Patio of the Week: Bargain Pieces Take a Sunny Outdoor Room High End
“I am such a do-it-yourselfer type, but my husband is not the fixer-upper type," says San Diego photographer Christine Blackburn. It's all good, because he leaves the design decisions up to her.
Itching to jazz up a courtyard patio on the side of their house, she knew she had the creative skills to do it without much help from the hubby. Always looking for creative ways to make the most of their space and hand-me-downs rejected by family members, Blackburn chronicles her projects on her blog, Simply Tangerine.
She did have some help from friends and family when it came time to outfit the patio, though. They pitched in with a very green thumb, a Christmas monetary gift earmarked to go toward patio furniture and a bargain on an umbrella.
If you've ever bought a matching set of patio furniture and felt like it was too matchy-matchy, take a look. Blackburn's patio is a great example of how to accessorize a matching set to create a stylish and cheerful outdoor room.
Patio at a Glance
Location: San Diego
Size: 20 feet by 20 feet
Budget: About $1,300
French doors from both the dining room (shown here) and living room lead to this side courtyard patio. The concrete slab and some of the plantings were already in place, but it was otherwise a blank slate.
Like most people, Blackburn and her husband did not have a lot of extra cash after closing on their home, so for Christmas her husband's parents gave them money earmarked for patio furniture. She used it toward this wicker set that was on sale at Patio Furniture Plus for $1,000.
The set included the two chairs, sofa, ottoman, table, cushions and blue throw pillows. Blackburn was determined to get the patio furnished immediately, and design adrenaline kicked in. She skillfully fit it all in her SUV, hauled it home and set it up by herself.
"This is the area of the yard that gets the most sun, so the sofa is my private sunbathing area," she says. The cushions and pillow covers are removable, so they can be washed with ease. Blackburn picked up the orange pillow for $15 at Home Depot.
The patio is a natural outdoor extension of the living room. A pergola just past the patio helps define the space and adds a classic element.
Blackburn scooped up these metal lanterns for $15 each at Big Lots, outfitted them with tea lights and hung them with fishing wire from the pergola.
The tea lights create a beautiful glow in the lanterns at night.
Café lights from Bed, Bath and Beyond add to the nighttime ambiance.
During the day the large umbrella provides shade. Blackburn bought it brand new from a friend's parents for $50. The umbrella stand was $29 at Bed, Bath and Beyond.
Blackburn's mother-in-law loves to garden and to shop at a large discount nursery nearby, Altman Specialty Plants. Her own yard is already complete, so she's happy to create pots of plants for the family.
"I love the color my mother-in-law's flowers and pots bring to the patio," Blackburn says.
Another great bargain was this outdoor rug. She found it on sale for $34 at Home Depot at the end of the season.
Tip: If you have the patience, wait until stores mark down outdoor furniture for some great deals. This typically happens around the time they are filling up with back-to-school items, in late July and early August.
The sofa, two chairs and ottoman around the coffee table are just the spot for conversation, family time and ladies' margarita nights. While the family has another patio off the back of the house complete with a barbecue, fire pit and dining set, they enjoy having meals out on the side courtyard as well. "It's a more intimate space," Blackburn says.
The pergola casts an interesting shadow on the side of the house. The sun on the wall was a housewarming gift from Blackburn's sister years ago.
Altogether, the furniture layout and accessorizing have transformed a lot of big-box-store bargain items into big style.
More: Get more outdoor ideas in the Houzz Patio section
