This time of the year is my favorite. The evenings are still cool despite the warmer days arriving. I love to sit outside on my patio. One of the smartest things Mr. Bee and I did recently was to take our existing wrought iron furniture and have it sand blasted and powder coated with new paint. I wish I had taken before photos so that you could see the transformation. I can’t believe how much better our furniture looks — like new and for a fraction of what we would have spent on brand new furniture.
We did invest in new outdoor cushions. We visited Chair King and the staff were extremely helpful and knowledgable on how to help us select the perfect fabric and cushion size we needed. Miss Bee picked out the stripes. She thought the black and cream was neutral enough to allow us to change up the accent pillows. I think she was right. The chaise lounge chair has become a favorite spot for Hobbes.
The swing above came from Walmart several years ago, but the top had been worn and damaged from the sun and wind. Mr. Bee had an awning company make a new top for it. The nice thing about the swing is that the back reclines to make a sleeper! Note to Mr. Bee: The firepit needs some love with new paint, too.
We purchased the table and chairs from KMart about 10 years ago. It was very well made, but the sun had taken a beating on the finish. We had them re-done in a oil rubbed bronze and added the new cushions. We also decided to place it under the porch instead of on the open patio so we could get more enjoyment in the shade while protecting the finish. Mr. Bee added cafe lights to the ceiling.
Next in the series…how to make your patio an extension of your home.
Hospitality is in my DNA. I founded Home with a Twist, a daughter’s twist on her mother’s traditions, in memory of my mother to celebrate her life and the gifts she shared with me. Mother loved to celebrate life’s occasions – big and small.
