Deck Before and After

When Jacob and I bought our house 2.5 years ago we didn't realize what bad shape the deck was in.  Our house is only 6 years old but because the previous owners didn't properly stain it and it was built with nails the deck was a mess and was getting worse quickly.  

Here is the before....sorry the pictures are over exposed

And the after:



Let's go back to the lovely before.  The posts were all 4x4's, and had no post caps meaning it looked wimpy and plain.  When you stepped out onto the deck it wobbled and didn't feel safe even though it was structurally sound per several contractors.

This is the awful stain job we were dealing with.  Our neighbors told us the former owner painted it and his wife didn't like it so she tried to power wash it off......  It explained the spotty runny stain.  Awesome.

Let's get right to the afters!  We left the basic structure of the deck to save money and upgraded the posts to 6x6's with post caps for a little bling.  We also added detailed boards (not sure what those are called) and reinforced all the posts into the ground with concrete.  

You can see we added a metal roof under the deck to create another seating area.  The goal is to add pavers hopefully in the near future.  Because the back of our house is west facing it is impossible to be on the deck in the afternoon/evening.  The shade of the deck is invaluable to this Mama who needs to cool off after chasing her toddler around in the heat of the afternoon!

Ceiling fans keep the bugs away and are seriously necessary with the heat in the summer.  The roof is pitched and we are having a gutter installed and tied into our French drain.

The rock pile in the corner needs to go as soon as I get the motivation to put them around my flower bed. ;)  I have to brag on my mom because she sewed the red cushion covers and saved us a bundle.  All the furniture is hand-me-downs and I purchased the flower pillows for some color!

You can see the reinforced 4x4's with 6x6's.  We might eventually do rock around the 4 larger posts.

You can see my toy storage behind the sofa!  I am looking for a console but it works in the meantime.

You can see Miss M's play area.  Her Granny and Papa got her a swing set for her birthday!

This galvanized bucket is from my late grandpa's farm.  He used it to milk cows and I love that I now have it!

Our previous deck didn't have any lighting except the light beside the door you can see in the below pic.  We added stair lighting and post lighting.  We also plan to do do string lights under the deck eventually!

The stain we chose was Behr Tugboat and this picture is pretty accurate.  It is darker than we anticipated but I think it looks nice with the house and let's be honest....we aren't going to have it redone. ;)

We also chose to add a gate, which was a great idea.  We can lock kids in without worrying about them falling down the stairs.   I think we should have added one at the bottom too....which we may eventually do too.  See how the to-do list is still long.  Jacob loves it. :)

This is the area I don't know what do do with.  I kinda think we should have done bench seating.  Thoughts?

One more before and after??  Yes, please!

You can see our grass isn't that great hence the pavers and mulch around the play set in the future!

Barnyard Bash!

M turned 2 this week and while party planning I decided not to go totally crazy like I did last year.  You can read about her strawberry themed first birthday here!  Like her mama M loves all animals and lately was particularly drawn to her farm so I decided a farm theme would be perfect (and fairly easy to pull off).  Gingham and mason jars were my main plan and only purchasing a yard of fabric and some ribbon I think I pulled it off without spending much money!

I decorated my late grandma's buffet with farm animals and daisies.  What you can't see are the favors....a farm book for the babies and a felt farm board for the bigger kids.

I picked daisies in the field behind our house and hit up the farmers market for the rest of the wildflowers.  I used my late grandma's tablecloth to complete the country look....meaningful and free!

Like last year I made the pennants easily with a yard of fabric, hot glue, and red ribbon.  I had 5 around the house, which was the perfect amount.

I layered another of my grandma's tablecloths over a checkered one in the breakfast nook.

I debated on having cookies or cupcakes made but I hate spending money on something I can do.  While they aren't glamorous cupcakes, I felt better about them by adding a cute topper I bought online and printed out.

I realize the foil is still on the blackberry pie (I was rushing to take pics before people arrived).  The dessert bar included apple and blackberry pie with ice cream and a lot of vanilla cupcakes!

I wanted food I could make ahead of time or pull together easily once people arrived.  Our menu included pulled pork sandwiches, pasta salad I made the day before, baked beans, macaroni, a veggie tray, pretzels and pickle dip, and watermelon.  It was easy and delicious!

Again striving for simplicity we did water, unsweetened tea, wine and beer

I couldn't resist this adorable gingham dress for M!  

It was a great party!

Play House Makeover

This winter I came across a Little Tikes play house for $30 on Craigslist and I snatched it up!  I was inspired by the makeovers of different play houses on Pinterest and was excited to try one myself!  

The house was faded and missing a shutter in the back so a makeover was in order.  M instantly loved it and it was great having outside for her to play with!

I was a bad blogger and didn't take pictures of the painting process but I can tell you that it was relatively easy but that I used a lot more spray paint than I originally thought.  I used spray paint specific to plastic and outdoors, which is key.  I tried and tried to get the shutters and door off but couldn't.  I started by spraying the shutters and door with several coats (3-4) and then letting it dry overnight.

The next day I used wrapping paper and painters tape to cover the shutters and the door.  The roof comes off so that was easy to do.  Once the everything was covered I sprayed the body of the house, which took several coats to cover the over spray from the black and red.

Even though I spent close to $60 in spray paint I would definitely do it again.  I love that it blends into the yard better and looks so much better than the faded house it started out as.  

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Curtain Decisions

Hello!

I'm finally getting some time to blog on this rainy Wednesday morning.  For those of you unfamiliar we have lived in our house for a bit over 2 years and for the most part it is finished.  Something that I am slowly accomplishing is curtains for each room.  I have been on the hunt for curtains for our formal living and dining room (I will do the same in both rooms as they are side by side and open to each other).  

I ran across these Threshold panels at Target last week and for the first time actually liked what I saw for these rooms!  I would need to order online because I need 95" but I decided to bring the 84" home to see what they looked like in person.  I tacked up the gray and cream because I feel like either could work.  Keep in mind it is very dark outside as it's pouring rain.

Thoughts?  I would hang them a bit higher than pictured and they would reach the floor.  I got reports that people thought they were too busy to go with the rug.

Here are a few pics of the room on a sunshiney day

Too busy?  Keep looking?  I will reserve my thoughts until I hopefully hear from you! ;)

Thanks!!

Instagram Update

Hello!

Spring has finally sprung so I have a multitude of projects underway.  I can't wait for our deck to be finished so I can show you before and after pictures.  With all the trips to the park, a vacation to South Florida, and overseeing the deck project we have been busy.

Here is a glimpse into our lives the last few months via Instagram:

1. Easter Sunday it was warm enough to lay in the hammock for a bit.  It was so peaceful!  2. I loved dying Easter eggs with my girl this year and can't wait until next year when she is really old enough to enjoy it  3. An IG update to our deck progress  4. I have been living in my new Sperry's and I LOVE them  5.  Granny sent M a stuffed chicken and he is adorable!  6. Loving the sunshine through the dining room windows one morning  7. Life is good....a frozen margarita on while feeling the sea breeze through my hair  8. M loves coloring "collie?  collie?" these days  9. Our Oliver...a 5 year old Papillon  10.  A cappuccino after a night away with Jacob in February  11. Rocking Essie's Devil's Advocate a few last times in Feb and March before I pull out the pinks for spring

Follow me on IG: emilyanninteriors

Have a great day!!