Hey everyone, thanks for all the thoughtful comments on the purpose filled home post, I’ve read every one, I really appreciate your fantastic insight!  I finally got that patch of sun I was waiting for all weekend long, so I was able to get my hands dirty with some new plantings for the front porch. 

I replaced the dying Italian cypress with these pretty blue Potato Bush topiary trees and some ‘Glamorama’ pansies.  Out of storage came the outdoor medallion pillows I’ve had for two summer seasons (found at a local garden department).  The striped ones are these Esther pillows found on sale at Joss & Main.

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‘Tis the season, right?  Not only for holiday decorating but also for giving back. Last Friday (on Veterans Day) I was honored to be invited to be part of the The Home Depot Foundation and its continuing mission to improve homes and lives for military families.

For the next three years, the Home Depot Foundation is placing special emphasis on serving U.S. military veterans who are facing growing financial and physical hardships at home as they return to civilian life.  Were you aware of this?  The Home Depot Foundation is investing over $30 million (yes, $30 million dollars!) to help ease the burdens of this deserving group by repairing and renovating homes for military veterans. 

Have several extended family members in the service including my own brother, this was my way of showing my appreciation and giving back, so I flew to Atlanta to meet up with several other bloggers (both military and DIY) in this mission to complete 200 service projects within 60 days. 

On arrival, three of us were directed to four piles of wood, a collection of power tools, and one set of plans to build four benches for a community outdoor space. 

Bring. It. On!  Time to bust out a Charlie’s Angels theme, DIY style…

Give us some safety goggles, gloves, and power tools and things will happen. 

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Y’all were too kind with the comments on the cabana reveal last week, thanks so much.  I finally updated last week’s post with sources as promised and by the way, forgot to announce the winner of the Home Depot gift card giveaway from eons ago.  My bad. Congrats to #202 Emily Schloerb, I sent you an email Emily! 

Now for that whitewashed trunk coffee table.  Whitewashing is one of my favorite finishes for wood, some call it faux, I call it fab.  Whitewashing allows anyone to use white paint to brighten a rustic wood piece, yet still allows for much of the wood grain to show through.  In fact, the technique accentuates the details of the wood, which is a win-win in my book. 

In my mind, the white + wood combo makes for a perfect world and I love how you can have both with this finish.  It works well indoors and out, and adds a cottage or coastal vibe. Whitewashing is great for those with kids and pets or in heavy traffic areas (think floors!) because you never need worry about wear and tear, it adds to the appeal.

This was one of the quickest and easiest revamps ever, the whole thing took about 30 minutes.  I started with an old trunk scored for $15 buckaroos at a thrift store. 

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Hey all, happy Friday, and welcome to anyone who caught my appearance on the Nate Berkus Show yesterday!   I”m still on vacation, but promised a peek at our new patio.  I’ve been working on the design for this space over the past few weeks, and I’m proud to announce this patio is one we now call our outdoor oasis!   How about a quick tour?

You may recall how our patio looked a month ago, pretty lousy and void of any appeal, except for the nice view of our vines.  We started this transformation by installing a new stone circular patio which leads to this concrete patio.  We then turned our attention to this 13′ x 16′ long space  to create a place to relax and entertain.   It required an open plan with two entrances, and we didn’t want to obstruct the view from the kitchen window.

The design plan was to create an outdoor “room” protected from the sun with the feeling of an enclosed space, but still one that feels open and breezy.   We shopped four retailers courtesy of the American Express Membership Rewards program:  Home Depot, West Elm, Crate + Barrel, and Pottery Barn.   I also threw in a few of my own finds so the space didn’t look completely ’out of a catalog’.

Here is the patio last month:

And today: 

Come take a closer peek of the inside!

I ordered some new deep seat cushions online from Home Depot, and I’m digging the fact that they’re the same color as our house, an unexpected bonus when they arrived on our doorstep.  Jute trim pillow covers from Pottery Barn. 

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Instead of the mosquito netting that comes with this 12′ x 12′ cabana from Home Depot,  I hung off-white curtains instead.  The “curtains” are cotton/linen flat sheets I found on clearance for $5 at a local outlet hemmed to the height of the cabana and hung with simple rings.  Both the curtains and the cover come down in autumn when it rains, then I imagine the metal structure will look fantastic all lit up with a ton of twinkle lights.

The side tables are halves of wine barrels simply turned upside down.  I found them at a local hardware store for $20, they make the perfect rustic end table and also fit the style of our yard.  Lantern from Pottery Barn, square planter from Crate + Barrel.

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