Outdoor Project Accomplished!

We have lived in this house 20 years and the chain link fence around the pool was on the list to replace, you know how those lists go, for years and years. It was just not in the budget to have the kind of custom wooden or iron fence we wanted professionally done.

My husband got the brilliant idea this winter of using the existing metal posts that are in concrete, so we didn't have to dig new post holes.  He  built a 4" x 4"x 54" long box around each pole (securing the wood with metal straps to the pole) and then screwed the horizontal boards to the new wooden post. Because it is taller than a deck fence and 'stock' slats, we had to custom make each slat 48" tall. 

We started our pool yard fence project mid April, and I was complaining about how hard it was in this post . By Mother's Day we had done about 10 sections and were doubting we would meet our goal of completion by pool opening Memorial Day.  My son came home for my birthday and Mother's Day and helped us whip out 13 sections in 2 days- best present ever!  We put the last section up this weekend and are starting on the finishing touches.

We need to get some hardware for our custom double gates and put a few finishing touches on, but basically we are done.  It is so rewarding to look out there and see that we made this entire fence ourselves.  The materials cost us aprox. $1700 and the labor was free! I feel a huge sense of accomplishment and we saved thousands of dollars.  Thank God I don't have to paint it 'til the fall or spring, since it has to 'season', but I am really liking it this natural wood color.

Thanks for following along and enjoy your short week! 

P.S. Don't forget to check out this and other featured DIYS the last Friday of each month on the Best of the Nest!

prepwork

I need to get to work on sprucing up my porch and yard on the cheap.  My husband and I made the decision to not put much more money into our home as we plan to move this time next year.  I've got the foundations to make a cute patio but just need to add the springtime herbs, potted plants and maybe a nice mosquito plant! Here's the vision.

I got this cute awning last year and it's added so much charm to the outside of our cedar-sided cottage.  I highly recommend it!  The sitting area was super inexpensive, too, but needs a fresh coat of paint or stain.  The pillows are a steal right now and come in the best colors! And the indoor/outdoor rug was also a great deal and helps Winston scoot around outside. The rest we'll have to keep to bare minimums in order to spruce up on a dime.

To Do:

Paint chairs and table black - $

Add a tall planter with mosquito plant - $$

Stain deck (possible powerwash again?) - $$

Add herbs and potted plants to the deck for easy picking! - $

What's on your to-do list this spring?

mosquito plant!

Funny to think about summer preparations when spring is taking a long time to get here!  I saw this brilliant mosquito-repeller plant and vowed to make my own for my deck and surrounding areas.  I live in the woods and it's unbearable to even sit outside, so here's hoping this help!

The finished product that I saw online - a neat menagerie of the potted variety.

Have you tested something like this? Does it really help?

bethany potter

You know how it's Operation Spruce Up around these parts?  Well, step one is complete. I got me a new door!  

My family asked what I wanted for my 31st birthday last month and I kept telling them I really wanted a new front door.  Mom and my husband could tell you stories for days about how incredibly particular I am and how painful all of the returns of miss-the-mark gift returns are on both the ego and the confidence. And, in hindsight, I regret being 'picky' (is that what you'd call it? yes, I suppose that will work) with other's gifts.  I wish I just crammed a sock in it and lied that I liked it.  Ahh, must be the age speaking.  Where we were?  Oh yes, the door.

So my lovely family pulled together and gave me some gift cards and some cold hard cash (for fear of making this huge decision themselves) with which I purchased my new front door!  

My aunt Carolyn has a french-door leading from her kitchen to her laundry room and I've always thought it was so distinct because the glass was beveled and there are always beautiful light prisms amid the lites.  I set out to find the same feature in my new front door. I don't do 'decorative' and I wanted full light through it, so I am super pleased with my new door. Mine will be black, but this will give you an idea.

We also bought the whole lot of Endless Summer hydrageas that the local neighborhood garden store carried and are planning to plant these suckers tomorrow. Pray for me, peeps.  I kill all things green.

We're also hanging the new shutters and just getting our hands good and dirty.  Mom and I saw a beautiful petite Lutyens bench at Home Goods while accessory shopping this week, but sadly it was broken in a few places.  And the price wasn't right enough. This sure would look good in just about any yard, eh?

And I keep deliberating on adding an awning to our side entrance.  Practicality-wise, it'd be really nice on rainy days.  But I don't know if they are just too busy.  Then I saw this pic, and I think they are charming!  What to do, what to do!

Oh, after a long winter indoors, we found out we've got MOLES.  Anyone know a pet-friendly way to get rid of them (oxymoron?)??

What are you up to this weekend?  I hope you get to enjoy some beautiful weather.

Bethany

Looking for help with your home? We have consulting services starting at $50. Contact us today for information.

Sprucing up

We spend all winter prettying up the insides of our homes and now everyone starts to focus on the outside and sprucing up after the ugly and grey of winter subsides.  I for one need to get to work on my yard.

I'm making a list of my to-dos. 

Right before winter, we took out that big tree in front of the house along with some others on the side.  We're loving the extra light we get inside now!  We plan to plant hydrangea bushes, which will do well in the shade we have.  

I find the keys never turn quick enough when it's pouring outside, so a nice little awning would help at the side door.

bench | wellies | awning | hydrangeas

The majority of the work we have to do is good ol' fashion elbow grease.  We have to put some shutters up on the lonely window on the left (photoshopped them in on the above pic) and then paint the others a corresponding black.  Right now they are the color white you'd expect to find in the woods - a tinge green.  My wonderful hubby and Mom gave me money towards a new front door for my birthday and I'm anxiously awaiting the day we get to go pick it out!  I'd like to increase the light even more by adding a paned glass door similar to the one I added above.  Right now, we have a very sad builder's grade door that I tried to paint teal.  Lipstick on a pig.

On beautiful days where the chilly air burns off, aren't you catching the sprucing up bug?!

Have a great weekend!

-Bethany

Looking for help with your home? We have consulting services starting at $50. Contact us today for information.