katyelliott.com » outdoor

Windsor Inspired Outdoor Furniture

Katy Elliott — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:53:20 +0000

When we first bought the house the thing I was most excited about having outdoor space—even it was really small. I planted a perennial garden on the side of the house and have been brainstorming driveway surfaces that could easily turn into a garden patio in the summer months. This will be a third full summer in the house and we’re still not ready for the driveway, next year or maybe late this fall?

This morning a stack of new catalogs came in the mail and I was flipping through West Elm when I came across the new Dexter Collection. Spindled backs inspired by traditional Windsors but build for the outdoors using driftwood. I like the idea of mixing the collection with vintage pieces like an old trestle bench or metal chairs so it wouldn’t be too matchy matchy.

West Elm’s Dexter Collection Dining Chair, Bench and Fishbone Napkins.

Long Table For Outdoors

Katy Elliott — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:12:56 +0000

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.

Long table in a pea gravel setting via Martha Stewart.

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

Cobble, Brick, and Peagravel Driveways

Katy Elliott — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:30:38 +0000

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.

Painted House Number

Katy Elliott — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:55:43 +0000

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!

Inspiration: Outdoor Tables Paired with Cafe Chairs

Katy Elliott — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:56:00 +0000

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.

Outdoor Furniture I Can Afford

Katy Elliott — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:33:00 +0000

Outdoor furniture from Pier 1, prices range from $69-$200, pier1.com.

I’m started researching furniture for my patio but was quickly overwhelmed. So many different styles and such a huge price range. My first love was a few pieces I spotted at Marston & Langinger—swirly wirey outdoor designs. I may have *loved* every piece but I couldn’t even afford a cushion. I saw a few antique versions at Todd Farm (local flemarket) that were similar. Most of the pieces needed a good scraping a new coat a paint. Totally dueable. I just have to keep searching…Last night I searched a little online and came up with these selections. I have to say my favorites are from Pier 1 (above). Who knew? A tip that came from my sister. Below a few more pieces that caught my eye from twirly french styles to more modern interpretations.

Martha Stewart Everyday Aberdeen, prices range $100-$149, kmart.com.

Target folding cafe chair and bench, $99-$269, target.com.

Biscayne Chair Wire Chair, available in green, silver and blue, $240 each, shoestringhome.com.

Stackable and foldable powder coated chairs & table, $69-$169, cb2.com.

Colorful and Frilly Outdoor Umbrellas

Katy Elliott — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:02:00 +0000

I’ve been on the search for outdoor furniture and accessories. Everything I find feels so blah and generic. Santa Barbara Designs makes colorful and tactile creations that are anything but boring. The frilly tops remind me of flowers. A few of my favorites from their Spring 2009 collection above and below.

Black Door and Planters

Katy Elliott — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:40:00 +0000

Elisabeth from Black Pearl Press just scanned this photo from Martha Stewart Living in for me! I love the black door with the slate walkway paired with overflowing pots of green. So pretty. I think the key to my patio will be adding layers of planters at different heights.

Flower Pot Window Boxes

Katy Elliott — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:27:00 +0000

I kinda love this idea from Martha Stewart. Terra cotta flower pots placed inside window boxes frames are sweet and different. I can imagine them outside a kitchen window or on a pretty little cottage. The swiss dot curtains makes the photo extra awesome.

Willow Edging & Lavender

Katy Elliott — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:52:00 +0000

Oscar de la Renta’s garden from domino

Two things I want to incorporate into our garden/patio/driveway is willow edging and lavender. I think the combination of the two will help soften the space. Both feel so english, which I love. My favorite willow edging is the woven version below. I found a source for purchasing here: nga-gardenshop.stores.yahoo.net.