Long Table For Outdoors

Posted on | May 27, 2010 | 13 Comments

I’ve decided on pea gravel as a temporary fix for our patio/driveway. I still need to call around for estimates to find how expensive my ‘temporary fix’ really is. Stay tuned…

I’ve started to think about outdoor furniture. I definitely want a long table not round. I have a ridiculous amount of festive rectangular tablecloths I’ve been dying to use—Yup, that’s me at the John Robshaw sample sales buying every pattern! I tell myself I will give them as gifts. Sorry guys, I’m hoarding them. They like living with me…

Some inspiration above and below. Love the top table discovered via {frolic!}. I’m thinking I want a white table with two benches and two cafe chairs. I saw a cute set on Pottery Barn but now it’s suddenly unavailable? Another cool and kinda affordable set over at West Elm caught my eye too. I wish I could make the table but we don’t have a table saw and it might take me all summer to finish. I’ll keep searching.

Love the white, long benches, and cafe chairs.

mla102658 july07 figs centerpiece xl Long Table For Outdoors

Long table in a pea gravel setting via Martha Stewart.

I need a long table to display all my tablecloths via the haystack needle.

Category: garden, outdoor

Cobble, Brick, and Peagravel Driveways

Posted on | May 25, 2010 | 12 Comments

I’ve been brainstorming driveway ideas over the past few weeks. We would love to put in a cobblestone driveway but we still have major work to do on the back side of the house. We need a temporary fix. I want to get outside and enjoy summer. The inside of the house is such a mess and unmanageable for guests. I really need a space we can entertain and bbq.

First off, we don’t have a backyard. We have a large driveway that could fit three cars but we only have one (The garage in the photo is our neighbors). We can park the car out in the street in the summertime but in the winter we have a parking ban. I would love to turn the driveway into a patio space for the summer and then back to a driveway in the winter.

We don’t have much storage in the house or room for a shed so furniture needs to be able to collapse or stay outside year around. Some of my readers have recommended a floating deck. I live in a historic district and a floating deck to me feels too modern.

So what about a peagravel driveway for now? Peagravel is patio-esque? My favorite inspiration is below. Love the driveway tripped with granite, a pretty fence, and peagravel in the middle. I could line the space with containers in the summer to soften up the lines. I think it would be a great inexpensive temporary fix. Maybe we will even end up keeping it?

Below more driveway inspiration from around Marblehead including cobble and brick driveways.

peagravel driveway Cobble, Brick, and Peagravel Driveways

cobble driveway in marblehead Cobble, Brick, and Peagravel Driveways

brick herringbone driveway Cobble, Brick, and Peagravel Driveways

brick patio garden Cobble, Brick, and Peagravel Driveways

brick driveway patio Cobble, Brick, and Peagravel Driveways

peagravel patio Cobble, Brick, and Peagravel Driveways

stone brick driveway Cobble, Brick, and Peagravel Driveways

cobble driveway with granite steps Cobble, Brick, and Peagravel Driveways

cobble and brick mix driveway1 Cobble, Brick, and Peagravel Driveways

brick driveway Cobble, Brick, and Peagravel Driveways

Category: marblehead, outdoor

Painted House Number

Posted on | May 18, 2010 | 10 Comments

Have you ever walk by a house a hundred times but never notice a beautiful little detail? Last week on the news; I must have saw the entrance of 10 Downing Street in London (residence and office of the Prime Minister ) a hundred times. I kept fixating on the painted 10 on the front door. That night I walked by a similar door in Marblehead. Suddenly I realized I love glossy black front doors with painted white house numbers. How great would 39 look on my front door? Love it!

10 downing street entrance Painted House Number

painted number on door in marblehead Painted House Number

7 painted on front door Painted House Number

Category: marblehead, outdoor, paint colors

Inspiration: Outdoor Tables Paired with Cafe Chairs

Posted on | June 16, 2009 | 6 Comments

Love vintage green chairs w/ a rush canopy for sun protection.

I have about 1/2 of my patio area dug out. I’m starting to think about patio furniture. At first, I thought I wanted something a little more feminine. Love the style but just don’t know how realistic the twirly chairs are with a boyfriend weighing in.

Since we are doing major renovations inside the house it would be nice to have a nice big table to entertain outdoors. Maybe a rectangular table paired with two cafe chairs and a bench? My inspiration shots above and below.

A mix of vintage cafe chairs found via {frolic!}.

A red cafe chair paired with festive rectangular outdoor table via the haystack needle.

White chairs and a white table. Love the bench on the right with a cushion.

Category: furniture, interiors, outdoor

Cheap Ticking Stripe Fabric at Period Fabrics

Posted on | June 16, 2009 | 8 Comments

I love stripes. I especially love them gracing tablecloths, napkins, and duvets. So summery and easy. All the above fabrics are less then $5 a yard. Insanely cheap. Find many more patterns and colors at periodfabrics.com. What will you make?

p.s. maybe i’ll make cushions for the cafe chairs I’m eyeing?