DIY

Ch-ch-ch-changes on the Deck

May 17, 2018

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This post is sponsored by World Market.

Warm weather is here to stay in Idaho now (it’s May so I guess it’s about time), and a couple weeks ago, we set up our deck for its third season. Like every space in our home, our deck has evolved year to year–which is something that has oddly surprised me. But then I think, why wouldn’t it if every other area of our home has evolved? This year, we sold off our two seater sofas we’ve had for the past 2 years and upgraded to 3 seater sofas (also from World Market!) to maximize our seating while keeping things a little less cluttered.

Before we get into a few more additions (and subtractions) we made this year, can we just take a little walk down memory lane. Back in 2016, before the trees bloomed, clearly, we made the decision to turn this gnarly little space into a sprawling deck.

By May, 2 years ago almost exactly, the deck part was done and we had started setting up some furnishings.

And built a fireplace, too!

Last year (2017), we added a few more things: DIY tiered planter boxes, more seating, a coffee table and I think we went maybe too far. Looking at the photo below–there’s just so much stuff!

After selling some things, saving some for the cabin, we made a few calculated updates this year. First of all, we swapped out the tiered planter boxes for 6 arborvitae trees.

We realized that when we built the planter boxes, we were really hoping to add some greenery in front of the fences. And while they achieved that to some level, they also added another thing–objects, another wood tone, and a chore, really–evergreen hedges were what the deck really needed. Last month, we cut the deck straight across at the fireplace and reconfigured the supports and just last week brought in more mature arborvitae (the plan is to keep them trimmed as they grow so they don’t exceed the height of the fireplace) and the heavens parted. It’s just what we needed out here.

The larger 3-seater sofas were a reminder of the importance of scale to me. We had this huge, sprawling deck and larger furniture is just more expensive, so instead we filled it with a bunch of smaller pieces because it was more budget-friendly, but also because we love to entertain and have people over!

These 3-seater sofas (a part of the Whitewash Sevilla Outdoor Collection from World Market) fit our space so much better and allowed a lot more breathing room while still accommodating family and friends. Plus! The price was right (we got them on sale and they’re having a sale right now, too!)

The number one question we always get is how do we keep our outdoor furniture clean?  You can read this post where we talk about that and you probably saw a few photos up, we have a big cover we put over the whole thing if inclement weather is about to hit or if the pollen (or cotton! gosh the cotton right now!) is bad.

But the truth is, summers around here are Idaho’s best kept secret. We live in a dry climate that never gets too hot and we basically live out here until from May to late September/October. We haven’t dug out outdoor dining table and chairs out from storage yet, but that hasn’t stopped the girls from bringing all their snacks outside. World Market asked us if there was a specific refreshment we enjoy with our girls out here and Chris makes an amazing Peach Mint Lemonade that feels so fresh this time of year. Recipe below!

Peach Mint Lemonade
Water – 2 quarts
Lemon Juice – 1/2 cup, fresh squeezed
Sugar – 1/2 cup
Torani Peach Syrup – 1/4 cup
Mint – 2 sprigs w/ 4-6 leaves on each
Lemon Slices – 3
Ice – 3 cups
Directions
In a pitcher, combiner the water, lemon juice, sugar and peach syrup. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add the mint, lemon slices, and ice, and stir a couple times. Serve cold. We love using this unbreakable acrylic pitcher and stemless glasses outside.

We’ll share more as soon as we have the rest of our furnishings set up out here but if there’s one thing we love sharing most, it’s how our spaces evolve and how OKAY that is.

You can see more of how we use our space as a date night in (and Chris’s snack he whipped up just for us!) over on World Market’s blog right here.

SOURCES

Whitewash 3 Seater Sofa
Warm Diamond Pillow
Black and White Kilim Pouf
Macrame Pillow
Black and White striped lumbar pillow
12.5″ Barcelona Vase
Black Bamboo Lanterns
All Weather Wicker Accent Stool
Area Rug
DIY Fireplace
Coffee Table

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What do you think?

  1. Mimi says:

    I may have missed it but do you have a link to the umbrella? Thanks, and love your space!

  2. Jessica says:

    LOVE your deck!! Thanks so much for sharing your process. As I’ve been updating our backyard and we’ve started hanging out back there, there is one thing that really is a pain – the mosquitoes!! Do you guys have that problem? Do you do anything about it? We love being outside, but…the little buggers make it kinda suck.

  3. Shellica says:

    Hi! We have a deck my husband and FIL built, but it seems so dirty all the time that I hate the kids touching the railing or playing on their knees. Its like brake dust thick dust that settles and embeds itself over time. We’ve stained it a couple of times because the kids like to play water on it but we cant keep up with 3 kids. Do you think its worth it to replace the tops (deck tops & railings) to trex? Is yours built with trex? We’re trying to make whats there work and add cement around for the kids to play basketball in and ride their ride-ons hopefully beforee summer ends.

    • Chris says:

      Trex is a great material, though you’ll still need to clean it. We pressure wash our deck weekly – sometimes twice weekly – to keep it clean.

  4. Norma says:

    Do you have a link to the furniture cover/tarp?

  5. Gina Boston says:

    Love your outdoor space. It is ahhhmazing!!! I was wondering if you had a source for the pitcher and glasses you have your Peach Mint Lemonade in? Any feedback you have would be great! Love all that you do! Thank you for sharing.

  6. Sarah says:

    Stunning. What a beautiful space; the changes you made are just perfect. I can well understand basically living out there for the next few months!

    Are the silver dollar/eucalyptus sprays those that you’ve shared before, from Pottery Barn? Please say no! I so very badly want them, but they are out of stock at PB. Really hoping that you’re going to say these are a different source (or are they real? They look real!).

  7. Jessica F says:

    Hi! We love your outdoor space and are contemplating purchasing these exact couches! However when we sat in these couches the cushions seemed stiff to us. Have you noticed do that they soften over time? I understand you just purchased these, but did you notice the cushions soften with the last couches you had (assuming those were world market too)? Thank you!!

  8. Christina Knight says:

    I’ve been stalking World Market waiting for the three seater sofa to come back in stock.Our newly built pergola is up and stained and waiting!!! I’m with you on scale.For now we are trying to enjoy the space in camping chairs until they are back in stock.????

  9. Jamie says:

    It looks great this season! Loving the more simplified look. I agree, the scale of those sofas is so much better for that enormous space! (I do think you need a larger coffee table out there now though haha.. doesn’t it always snowball like that?!)

    • Julia says:

      Haha, I’ve felt that too! Maybe next year. :)

      • Zoe says:

        I was gonna say the same thing about the coffee table. Maybe another round table that’s slightly smaller than the other one would be a good addition. It would fill the space and make it so each side has a table closer to them. I guess in my head I’m thinking of these like nesting tables…

  10. Danielle says:

    So pretty! I love seeing the transition! And love seeing the old pic of Charley – and new ones of Willow. :)

  11. Stefanie says:

    have you thought of a pool?

  12. Jessica says:

    Looking so welcoming! Can’t wait to see it at night with the string lights! p.s. hi Willow, I see you back there!

  13. Laura says:

    Love this!!! Such a cheerful, welcoming space. I see why your family spends so much time out here!

  14. Love it! Did I miss the post about your outdoor grill situation or will you be putting that up soon? Remember watching it on Instagram but not sure I ever saw the final result.

  15. Bethany says:

    Love your deck now more than ever!

  16. Kelsey G says:

    Willow is such a good model.

  17. Patricia says:

    And I thought it looked great before! But better now. What will you do with the former planters?

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