Outdoor Decor Archives - Blue i Style

Modern Rooftop Deck Design Tips & Inspiration

blueistyle — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 20:05:00 +0000

While rooftop decks were once an amenity reserved for swanky hotels and high end apartment complexes, the popularity of residential rooftop decks has been on the rise in the past decade. Whether it’s to take advantage of better views from this elevated vantage point, or to gain more outdoor space on a small city lot, realtors report that in many markets rooftop decks help to sell homes and can provide a great return on investment.

After giving our rooftop deck a complete makeover this spring, as well as recently working on rooftop deck design projects for a couple of clients, I’ve realized that the design considerations for these spaces can be a bit different than for a traditional backyard patio project, so I wanted to share some design considerations and tips to help you plan a space that you will really use and enjoy!

1. Give a Rooftop Deck a Defined Purpose & Design It Accordingly

When we bought our home, I was in love with the idea of our rooftop deck! Living in an urban neighborhood, we have a very small backyard, so the roof deck nearly doubles our outdoor living space. But I made one big mistake when first furnishing the deck – I didn’t stop to think about how we would really use it, and as a result, we didn’t really use it.

The design of the deck needs to fit your lifestyle andadd something that your other outdoor space doesn’t offer, otherwise it runs the risk of becoming out of sight, out of mind. That’s exactly what happened to us. We initially put a couple of lounge chairs and an outdoor dining table on our roof deck, and then for the next decade, we rarely used the space. Finally we took the time to think out how we’d really use the space and we redesigned the deck to better fit our families’ lifestyle.

Here are some rooftop deck uses to consider:

Dining. Think realistically about whether you’ll use the space for outdoor dining. Will you want to transport all of the food, plates and drinks up to the deck each time you want to eat outside?

For us, we have a small backyard right of the kitchen, so it was easier for us to BBQ in the backyard and use our rooftop deck for a different purpose. If your rooftop deck is your only outdoor space, then it can make good sense to use this deck for BBQing and dining al fresco.

Image from TimberTech

If you plan to use your rooftop deck for cooking and dining, in addition to a BBQ and an outdoor dining table, you’ll want to equip the space with other items to make it more convenient. Add storage space for BBQ tools, and consider storing your outdoor plates and flatware on the roof deck as well. This will save you a few extra trips at the front end of the meal, and you’ll only have to bring everything inside to do the dishes. Also consider adding an outdoor mini-fridge or a large rolling cooler to keep drinks cold in the heat of summer so you won’t have to run inside for each refill.

Entertaining. Is the rooftop deck a space where you’ll want to entertain friends and guests, or will you use this space more privately? A roof deck – especially one with lots of square footage or great views – can be a great place to host a party, but be sure to consider the logistics.

Do you want to take all of your guests upstairs through other parts of your home to access the rooftop deck? If guests don’t all arrive at the same time, will you hate running down the stairs over and over to answer the front door and show them up to the deck?

If entertaining on your rooftop deck fits your lifestyle, then be sure to design the space accordingly with lots of seating and space for people to easily move around. Choose flexible furnishings, such as garden stools that can do double duty as a side tables or extra seating.

Image from TimberTech

Lounging. If neither dining nor entertaining on your rooftop deck fit your lifestyle, then the deck can be an ideal family space for relaxing and lounging. In this case, comfort should be key! Consider adding deep couches with ottomans, hammocks, or even a swing bed for the ultimate in rooftop lounging.

Since our rooftop deck is located off of our master bedroom, we want to use it primarily as a cozy outdoor living room, but because we already have a patio in the backyard, I knew I needed to give the deck a defined purpose in order for us to really use it. We decided to use our deck as an outdoor movie theater for warm summer nights. [Read this post for more on how we set the space up for outdoor movie watching.]

2. Choose Decking That’s Durable & Makes a Design Statement

These days, most contractors and homeowners are choosing composite decking for rooftop decks. Our rooftop deck has a capped composite decking, and after living in our home for eleven years, it’s still in great condition and has required minimal maintenance.

Durability. I recently asked TimberTech, who is generously sponsoring this post, for more information on the benefits of composite decking, and why it’s the best choice for a roof deck. I learned that synthetic boards are engineered to withstand heat and moisture, so they don’t fade, splinter, warp, or split. Additionally, they’re much lighter than natural wood, too, making them a great choice for a rooftop outdoor space.

Make a Design Statement. Beyond durability, TimberTech’s capped composite decking provides lots of opportunities to make a major design statement. When designing a backyard, you can use a wide variety of landscaping materials and plants to create visual interest, but when designing a deck instead, you have to get a bit more creative.

Photo from TimberTech

Multiple Widths. TimberTech AZEK deck boards now come in three different widths – narrow (3.5″), standard (5.5″), and wide (7.25′). With multi-width decking, you can choose the board width that best fits your style, or you can mix and match for a more dramatic deck design statement. See the color options and more multiple-width inspiration photos here.

Photo from TimberTech

Multiple Colors. Composite decking comes in a wide variety of color options that mimic wood varieties, allowing you to choose the one that best fits the style you desire for your rooftop deck. Of course, you don’t have to choose just one color. The TimberTech PRO Legacy Collection provides color combinations that allow you to create a more custom deck design. You can find recommended color duos here.

Photo from TimberTech

Play with Angles. If you want to get even more creative, lay your decking in an interesting design. When inlaid into a deck, a design – such as herringbone – can define a seating or dining area and eliminate the need for an outdoor rug, making it a far more durable design choice! If you choose a specific design for the entire deck surface, keep scale in mind so that it doesn’t become to visually busy. Learn how to create this inlaid herringbone pattern deck here.

Photo from TimberTech

Use the TimberTech Deck Designer Tool for help with every step in the process. From deck design inspiration and sampling colors, to creating a plan and estimating costs, right up to building – TimberTech has the resources you need for each step in the project.

3. Rooftop Deck Decor Tips

Play Up the Surroundings. Since rooftop decks are all about the views, when deciding how to decorate, play up the surroundings without distracting from them. For a rooftop deck overlooking the city, consider sleek, modern furnishings. If your rooftop deck has an ocean view, decor inspired by the colors of the beach, like sandy browns, whites and blues.

Our rooftop deck is smack in the middle of a neighborhood surrounded by mature trees, so we decided to play up the tree-top vibe by decorating in blues and greens to match the sky and the leaves.

Decorate with Plants. Adding natural elements is very important when designing a rooftop deck – you are outside after all: sun-tolerant flowers can add a nice pop of color; low maintenance succulents can provide lots of texture and visual interest; large pots filled with lush grasses can add needed height and scale; and climbing plants on a trellis can help to soften the hard edges of a roof deck.

In addition to choosing plants that can thrive in lots of intense sun, but be sure to consider the logistics of watering plants on the deck. Do you have access to a hose or other water source, or will you need to carry a full watering can up and down the stairs?

Don’t be afraid to opt for faux plants if maintaining life plants on your roof deck isn’t feasible. You can add the vibe of natural elements to the space with art and decor – like the large scale Agave canvas art {affiliate link} that I chose for our roof deck.

Add Lighting. Be sure you can enjoy your rooftop deck from day into night with ambient lighting. Bistro lights wrapped around railings or strung overhead add just the right amount of sparkle. Lanterns filled with candles (battery operated makes a safe choice) can add a romantic glow.

Plan for the Seasons. You’ll want to use your rooftop desk for as much of the year as the weather allows, so take this into account when planning the space. Consider adding a trellis for shade from the harsh summer sun. Add some outdoor throw blankets, or even a heat lamp for cool summer and fall evenings. And be sure to create a plan for storing your cushions and decor during snowy winters. Adding some deck storage boxes can save you the hassle of carrying everything inside and down the stairs each winter.

Image from TimberTech

The post Modern Rooftop Deck Design Tips & Inspiration appeared first on Blue i Style.

Modern Rooftop Deck Makeover

blueistyle — Thu, 09 May 2019 02:58:00 +0000

Denver weather is unpredictable in the spring, so I knew it was risky to take on an outdoor project for the One Room Challenge. We’ve had snow no less than 3 times during the five weeks of this challenge, and rain and thunderstorms everyday this week leading up to reveal day. On Monday, I had resigned myself to the fact that I likely wouldn’t be able to take photos of our new rooftop deck in time to meet the end ORC deadline. Fortunately, a brief break in the rain gave me the hour I needed to quickly stage everything and snap some photos before another downpour began.

My quick photo session was gray, dreary, and damp… and I definitely plan to retake the photos on a warmer, blue sky day. But for now, I’m just so excited to share this space with you. Almost as excited as I am to start enjoying our new outdoor living room when the weather finally decides to cooperate.

This post contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something I recommend, you’ll pay the same price, but I may receive a small commission.

ROOFTOP DECK: BEFORE

To fully appreciate the transformation, let me remind you where we started. Our home is built on three levels with just our master bedroom and bathroom on the top floor. Off of the master suite is a wrap around deck. When we first bought our home, I was so excited about the rooftop deck. I envisioned Scott and I spending our summer evenings out there entertaining friends and enjoying the mountain views. We bought a few lounge chairs (it turns out were not really lounge chair people) and a small table and chairs (why? we would never carry food up two flights of stairs when we have a patio right off the kitchen!).

Fast forward eleven years and two kids, and that deck has become nothing more than an abandoned space that we’ve never once used as a family. My goal for this One Room Challenge was to create a comfortable outdoor family room where our family can relax on summer evenings.

PLANNING FOR AN OUTDOOR MOVIE THEATER

I initially assumed we’d put new seating in the same spot where the lounge chairs used to be, but as I worked on the plans, I decided I wanted to take advantage of the large, white stucco wall to turn this space into an outdoor movie theater when the sun goes down.

I love the idea of projecting movies onto this white stucco wall on warm summer nights, but if I was going to orient the seating toward this wall, it needed to also be a focal point by day as well.

I chose a large piece of Agave canvas art in vibrant blues and greens. The colors tie in perfectly with the treetops and blue skies {wishful thinking today} surrounding this rooftop deck. I used a simple DIY hack to weatherproof this canvas art for the outdoors.

Even at 35″ square, alone on the wall this canvas would have felt very small on this large white wall. To balance out the scale, I hung black and white striped outdoor curtains on either side of the art. I chose a black powder coated curtain rod that will also hold up well in the elements.

When the sun goes down, we can simply take the canvas down and push the curtains a bit further to each side, and the white wall will transform into our movie screen! I’ll be sure to photograph this when the weather is nice enough for us to watch our first outdoor movie, but it will look something like this…

ROOFTOP DECK SEATING

The two lounge chairs we had on this deck previously weren’t practical for our family of four, and certainly didn’t allow room for us to invite friends over. Our new, cozy outdoor turn couch is big enough for the whole family and then some.

We bought this couch from AtHome and I especially love the built in side tables on each end, which are perfect for drinks and popcorn. Since the kitchen is two floors below our rooftop deck, I bought a black and white striped galvanized beverage tub that we can fill with ice and drinks to keep us refreshed on summer nights.

If you don’t have an AtHome near you, I found a very similar grey outdoor couch with lots of configuration options, including matching side tables that could be used in place of the built in side tables on my couch.

For even more seating, I added two low profile, modern outdoor chairs. These chairs are extra wide, and pitched back in a way that will make them very comfortable for relaxing and movie watching.

These chairs are made from a woven, weather-resistant wicker, and they are light-weight and easy to move around as needed to get everyone a great view.

Since the evenings cool down in Denver, I tossed an outdoor blanket over the back of one of the chairs. I bought this blanket at a boutique in Breckenridge last year, but I recently spotted a very similar one at another store – so I’ll probably pick up another couple to make sure we can enjoy this rooftop retreat from the spring all the way through the fall.

ROOFTOP DECK DESIGN

I initially tested out a rectangular coffee table in this space, but the proportions just weren’t right. The round outdoor coffee table I ended up choosing was super affordable, and fits so much better in the space. As a bonus, the round coffee table has no corners for me to bang my knees on when we’re watching movies in the dark {since I’m notoriously clumsy}.

Two round, bright green garden stools next to each chair add additional spots for drinks (and accessories). These stools are currently out of stock, but you could get the identical stool in white and paint it with green outdoor spray paint for a quick and easy DIY.

The vibrant outdoor rug is one of my favorite parts of this space. I purchased it a couple of years ago {it’s been in storage until now}, and unfortunately it’s no longer available. I’ve been searching for similar rugs to share with you, and I really love this black and white medallion outdoor rug. It doesn’t have the same bold colors, but it is similar in style.

I purchased the outdoor lanterns on the coffee table from AtHome (white ceramic lantern |

metal & wood open lantern), but you can find tons of stylish lantern options at your favorite stores. In the open lantern, I added two mini potted faux plants (mini potted grass | mini potted succulent).

Like the rug, the green pillows were purchased a couple of years ago, and no longer available. But these modern green and white outdoor pillows paired with these graphic black and white outdoor pillows are a great alternative.

Thanks for stopping by to see my new rooftop retreat! I promise to update the photos when we get some nicer weather!

COMPLETE SOURCE LIST

FURNITURE:

Grey Wicker Chairs

Grey Outdoor Turn Couch

Round Metal Coffee Table

Green Garden Stool (sold out at most stores)

White Garden Stool (same shape, could be painted with green outdoor spray paint)

ART/MOVIE THEATER WALL:

Agave Canvas Art

Powder-Coated Outdoor Curtain Rod

Black and White Striped Outdoor Curtains (similar)

Plant Stands (painted with Carbon Mist spray paint)

White Potted Grasses

ACCESSORIES:

Black and White Outdoor Blanket (similar)

Black and White Medallion Outdoor Rug (similar)

Barcelona Vase

Tropical Leaf Stem

Palm Stem

Tropical Leaf Outdoor Pillow

Black and White Striped Beverage Tub with Green Interior

White Ceramic Lantern

Metal & Wood Open Lantern

Mini Potted Grass

Mini Potted Succulent

White Faceted Planter (similar)

Tropical Potted Plant

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How to Choose the Right Moving Glass Wall System For Your Home

blueistyle — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 00:24:00 +0000

Summer is in full swing and we are practically living in our backyard. I work out there in the mornings, the boys play all afternoon, then it’s time for dinner on the patio, and we’ve even been reading the boys library books under the glow of our patio string lights before bed. I absolutely love the outdoor room we’ve created, but the one thing that would make it better transition between indoors and out. My dream is a wide open moving glass wall system that looks something like this…

Instead we just have a single door that leads from our kitchen to the backyard, and when we entertain, we end up with quite a traffic jam in that narrow doorway. I really enjoy our outdoor fireplace, but sadly it prevents us from installing the moving glass walls of wide-open, indoor-outdoor living dreams.

I’m really not sure if we’ll ever move, because we love our neighborhood so much, but I’m constantly collecting photos and ideas that I’d want to incorporate if ever build a custom home. High on the priority list would definitely be creating the ultimate open concept floor plan with seamless transition between the inside and out.

For those of you who a bit closer to building your dream home, or renovating your current house for better indoor-outdoor living, I wanted to share some tips for choosing the right moving glass wall system for your home, with the help of my friends over at Milgard Windows and Doors, who are sponsoring this post.

IS A MOVING GLASS WALL SYSTEM A GOOD FIT FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE?

Moving glass walls are a perfect choice for expanding your indoor/outdoor space and allowing your family and friends to enjoy the space without feeling separated. They are ideal for opening an indoor room into an outdoor living space, or opening a kitchen up to an outdoor dining room.

Sliding or folding glass walls allow lots of flexibility for you to decide how to use the space depending on the weather and the occasion. Even when closed, glass walls will flood the room with natural light and help you feel connected to the outdoors.

If you’re lucky enough to have a home with a view – whether it’s the mountains, golf course, lake, ocean, city skyline, or just a beautiful backyard, a moving glass wall system is a great way to ensure you fully enjoy the view from inside, as well as out. Even when the glass walls are closed, you’ll have a mural of the outdoors right there to enjoy!

WHICH TYPE OF MOVING GLASS WALL SYSTEM IS RIGHT FOR YOUR HOME?

It used to be that moving glass walls were only available as a custom option when building a new, high-end home. But Milgard has made all three styles of moving glass walls – bi-fold, stacking, and pocket – available in standard and custom sizes and configurations, making them more accessible to all home owners. It’s important to understand the differences between each as you consider which would work best for your space and your needs.

BI-FOLD GLASS WALLS

With bi-fold glass wall systems, the glass panels open like an accordion, with each panel of the door folding on top of the next. This type of door is a good choice for replacement door projects because the weight of the door is bottom loaded, meaning that you don’t need a structural support beam above the doors to support the weight.

Each bi-fold glass panel is surrounded by an aluminium frame, which can be a desired aesthetic, but also leads to a more obstructed view when the panels are closed, as compared to sliding glass wall options. Keep this in mind if the view is top priority or if a more “invisible” look is what you’re after.

Also don’t forget to take into account the floor space that bi-fold doors will take up on the patio. Bi-fold doors stack perpendicular to the opening, so in the open position the width of each panel will sit out onto the patio. However, unlike bi-fold glass doors from some other brands that take up floor space both inside and outside, Milgard’s bi-fold glass walls only encroach on the outside space, making interior furniture placement easier.

STACKING GLASS WALLS

With stacking glass walls, each panel slides along a track and stacks one in front of the other. Depending on the size of your opening, and the number of panels, you’ll have between 3 and 6 tracks. When fully open, stacking glass walls provide a streamlined look that lets in tons of natural light and fresh air.

I’ve heard a few friends complain that their glass walls can be heavy and hard to maneuver when all stacked up, or that they can easily get off track. But Milgard Moving Glass Walls open and close easily because they are designed with tandem stainless steel ball bearing rollers that are strong enough to carry door panels nearly double the size, allowing them to operate smoothly and effortlessly with the push of a finger, despite their large size. This is especially important in a house with kids!

POCKET GLASS WALLS

If what you really want are glass panels that completely disappear from view when the door is open, pocket glass walls are the choice for you! As the panels slide open, they tuck into a wall pocket out of sight. This style of moving glass wall system is a great way to seamlessly connect two spaces, while still having the option to close them off when needed.

Milgard now offers pocket glass walls in custom sizes for retrofit and replacement patio door projects. But because pocket glass walls slide into the wall, these will require a bit more effort to add to an existing home, both to create the pocket in the wall that is wide enough to accommodate all of the glass panels, and to add any needed additional structural support.

FRAME & STYLE OPTIONS

Once you select the type of glass wall system you want, you’ll need to make some color and style decisions. Milgard’s moving glass wall systems have there are two frame styles to choose from. The bi-fold glass walls come in 4 aluminum color options, and the stacking and pocket glass walls come in a choice of all-aluminum or aluminum clad wood. The all-aluminum option is very sleek and modern, and you can choose from a variety of colors to match your style and decor.The aluminum clad wood features a wood interior that you can paint or stain to match your interior decor, and a durable aluminum exterior available in a choice of designer colors. The aluminum clad wood doors can also be accessorized with grids if that fits the style of your home.

CREATE AN OUTDOOR LIVING ROOM

Once you have your dream moving wall system, make sure that you create a comfortable and inviting outdoor living space. Add a mixture of dining and living room style seating, including sofas and chairs. Add layers and textures to your outdoor space through rugs, pillows and accessories to give it the feeling of a room. Use a consistent or complimentary color palette to tie together your indoor and outdoor living spaces for a seamless transition. Get more outdoor living room decor tips in this post.

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Plant Recommendation: What to Plant Behind a Garden Bench

blueistyle — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 23:40:00 +0000

When we moved into our home, the small backyard left a lot to be desired, but over the years we transformed it, little by little, into our very own oasis in the city. One of my very favorite parts of our yard is the planter bench that provides seating on one side of our patio table. But finding the best plants for this garden bench proved more challenging than I originally expected. After weeks of online research, and a trip to just about every nursery in town, we finally stumbled upon the perfect solution. I’ve talked about the planter bench on the blog before, but I decided this soft and tall plant recommendation for behind a bench really deserves a post all its own.

Since we all love a good before and after, let’s flash back about eight years to how the yard looked when we first bought the house…

It was small – as most city yards are – but more than that, the space just wasn’t well used. The small concrete patio in front of our outdoor fireplace wasn’t large enough for comfortable seating and we had no space for a patio table. We knew we wanted to create a much larger patio for entertaining, and we bought furniture on an end of year clearance. We sat the furniture out to get an idea of how we wanted the space to function.

Then I came across this inspiration photo in Sunset Magazine and I immediately loved the idea of adding a planter bench along the stucco wall of our detached garage. It would require relocating the air conditioning unit around the corner of the garage, but I knew it would be worth it!

A built-in planter bench would solve two of our backyard challenges: (1) my desire to add some major style the giant white stucco wall of the garage, and (2) our need for additional seating. The bench could serve as seating on one side of the patio table, allowing us to put two chairs on the opposite side, as well as a chair on each end – taking the table from dinner for four to dinner for six (we can even fit 7 or 8 when the kids take the bench seat).

WHAT TO PLANT BEHIND A GARDEN BENCH?

Once the patio hardscaping and bench were complete, I was very eager to get something planted behind the bench right away… but what? From the inspiration photo in Sunset Magazine, I knew that soft grasses would end up flopping over the bench, making it hard to sit there. But when I researched stiffer grasses that grow tall and straight, we found that most are quite spiky and would be very uncomfortable to sit against.

Next I considered a crawling vine, but I learned that any vine that clasps a surface with suction cups or aerial rootlets can damage stucco, wood, and some masonry. Some climbing vines can be lattice-trained, but that wasn’t really the look I wanted for our more modern back patio.

I had some pretty specific requirements in mind, and finding something that ticked all the boxes proved challenging. I wanted a plant that would grow tall and straight, and would be soft against your back. I didn’t want anything flowering or that would attract bees near the dining table. I wanted something lush and green, and I needed it to do well in direct sunlight and grow well in a planter.

Finally, after lots of research and not much luck, we finally stumbled upon the perfect solutions while wandering the aisles at our local nursery (for about the 5th time).

PLANT RECOMMENDATION: Elegant FeatherElegant Feather (a sterile form of Eupatorium capillifolium), is a perennial in warmer zones, but only grows as an annual in my neck of the woods (Colorado). What makes Elegant Feather so fabulous for a planter bench is that its strong stems grow straight and tall while the vibrant green foliage is incredibly soft. Elegant Feather will grow upwards up 7 feet tall by the fall, and it’s soft as a feather. This is one plant that definitely earns its name!

Here’s a closer up look at the Elegant Feather – you can tell how gentle and soft the foliage is just by looking at it.

After buying pots of Elegant Feather at our local nursery for many years, last summer they stopped carrying it and we didn’t have any luck sourcing it anywhere else in Denver. I turned to the Internet and found an online nursery – Romance Gardens – that sells pots of Elegant Feather for a great price. I was a bit skeptical about buying plants online, but they arrived in great condition and thrived all summer.

This spring I purchased Elegant Feather online again, and once again the plants arrived looking good. I snapped this photo a couple of weeks ago when we were getting ready to plant in the garden bench.

When first planted, the stems are barely visible above the top of the bench…

…but before long they’ll be standing straight and tall! By mid-summer the Elegant Feather brushes the bottom of the outdoor art that hangs above our bench, and by the end of summer, it’s all enough to cover the art completely (at which point I take the canvas art down and just enjoy the foliage).

Our planter bench is watered by drip lines that run off of our sprinkler system and the Elegant Feather, which is in direct sun for most of the day, gets watered for 6-8 minutes each day (we increase it a bit as the plants get bigger). You’ll be able to tell if the plants need more water, because when the Elegant Feather gets to thirsty the tops will start to droop over. In the fall, the the foliage and stems dry out. We cut them down, and then dig out the roots the next spring when we are ready to plant again.

If you’ve lived in an area where the species form of Eupatorium capillifolium grows as a perennial, you may know that it can be an invasive weed. However, according to Romance Gardens, Elegant Feather is a selected, sterile form of this plant that doesn’t produce seed and will not be invasive.

MORE BACKYARD POSTS & TUTORIALS:

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Designing a Colorful Rooftop Deck

blueistyle — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 23:53:00 +0000

I’m working with a new client who has a very hip house near the city, with a modern and colorful vibe. We’re starting from scratch on a few rooms in the house, and sprucing up a couple more. Transforming the rooftop deck is his top priority, so we’re hurrying to finish it in time for him to enjoy a couple of months of warm patio weather before fall arrives.

I love working on design projects, and this time around I wanted to get you guys involved in the fun as well! Over the last couple of weeks I’ve asked you to share your opinions on Facebook and collectively create a rooftop deck design by voting first for your favorite outdoor rug, then couch, chairs, and finally an outdoor coffee table. I absolutely loved seeing what you guys chose in each round of voting, and hearing your thoughts about the options!

As promised, today I’m going to show you the initial plans that I put together for my client’s rooftop deck, as well as the final version of the plan after the client provided his input.

Let’s start with some context. The client’s house is half of a relatively new duplex in a popular urban neighborhood. It’s built on three levels, and the top floor includes a guest room and bathroom, as well as a bar that opens out onto a rooftop deck with west-facing Rocky Mountain views.

The bar has a vibrant orange countertop that reflects the owner’s fearless approach to decorating. My favorite of all design approaches!

Just beyond the end of the orange countertop is a sliding glass door that leads out to the rooftop deck – a space with a current vibe that could best be described as abandoned.

But this rooftop deck clearly has tons of potential! It just needs a little vision, comfy furniture, and some vibrant color to turn it into the coolest spot in the neighborhood!

The tall wall on the left side divides the deck from the neighbor, and it was definitely calling out for some way to dress it up!

When I’m designing a new space, I always like to start with an idea of how the space needs to function, and one key design element to build around. Let’s talk about the key design element first. I knew right away there needed to be at least a touch of orange in the patio color scheme, to tie in the bar countertop. The client also has of shades of teal throughout the house, and I noticed a lot of blue in the two band posters hanging in the bar.

With these colors in mind, I started shopping for a large, outdoor rug. These were five of my favorites:

SOURCE LIST: (contains affiliate links) Blue Tropical; Multi-Color Ikat; Teal Graphic;

Stripes; Striped Rug; Orange Rug

I like the blue, tropical vibe of the first rug, and the color would tie in nicely with the posters in the bar, but I wasn’t sure it fit the client’s style well enough. The same was true of the multi-colored ikat rug – the colors were perfect, but it’s more my style than his. The last option – the orange rug – felt like too much orange. With it narrowed down to the teal graphic rug and the striped rug, I liked that the stripes brought together all of the colors that I wanted to incorporate in the design, so I began designing the plan around that rug.

For the deck, I knew that it needed to provide lots of seating for entertaining, while still feeling intimate enough for a smaller group of friends to just sit around and chat. Because it’s up on the roof, the client doesn’t plan to ever BBQ or serve meals on this deck, but I did want to provide plenty of space for a spread of appetizers or snacks to compliment the bar.

Here’s the space plan I came up with {the light green square that overlaps most of the seating area shows the coverage that the umbrella will provide}:

And here’s the proposed design that I presented to the client. Although this design board just shows one concrete console table and one couch, there would actually be two of each in the space {as shown in the space plan}.

SOURCE LIST: (contains affiliate links) Aloe Outdoor Art; Cement Console Table; Tall White Pot; White Petal Pot; Turquoise Drum Stools; White Metal Love Seat; Medallion Pillow; Orange Textured Pillow; Teal Pillow; Umbrella; Umbrella Base; Striped Rug; Round Metal Coffee Table; Color Block Chairs

I recommended those round, teal stools to serve dual function – acting as side tables most of the time, but providing extra seating for larger groups. I also wanted to add some “green” to the outdoor space without giving the client too many plants to take care of up on the roof. I recommended a few white planters filled with low maintenance grasses, combined with four repeating pieces of outdoor canvases with photographs of aloe that provide a nice pop greenery with a touch of orange.

In addition to presenting my recommended design plan, I always like to give clients a variety of alternate items to consider. Fortunately the client loved the striped rug, even after seeing all of the other rugs options. Since the design was really built around that rug, I was so glad that I pegged his style just right on that one!

One of the alternate coffee tables did immediately catch the client’s eye. I thought he might pick the fire table, but it was the cement coffee table that he fell in love with, so we swapped that out in the plan.

SOURCE LIST: (contains affiliate links)

Round Metal Coffee Table; Cement Coffee Table; Hexagon Tile Table; Firepit Table

The client was also not totally sold on the color block chairs that I used in my plans. After debating on numerous options, we found some chairs that he really loved – the Morocco Round Chairs. The white cushions on these chairs tie in nicely with the white metal frame of the couches, and their unique shape will add a lot of design interest on the deck.

SOURCE LIST: (contains affiliate links)
Black Metal with White Cushions;

Gray Woven; Standish Chair Set; Color Block Chairs; White Woven; Morocco Round Chairs

The only other tweak we ended up making was to swap out the round, teal stools for Carilo Blue Square Stools. With those changes made, here’s the final plan that we are currently working to implement:

And now, here’s the really fun part! Let’s see how this compares to the plan that you guys created by way of your Facebook votes. Scroll through the images below and you’ll see how the popular Facebook picks came together to create a unique rooftop deck design.

SOURCE LIST FOR OUTDOOR COUCH OPTIONS: (contains affiliate links)

Outdoor Wicker Couch; White Oval Couch; White Metal Frame Couch; Beige Outdoor Couch

SOURCE LIST FOR READERS’ CHOICE DESIGN PLAN: (contains affiliate links)
Ikat Rug; White Frame Outdoor Couch; Color Block Chairs; Concrete Coffee Table

Thank you guys so much for playing along with me on Facebook over the past couple of weeks. It’s been so fun hearing your opinions and your insights on what you’d pair together and why. It really helps me to hear how others think about design!

You guys seemed to be having a good time with it too, so I think we should do more of this design voting. I’m also designing two guest rooms for the same client, so keep an eye out over the next few weeks on Facebook for some bedroom decor voting, and then I’ll share the final plans here on the blog!

Until then, here are the plans in a pinnable form in case you want to save them:

The post Designing a Colorful Rooftop Deck appeared first on Blue i Style.

10 Outdoor Projects to Inspire Your Summer Decor

blueistyle — Tue, 30 May 2017 16:58:00 +0000

I hope you all had a nice Memorial Day weekend! It was a bit windy and rainy here, but the forecast is looking good for this week. I think we’ve finally seen the end of the snow, so I’m ready to get our backyard ready for the summer! I have lots of planting to do, and I can’t wait to put out all of our colorful patio decor!

If your outdoor space could use a little sprucing up as well, then today’s post is for you!

I’ve teamed up with the All Things Creative team again this month to bring you these outdoor decor tips and DIY tutorials that we hope will inspire you to create a cozy and colorful outdoor living room or dining room to enjoy all summer long!

Creating An Outdoor Living Room	Budget Friendly Outdoor Living Space
Summer Deck Style	Outdoor Bench from 2x4s
Coastal Outdoor Beverage Stand	10 Minute Porch Makeover
Black, White & Yellow Front Porch	How to Waterproof Fabric
Patio to Outdoor Living Room	Hang Commercial-Grade String Lights

I would enjoy spending warm summer evening relaxing in each and every one of these outdoor retreats! How about you?! No matter your style or budget, you deserve to create a little oasis of your very own, and I hope these projects have inspired you!

Be sure to pin the image below so that you can find your way back to all of these fun outdoor ideas!

The post 10 Outdoor Projects to Inspire Your Summer Decor appeared first on Blue i Style.

Planning a Treetop Retreat & Outdoor Movie Theater

blueistyle — Mon, 15 May 2017 17:35:00 +0000

This post is sponsored by Cost Plus World Market, which you know is one of my favorite places to shop! Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible! As always, all ideas and opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links.

Over the past few years we’ve made a lot of changes to our backyard and it’s become a really great space for entertaining and play… but we have another outdoor space that we’ve been pretty much ignoring. Until now, that is! I’ve been scheming up some plans for the space and I want to show you what I’m thinking and get your opinions!

Our house is built on three levels, with just our master bedroom/bathroom on the top floor. Off of the bedroom is a pretty good sized deck with treetop views. Before we had kids we used the space on occasion, but for the past five years, we’ve really barely stepped foot out there. Now that I think about it, I’m not even sure I’ve ever shared a photo of the deck on the blog.

Here’s a picture of how the deck looked about five years ago in the fall. It would look pretty much the same right now, if we ever bothered to uncover the furniture that is {it’s remained covered for several years in a row now}.

To give you a bit more perspective, let me show you the floor plan for our top level. Our house faces south, but the large, open part of the deck is on the east side of the house, making it nice and shady in the evenings.

We live in an older neighborhood with lots of big mature trees all around. I really hate that we have this big outdoor space with gorgeous treetop views, and yet we hardly ever go out there. The problem is that we’ve just never given this space a real purpose.

When we first moved in, we put a table and chairs up there, as well as two lounge chairs that we picked up on an end-of-season clearance. The table and chairs never made much sense at all… we were never going to carry food up to the third floor to eat, especially not when we have a nice patio with a BBQ right off of our kitchen. And the lounge chairs seemed like a good idea at the time, but the reality is that we aren’t “lay out in the sun” kind of people, and now that we have kids, it’s just not a comfortable spot where all four of us can hang out.

My friends over at Cost Plus World Market asked me to dream up my perfect outdoor space, and after giving some thought to how we’d like to use this rooftop deck, I’ve come up with some plans that would transform this space into a relaxing family retreat for summer evenings!

Since I don’t envision us bringing many guests all the way up the third floor, this deck doesn’t need to be set up for entertaining a large group. I really want it to just be a cozy place for the four of us to enjoy family time. I want this deck to feel like an extension of our indoor living space, so I’d like to create an outdoor family room with a couch and chairs. And you know I love color, so of course the deck would need to feel bright and energetic! Blue and green seems like the perfect color scheme, since we’d be surround by blue sky and green treetops.

The big, white stucco wall {above the current lounge chairs} has always provided a design challenge in my mind. I would like to make this wall feel like a focal point by hanging a large piece of canvas art above an outdoor couch and hanging black and white striped outdoor curtains on either side. I would weatherproof the canvas art using this method that I came up with last year so that we could leave it up all season and just bring it inside for the winter months.

For relaxing summer evenings, I would orient the furniture so that we were looking out at those treetop views… but after the sun goes down, we could quickly flip the couch and chairs around to transform the space into our very own outdoor movie theater!

When movie time rolls around, I would reverse the couch and chairs to face the white stucco wall and would hang a make-shift movie screen {which I think we could easily fashion out of a white banquet-sized table cloth} between the striped curtains. We already own a movie projector {a Christmas gift from my parents a few years ago} – so we’d be all set!

What do you think?! Now that I have an idea of how great this rooftop deck could be, I’m going to start saving my pennies so that I can head to my Denver Cost Plus World Market and turn these plans into a reality! Here’s my shopping list:

I can’t decide yet whether I would also want to keep the small dining table that we already have on the deck. I don’t really envision us eatting meals out there, although I could see us setting up a buffet of popcorn and movie snacks. And once this space is much more stylish, I might even use it as an outdoor office on nice days {the perks of working from home!}.

If we do decide to keep the table, I would definitely want to get a coordinating umbrella and these matching serving items:

What plans do you have for your backyard or deck this summer? Definitely start by checking out World Market’s Outdoor Guide packed with great tips for everything from decorating and entertaining to recipes and even gardening advice! If you’re ready to create an outdoor retreat of your own, World Market has tons of fabulous furniture, dining, decor, and lighting options this year to help you bring your favorite indoor styles to the great outdoors! You can always shop online, but I prefer to checking out all of their new outdoor styles in person where I can see and touch the textures and sit on the furniture! You can find your nearest Cost Plus World Market using their store locator.

Here’s a little more inspiration to help you create your dream space by bringing your indoor style outdoors:

If you love what I picked out, or if you’re wanting to create an outdoor movie theater of your own, be sure to pin these plans so you can find your way back to this post and my shopping lists:

The post Planning a Treetop Retreat & Outdoor Movie Theater appeared first on Blue i Style.

The Easiest Way to Deep Clean a BBQ Grill

blueistyle — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 15:00:00 +0000

Raise your hand if you’re ready for summer grilling season. Me too! I’m so eager to get our patio ready for family dinners and entertaining friends. We’ve uncovered the patio furniture, we’ll plant flowers and grasses in our pots and planter bench soon, and the BBQ grill needed a really thorough cleaning. This last one is a task I usually dread, but this year I found an easier method!

We always use a wire brush to give the top of the grates a quick cleaning after each meal, while the BBQ is still warm. But overtime, the grates still get pretty dirty and a lot of left over gunk ends up in the bottom of the burner box.

Here’s what the grill looked like when I opened it up this spring… Lots of black char and in need of a good cleaning! And it got worse as I worked my way down through each layer.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Scrub Daddy. All opinions are 100% mine. This post also contains affiliate links. If you purchase something I recommend, you’ll pay the same price, but I may receive a small commission.

I wasn’t really sure how to clean the BBQ grill. I didn’t want to use anything with harsh chemicals that might damage the various grill parts, I needed it to be food safe and non-flammable, and it needed to be tough enough not to fall apart with what I knew would be a lot of scrubbing. I looked around the house and didn’t find anything up to the challenge. Then I remembered recently reading a list of 50 unique uses for Scrub Daddy, including cleaning a BBQ, so I decided to give it a try.

The Original Scrub Daddy scrubber is made from a scratch-free FlexTexture® material that adjusts with your water temperature. In cold water, the texture is firm with lots of scrubbing power {perfect for cleaning the burnt on mess on the grill grates and burner box}, and in warm water he becomes soft {making it easier to get to those hard to reach places}.

The product line also includes a variety of other scrubbers, as well as sponges and erasers. The double-sided Sponge Daddy proved perfect for cleaning the outside of the grill, but first let’s start on the inside…

Every make and model of BBQ will be different, but I’ll walk you through how I deep cleaned my bbq grill inside and out. Before starting to clean, I made sure that it was disconnected from our gas line.

I dampened the Scrub Daddy with cold water, and went to work on the grill grates first. It made pretty easy work of removing burnt on particles from the top of the grates, but I was a bit nervous when I flipped the grates over and realized how much more charred they were on the underside. After just a couple of minutes of light scrubbing, however, I was able to uncover the stainless steel beneath.

Once the grates were as clean as I could get them, I removed the grates and started on the next layer – the heat plates that cover the burners. There was quite a bit of loose debris on some of these plates {and it’s easy to see which spot on the grill we cook on most frequently}.

I knocked off the loose stuff, then wiped down each heat plate, scrubbing off grease and burnt on particles.

Next, I removed the heat plates to reveal the burners and give me easier access to the grease pan at the bottom of the burner box. I softened the Scrub Daddy in warm water to gently wipe down the burners and check to ensure that none of the ports {small holes where the gas flows out} were blocked by grease or food particles.

The bottom of the grease pan was covered in lots of loose debris. I scooped out as much as I could {this is where my gloves came in especially handy} and discarded it into a small trash bag.

With all of the loose bits cleared out, what was left was a lot of grease and grime. I ran the Scrub Daddy under cold water to make it firm again, and then scrubbed up as much as I could.

Keep in mind that you’ll never get your BBQ looking brand new again after years of use, but I think you’ll agree that it looks a heck of a lot better. And when it comes to a BBQ, cleaner not only looks better, it’s also safer. If your BBQ has a drip tray {generally accessible from the back}, be sure to clean that out as well.

Once I had given everything a good scrubbing, I put all the parts back in place and admired my work. I feel so much better knowing we have a nice, clean grill to cook on this summer, and now that I know how easy it can be to clean, I won’t put it off so long next time!

You probably need to see the before and afters side-by-side to really appreciate the difference, so here you have it {you might also want to Pin this image to find you way back to this post the next time your grill needs a deep cleaning}:

Before cooking on the grill the first time post-cleaning, be sure to pre-heat the BBQ for about 15 minutes. This will help to kill any germs and will burn off any residual grease and dirt that may remain on the cooking surfaces.

So how did my Scrub Daddy fare after all the grease and scrubbing? When I finished he was looking pretty black and charred, but he was still smiling! If this was any other scrubber, I would have just thrown it away immediately, but I had read about Scrub Daddy’s ability to rinse clean, so I decided to see if he still had some life left in him. I rinsed him as much as I could in the sink, and while I couldn’t quite get him looking like new again, he came much cleaner than I expected after all he’d been through. I plan to run him through a dishwasher cycle as well, and suspect that he’ll come out even cleaner.

I definitely won’t be using this particular Scrub Daddy to clean inside the house, but he certainly has a lot of life left in him for future grill cleanings, and he’ll be great for other outdoor projects like cleaning up the patio furniture and the boys outdoor toys.

I was finally ready to get the outside of the grill cleaned up as well. For this job, I decided to use a Sponge Daddy. I used the scratch-free FlexTexture® side to wipe scrub away the tougher spots, and then flipped it over and used the sponge side to wipe down the entire exterior.

Now we are ready to get cooking!

I know we’re going to enjoy a lot of time out on the patio again this summer, grilling up delicious meals and making family memories.

I had been dreading deep cleaning the grill, but the Scrub Daddy method made it much faster and easier than I thought possible. It was so great being able to use one simple product to remove the debris and cut through the grease, and all I had to do was add water and a little muscle.

The post The Easiest Way to Deep Clean a BBQ Grill appeared first on Blue i Style.

Modern Summer Backyard Tour

blueistyle — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 12:38:00 +0000

Summer seems to be flying by, and we are trying to soak up every minute of it! And our backyard is pretty much our favorite place to be these day!

This week, I’m joining a phenomenal group of bloggers for tours of our outdoor spaces! This Garden Party blog hop is hosted by the fabulous Ursula of Home Made by Carmona, and I’m excited to help kick things off today. At the end of the post, you’ll find links to the other outdoor tours, and I promise you are not going to want to miss these {I’ll be adding more links as the week goes on}!

Some of you may have seen my early summer backyard tour a couple of months ago, but I’m excited to share some updated photos. The last time around, I had just planted everything. Now the plants have had time to grow, and the backyard looks much more the way it’s meant to be {a little more green}.

Let me start with a little context, especially for those who are new around here. If you’ve stopped by from one of the other Garden Party tours, WELCOME! This is our house, in all it’s modern glory. What I refer to our as our backyard is actually on the right side – between the house and our detached garage.

It may be hard to tell in the photo, but our house is raised up quite a bit from the sidewalk. While the sloped grass that makes up our front yard is quite nice for lounging on, that same slope made the backyard less functional that we wanted – especially once our kids came along and needed a flat, grassy area to run and play.

Plus, over the years, the slope of the yard had also created a bit of an unslightly rock slide situation along the fence line. The rocks on the inside of the fence had continued to push against it, cause the bottom to bow. And the rocks on the outside of the fence were constantly spilling out onto the sidewalk. We ween’t exactly winning over the neighbors with this curb appeal.

Last year, we saved up all our pennies and hired a landscaper to build a retaining wall to level out the backyard. By having the wall faced in the same stone that’s on our house, it truly looks like it was always meant to be this way. Adding the retaining wall and new fence also allowed us to create a much needed enclosure for our trash, recycling, and compost cans back along the alley.

Here’s a little flash back to the way the backyard looked the first summer that we lived in the house {eight years ago}. Don’t be deceive by how flat it appears… from the edge of the garage to the fence line on the right, it was a significant slope. Just ask our three year old who used to stumble and roll every time he ran that direction.

It’s a small yard – but it’s actually not too bad for an urban neighborhood. The stone rectangle that you see at the bottom center of the photo is an indoor/outdoor fireplace that is shared without kitchen. It was a major selling point when we first toured the house, but after we moved in, we realized that the tiny concrete patio in front of the fireplace wasn’t big for any furniture to actually enjoy the fireplace.

We immediately knew that we’d need to expand the patio to create plenty of space for dining and entertaining, but we also wanted to preserve some space for the “future kids” {who are now very much real at three and four years old}.

And here’s a look at the our backyard in it’s current state. It’s come together bit by bit over the last seven years, and I finally feel like we can call it done!

Obviously, there have been a lot of changes, but I’ll point out the highlights. We created an expanded patio to fill the space between the house and the garage; removed the expanse of beige rock along the left fence line, and replaced it with ground cover to add some green; relocated the air conditioning unit just around the corner of the house and added a small screen to make it less of a focal point; created a dedicated play space for the kids to the right of the garage, complete with a cute arbor entrance; and, or course, strung lights between the house and the garage.

This summer, the kids’ space got a major upgrade… they went from small plastic slide, to full scale clubhouse, with sandbox below and climbing wall on the back. I’ll admit that I had visions of building them a super modern playhouse, but I feared they would outgrow it before I got it built, so we opted for the standard wooden playground model. While it’s not as cool as Mom would have liked, the kids couldn’t be happier. It was just an added bonus that it turned out to be an perfect match with the fence.

Ok, so now that you have the basic lay of the land, and you can appreciate just how far this space has come, let’s take a closer look at the patio…

Our ultimate goal was to create an outdoor living room that would feel like a true extension of our indoor living space. Somewhere that we could enjoy daily as a family, but that would also allow us to entertain friends and neighbors.

We wanted to create separate lounging and dining areas, and the placement of the fireplace really dictated the furniture arrangement. We snagged this couch, chair and coffee table set for a fantastic end of season clearance price shortly after moving into the house … and then stored it in the garage until we were finally able to create a patio to fit it. Speaking of which – now is the perfect time to start shopping if you want new outdoor furniture without the big price tag! I saw some amazing clearance prices on super stylish patio sets {affiliate link} when I was wandering around Target last week!

Last summer, we got hit by a crazy intense and sudden hail storm. I tried to run outside to move all the furniture cushions in to the garage, but after getting pelted for a minute or so, I had to give up and seek shelter inside. The hail literally shredded the fabric on our couch and chair cushions. I looked for replacements, but they are an unusual size and nothing I could find in local stores would fit the furniture. I got a quote for having the cushions professionally reupholstered, and nearly fainted at the price tag. Finally, the frugal DIYer in me kicked in, and I came up with a cheapo, new-sew solution to recover the cushions.

Behind the lounge-like seating area, we created a separate dining space. To make the very most of the space – and to add some interest to the giant white stucco garage wall – we had a planter bench built in, which provides seating for one side of the patio table.

I was obsessed with the idea of this bench for the first moment, but once it was a reality, the question of what to plant behind the bench had us stumped! We looked at some climbing vine options, but nothing really appealed to us. And we thought about a tall grass of some sort – but the tall, straight growing varieties were rather sharp and pokey – not ideal for sitting against. And the softer, tall growing grasses were much too floppy, and would have quickly overtaken the bench.

After much searching, we stumbled upon a plant called Elegant Feather that ticked all the boxes. It grows straight and tall, but it’s incredibly soft! It’s also very fast growing, which is another big plus since we have to replant it each year. When I shared photos of the backyard in May, we had just planted the Elegant Feather and the stalks were barely tall enough to be seen above the top of the bench…

Two months later, and the Elegant Feather has come along way, baby!

We’ve flanked both sides of the planter bench with large, colorful pots, and carefully selected plants that would also be soft for brushing up against as you take your seat at the table, and that wouldn’t attract too many bees to our dining area. The tall blue posts have Carax Ice Dance {a dense, spreading sedge that stays pretty short}. The middle, gray pots, are filled with a variety of feather reed grass that we chose for its soft, arching blades. And the small, teal pots are filled with Sea Thrift, a low clumpy grass-like foliage with thin stems that produce globes of bright pink flowers {which fade out, and are replaced with new blooms a few times each summer}.

Along the fence between our yard and our neighbor, we opted to plant only ground cover. We wanted add some green to this side of the yard, but also wanted to preserve the space for setting up banquet tables for buffets when we host parties. We chose fast spreading lemon thyme. In addition to making the entire yard smell great without attracting bees, it’s also rumored to be good for repelling mosquito.

While the planter bench, Elegant Feather, and colorful pots help give the wall of the garage some interest and purpose, I’ve long been searching for a piece of art to hang on this wall to further break off the sea of white stucco. After years of searching, I could never find any outdoor art I really liked, so this summer I found a super simple way to create my own weatherproof art.

I printed a photo from our recent trip to Cape Town, South Africa, and then waterproofed the canvas. Watch my quick tutorial video for weatherproofing art, and then read the rest of the details in this post.

To add some color to our outdoor dining table, I hit up the Target dollar section. I scored three pink candle hurricanes {I love battery-operated flameless candles because they don’t blow out in the breeze}, and I bought a couple sets of colorful, Ikat melamine plates.

I love how the pops of orange and pink contrast against all the blues in the backyard!

You may have noticed that the kids have their very own, little dining table. When it’s just the four of us eating dinner, we all sit at the big table together, but the small table is perfect for play dates, or when we have a bigger group to entertain.

The kids also like to get in on the cooking action with their own miniature version of dad’s BBQ {affiliate link}.

For the first time this summer, I also added an outdoor rug to help define the “living room” seating area. I love this Ikat rug, but I wish I’d ordered one size larger. Update: This rug had a good run for four summers {which, considering I paid $20 for it, was fantastic}, but this year it needed to be replaced. After lots of looking, I finally ordered a 6×9 of this teal lattice rug {affiliate link}, which I think will look great, and larger size will fit perfectly!

I also added two bright blue metal plant stands {affiliate link} on either side of the couch this summer. They work perfectly as side tables, but can also be used as extra seating when we are entertaining.

I really LOVE everything about our backyard, but if I were forced to pick one favorite element, it would have to be the sting lights that zig zag between the house and the garage!

When the sun begins to sun sets, these lights create the perfect glow and ambiance! We wanted the light installation to be permanent {we didn’t want to rehang them each year, and wanted them to be able to withstand the snow each winter}, so we chose commercial grade string lights and hung them with guidewires. You can read my full string light installation tutorial for all the DIY details.

Sitting on the couch, under the string lights, with the fire on, and a bottle of wine is pretty much the perfect place to spend a summer night after the kids have gone to bed! Add the sound of the fountain, and it’s hard not to be lulled to sleep.

Thanks for stopping by to check out our little piece of backyard heaven! There are four more stops on today’s Garden Party Tour!

Click on the photo links below to visit each one, and then stop back each day this week for links to more fabulous outdoor spaces…

The post Modern Summer Backyard Tour appeared first on Blue i Style.

How to Weatherproof Art for the Outdoors

blueistyle — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 21:42:00 +0000

When I shared some photos of our backyard in the spring, you may have noticed that I hung a large, canvas photo on the exterior wall of our white stucco garage. For years, I had been wanting something decorative for this space to break up the sea of stucco, but I had never been able to find any outdoor art that I really liked. So this year, I created my own weatherproof, outdoor art, and today I’ve got the super easy, five minute tutorial for you.

Watch this quick video tutorial, and then read on for more details…

Every year, we use a super soft plant called Elegant Feather for the planter box bench that provides seating on one side of our outdoor dining table. Elegant Feather is perfect for this spot because it’s SO soft and because it grows very straight and tall, so it never overtakes the bench.

When we planted it back in May, each stalk was only about a foot and half tall… just visible above the bench.

As the summer goes on, the Elegant Feather keeps getting taller by the week.

Because of this, I wanted the art that I created for the space to look good throughout the summer, even as the Elegant Feather started to overlap the bottom of it. I debated on printing a few different photos from our various travels, but ultimately decided on this gorgeous photo that we took on our tour of the winelands in Cape Town, South Africa a couple of years ago because I liked the rows of green grape vines across the bottom 2/3 of the photo.

I thought it would actually look pretty cool when the green stalks of Elegant Feather started to overlap the rows of green vines.

I had the photo printed onto a 30″ x 40″ canvas at Canvas On Demand {affiliate link}, and I chose the standard, thin wrap{to save money – I usually do the thick wrap for art in my house}. This is my favorite source for printing canvas art because they do a very nice, high quality job, but they also have 40% and 50% off discount codes quite frequently, making their prices often better than the prices of other companies of tried that aren’t as good.

Once the canvas arrived on my door step, I was ready to weatherproof it. Rust-Oleum has a line of products called NeverWet {affiliate link} for making everything water repellent – from shoes, to glass, to outdoor fabric. I’ve read good reviews from people who have used the NeverWet fabric spray to make outdoor cushions, pillows, and even curtains water resistant, so I thought I would give it a try on the canvas art.

Before spraying the canvas, I tested a small section on the edge to ensure that the spray wouldn’t make the colors run. The spray dries totally clear, and didn’t change the appearance, or the feel of the canvas art at all.

Be sure to follow all the instruction on the bottle regarding application and safety. Also, let the art dry at least 24 hours before exposing it to any water.

The NeverWet spray probably doesn’t make the art fully waterproof – I imagine that if a puddle of water were to sit on the surface, it would eventually soak in {thought I haven’t tested it to find out}. But the canvas is definitely water repellent enough that, because the art hangs vertically, water just runs right off it – so water should never sit on the surface long enough for it to be a problem.

So there you have it… DIY weatherproof outdoor art!

Living in Colorado, we can’t leave anything outdoors or uncovered year round, so I’ll definitely be bringing my art in for the winter, or anytime we are expecting a big storm {like the hail storms that frequently get in the spring}. But thanks to the NeverWet, which took me less than 5 minutes to apply, I can now leave my art hanging outside for the majority of the spring, summer and fall months without worrying that it will be ruined if we get a little rain.

On Monday, I’ll be participating in a Garden Party with a phenomenal group of bloggers… so come back for some updated photos of our outdoor space, as well as my best tips for creating a comfortable outdoor living room on a budget!

The post How to Weatherproof Art for the Outdoors appeared first on Blue i Style.