Project Reveal // Updated Patio Table

I've been hinting at several projects still in the works that will complete our backyard reno this summer. One of these was a make-over of our existing patio table set. We considered upgrading to a brand new set this year. After all, the patio table and chairs we already owned had been painted and repainted several times over the past 8 years. 

But I really liked our garage sale find chairs and the structure of our old IKEA table and decided to try my hand at updating them once more. 

If you are following me along on Instagram, you've likely already seen a partial reveal. For those of you  who are not, behold - a modern re-do on our old patio dining set.

We repurposed the old base, painting it black to match the new paint on the chairs. The old tabletop was weathered beyond repair and needed to be ditched. 

A quick trip (or three) to Home Depot and I returned with some pre-cut pieces of birch that would form our new table top. They were in pretty good shape to begin with, but I sanded all sides of each board down to a smooth finish before then staining all sides. 

I enlisted The Mister to help me put it all together. On the underside, we ran four boards vertically to allow for extra support and durability. Once constructed, the tabletop was screwed back into the painted  IKEA metal base and then coated several times in Varathane for weather and sun protection.

These favorite chairs were picked up as leftovers from a garage sale that had largely sold through and get this... for a mere $10. When we originally bought them, they were a rusty chrome. Eventually, we painted them white and that look held us over for several years. 

Currently, I'm feeling the black paired with warm wood vibe and this new combination is quite at home in our redesigned backyard. Our patio bar on the opposite side of the yard is constructed of the same wood and stained the same light walnut. 

Eventually, we will probably swap out the seat cushions for a darker fabric. For now, they are in pretty decent shape and we will probably squeeze one more year out of them.

Despite all the weeknight labor that went into this, it was a really satisfying project. We're already planning for lots of al fresco, poolside dinners this summer.

Weekday Siesta + Plans for a Backyard Hammock

I know it's only Tuesday and many of us have just enjoyed a long holiday weekend, but who's up for a little weekday siesta? I know just the place... 

As far as I'm concerned, there are few things as transportive as a hammock. There is a little 10 room hotel out in the California desert where one summer not too long ago, The Mister and I retreated to after a particularly long and stressful work week. We arrived wired, tired and disconnected. But I'll always remember how quickly that all dissipated once we eyed the hammock the hotel had stretched out between two trees by the pool. We couldn't throw down our luggage and kick off our shoes fast enough. Together we climbed in and just like that, we were somewhere else, far, far away... just the two of us. 

Inspiration Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

In our never-ending quest to make our home truly a retreat for ourselves, we've continued to work on the poolside layout and have made plans to incorporate a hammock. There are so many to choose from, but I've personally got my heart set on one of these beauties:

Veronica Colindres on Etsy