things
We have two new little additions to our bedroom. First, Tony’s mom passed along a red glass from his great grandmother. The heirloom has been in their family for many years and she wanted us to have it. The beautiful glass has found a new home in our bedroom on the vanity. The second is some old marquee letters from a vintage highway sign. We found a T and a J, and hung them on the wall in the entry to the bedroom. Its the little things that really give personality to a space.Â
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The photo doesn't do it justice, but the glass is a ruby red.
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They look a little lonely, so they might not stay exactly like this for long, but I do think they are cute.
New Little Project
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I love finding odds and ends to fix up, remodel, or work on that I can then add to our home. These little projetcs are fun for me and keep me busy. This new task is a stool from my grandmother. Its not new, not antique, not anything special really. I almost truned it down. But, she said that it opened up. That caught my interest. Then, she suggested that maybe I could keep some interesting photos in it. BINGO! I snatched it up in a hurry. I love a bit of unexpected, and her idea of putting snapshots in the stool was perfect. I plan to recover the top with some funky material. I’m not sure if I will paint it yet. Then I will add some old, random photos to the inside for company to explore. Cute! Any suggestions on print or paint? Let me know what you think!Â
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So much potential...
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Vintage photos tucked away in here would be perfect!
I’m A Flickr-er
I have been taking so many photos lately that I decided to become a Flickr-er. If you like what you see here, then check out my Flickr photos as well. My account name is jessimarie33. I post some of the same photos as I post here, but also random snapshots from daily life. Check it out!
"The simples pleasures in life II", on Flickr, by Stumbleine.
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"It is the sweet, simple things in life which are the real ones after all," on Flickr, by Kuttibalu
The Little Red Stool
Being cooped up in the warm house yesterday as the snow blew outside, I had time to finish up a few projects. One was the stool that I posted about yesterday. It started out green and dirty, but now is a beautiful red. I’m not sure where I’m going to use it yet. I thought it would look cute in the kitchen, but when Tony brought it up the stairs for me, it struck me that it might make the perfect odd edition in our bedroom. Hmmm…
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It looks perfect in red.
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Here it sits in the kitchen, but might not stay there for long...
Make Mine Eclectic 