Welcome to this month’s Pinterest Challenge and this month is all about getting ready for summer celebrations, cookouts and getting together with family and friends. This month’s challenge is to share our Porches and Patios with a clean inspired refresh…
This month’s Pinterest Challenge patio inspiration comes from Bria of Bria Hammel Interiors. I love Bria’s coastal style with easy-style bamboo and outdoor wicker furnishings, a fresh blue and white color scheme, and a celebration of potted plants on the porch, in a teacart and hanging from the wall.
I love her potted trees in those what I’d say are large square French-style planters! Gorgeous chalky blue color!! Bria used touches of black, too, and that’s what jumped out at me.
As we get into my post I’d like to thank Cindy of County Road 407 for once again hosting this challenge, thank you Cindy! 💝 And if you are coming over from Lora from Lora B Create and Ponder, welcome! Lora’s colorful vintage porch style is pure fun!!
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| Last summer’s A Small Summer Home Tour. |
This is how our back patio has looked since last summer. It was a bunch of mismatched furniture, a couple of potted plants and one of our “Girls” bringing in the French country style I love.
Here is how our patio has changed since last summer. I worked on creating a little French café earlier this spring. Now it is a pleasant place for Mr. Ethereal and I to come outside and sit, and to enjoy cool mornings while the mourning doves, sparrows, the seasonal cardinals and other wildlife visit…
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| Simple, clean, and French inspired! |
How the patio has changed
Even before I knew what this month’s Pinterest Challenge was to be I had already planned to repaint our park benches so this challenge was perfect timing! The green Wayfair bench I’ve only had for four years has rusted really fast because of North Texas’ hot and humid summertime climate.
The white cast iron bench I’ve had for years and it came with us to Texas last year with our movers. In California, the lower humidity kept the iron pristine (except for paint peeling off the wooden slats). I think this bench is 15 years old?? I bought it when our last home was new to us.
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| My former rose garden parterres… |
Inspiration
I sat down with some of my favorite French style design books and looked at what makes authentic French style so appealing. I realized right away what I wanted…
Our benches needed to look like those gorgeous park benches one sees at large public parks in France and even here in the United States (think Central Park, NYC). They needed to be able to move effortlessly from porch to yard on a whim.
They needed to be black…
Over the course of a week I was able to repaint both benches, the new plant stand and also another hanging basket. Working with spray paint is easy ~ just as pie is a natural dessert for a summer picnic!
Our backyard patio porch now has the cohesiveness it lacked and looks very close to our inspiration photo:
With wicker chairs and benches for relaxing, hanging baskets adding their lovely southern green touches, and lavender plants bringing in that French country style that is me. I am in-love with the curves and diamond patterns ~ how they repeat from piece to piece! Now to find the perfect seat cushions! (Always something, lol!)
Thank you for stopping by my patio refresh today and next up is my friend Michelle of Thistle Key Lane whose porch looks amazing! I love how elegant Michelle’s patio looks with all the blue and white, and her teacart is a favorite in my book!!
Please pin, thank you! 💜
We have a big group of friends in today’s porch and patio tour for you. Please come back and restart here, or from any of today’s participants, if need be.
Also sharing with
Wonderful Wednesday ~ Stilettos and Shiplap
Tuesday Turnabout ~ My Wee Abode
Wonderful Wednesday ~ Stilettos and Shiplap
Tuesday Turnabout ~ My Wee Abode
Enjoy the tour,
HI Barb, I love this space! It is the perfect size and it's covered! Looks great! laura
Barb you truly have created an inviting porch. I of course LOVE the French artwork inspiration. Your thumb is SO green.
Your created a beautiful and inviting porch to not only relax but also to entertain. The furniture painted black is a great update.
You have been busy. I love how you made it all match. I love your gorgeous statue too.
Your porch is so pretty. Love the black furniture, it gives it a rich look, to me. I love sitting out on a cool summer morning or evening. You have created a cozy place for you this summer. Enjoy Barbara!
Your porch is perfect for summer evenings. I really like the dramatic black color of the benches.
You are so right…your patio has really changed! I love it and the black furniture. It looks so striking there against the pretty green plants and gorgeous urns! I need to come visit again! Hint hint 😉 Thank you for joining in the challenge. You did a great job! Pinned
Love the pieces painted black, such a nice contrast to your porch. You've created a lovely inviting space to enjoy.
It's amazing the difference the black paint made, Barbara! It does pull it all together and looks so classy! Very french, very beautiful!
Your patio refresh looks lovely, Barbara… and I love me some black furniture, too! PInned!
A lovely refreshing, Barb! The black works.
Hi Barb,Love your benches black. You're right you see them in French areas. Not that I've been there more looking through magazines. Your plants are beautiful!Cindy
Your patio has come a long way Barb, and the furniture looks so much better painted black. Love those hanging baskets too and wish we had a place to hang pretty ferns. I know you are going to really enjoy the patio this summer!
What a relaxing space. I love that you changed your bench to black, you nailed it!
I love how you were able to make some transformations in just one week, Barb, and boy did they add such charm to your patio! Going with black was such a smart choice. It looks so elegant, just like the impressionist painting you used for inspiration.I know the humidity in Texas takes a toll on furniture! We were just in California earlier this year, and we loved the climate there. It's a good thing you're so handy updating your furniture when needed!Hugs, Crissy
I adore a porch with a table! And your's is darling! Perfect for summer evening entertaining. You've worked very hard to bring all your delightful inspirations to life! Just lovely!
That is a wonderful refresh of a space!