I think most of us can honestly say at some point over the past six months we’ve said, “Covid made us do it.” This patio renovation, though on our wish list for forever, was not supposed to happen for a couple of years but once we realized we were going to be home for a really really long time because of COVID, we decided this would be the perfect time jump on the renovation train and create a useable, fun and family friendly backyard that could be utilized for all seasons.
This blog post officially kicks of the 6 week One Room Challenge or ORC as the pros call it, of our backyard patio renovation. As you may recall, I participated in the Spring 2019 One Room Challenge when we redid our basement. If you’re interested in seeing how that turned out you can click here!
What is the One Room Challenge you may ask? ORC features designers who showcase their renovation process in their blogs over the next 6 weeks. There are featured guests who have been invited to participate and post every Wednesday and then there are guest participants, like me, who will post every Thursday. Better Homes and Gardens is the official media sponsor and for the Fall 2020 ORC, High Point Market, the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world, is the official sponsor! This challenge is going to offer so much inspiration in every aspect of home decor, inside and out, so make sure you follow along with all the participants over the next 6 weeks.
Alright so lets get down and dirty and discuss our outdoor renovation!
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THE BEFORE
Believe it or not, most of our yard used to be mostly ivy and weeds so getting the yard to this point took years but it was finally time to do something about our sad brick patio.
In the spring and summer weeds were growing in between the bricks and it was so unlevel, water just sit in huge puddles across the patio. Our pergola that we installed was also way past its prime.
We really made the best of our backyard but as the boys have gotten older, the treehouse has been given to a younger family, and Paul and I are finding a little more time to hang out together, we realized our dilapidated brick patio was just not cutting it anymore. Between the sloping, the weeds growing in the cracks between the bricks and our power washer company refusing to power wash the patio anymore, we knew it was time for something new.
My Partners for Fall ORC 2020
At almost the exact time we started discussing what we really wanted in our backyard, the amazing North American stone company, POLYCOR ,the world’s leading natural stone quarrier, approached me and asked if I would be interested in partnering with them on an outdoor hardscape project. I mean it was perfect timing! I’m so excited to be working with them on our project and I KNOW you all are going to fall in love with their products, mission and story, just as I did.
We worked with a local designer and contractor to create a design that is as unique as the stone we chose that also encompassed a forward thinking design featuring a mix of colors, textures and a touch of whimsy.
FINAL DESIGN PLAN: love how the design of our hardscape is all circular!
If you know me, you know I like to think outside of the box when I design and decorate. Planning our outdoor renovation was no different. I wanted to make sure our project reflected my taste so square just wasn’t going to cut it for us. We worked with CSM Design to come up with the final plan, all circular, no sharp angles! The plan incorporates three separate entertaining areas. The middle area is the dining area, the area on the left is a step up fire pit area and the area on the right is for the outdoor kitchen. Two connecting pergolas will cover the dining and outdoor kitchen areas. I can’t wait to see it all come together.
Now for the big surprise! For what I think is a first for residential patios, we are going to be using Indiana limestone AND granite for the patio! Yep, you heard that right! Utilizing granite and all the different colors it offers, instead of your typical stamped cement, brick or pavers, made my color lover heart so happy!!!!! I can’t wait to dive into more detail soon about how we picked our final selections! More of that next week!
Last, I can’t wait to turn our outdoor space into an outdoor oasis complete with comfortable but durable furniture. We are so happy to partner with POLYWOOD whose furniture is all built in the USA and made from recycled plastic materials. The missions of their company is to ensure their furniture is built to be enjoyed season after season after season and more importantly, create spaces where friends and family can gather, relax, and connect. If that’s not the perfect fit for our goals, I don’t know what is!
The icing on the cake will be the final touches with throw pillows, blankets, and fun accessories to the dining, outdoor kitchen and firepit areas. You know I love all the textiles from Smith Honig and I can’t wait to showcase some of my favorite patterns when styling our outdoor space!
I’m going to leave you with the original design board I created after the plan was finalized. Can’t wait to take you all along on this ride with me! Stay tuned next week for a more in depth look at the products and companies I’m partnering with, along with some progress shots!
