Sunday, August 8, 2010

From Drab to Fab Outdoor Dining Area

About ten years ago (for our tenth wedding anniversary) Worker Bee and I bought a wood outdoor dining set.  It was Martha Stewart from K-Mart and it fit our budget.  I loved how it looked on our patio we built by laying bricks in sand.  (Now building that patio will have to be a story I save for another day.)  But after a few years it began to look a little shabby.  So shabby in fact that the legs broke off the table.  Time for a new table, but we didn't need chairs.  About that same time we went to a Panera Bread for dinner one night and ate out on their patio.  I noticed they had wood chairs with a black mesh table.  "Buzz," I thought.  "Buzz, buzz, buzz.....we could keep our chairs and buy one of those mesh tables."  Worker Bee agreed and we found a great table at Target.   By this time I had also bought four outdoor wicker chairs that we then kept on the patio and there wasn't room for our table and chairs anymore.  So we needed to find a cozy little spot to enjoy lunches and dinners outside.
Whew - long winded introduction to the Drab to Fab!
(Still not FAB in this picture!)

So our chairs were really looking kind of sad now.  The wasps had decided that they loved to get wood to build nests from them and they were really dingy and gray - but not that pretty gray of cedar or teak.  Do you remember when I painted the bench and logs we used for our Kitchen Garden? (If not, check it out here.)  So I got to buzzin'......wouldn't those chairs and bench look great painted black with our black table?

I used the same cheap paint I used on the kitchen garden and watered it down so it was 50% water and 50% paint.  
Well I think they look FABULOUS (if I do say so myself)!
I found some great pillows at Pottery Barn to brighten it up.
The glass lanterns are from my local consignment store.
We just love this little spot under one of our Japanese maples.  Our next door neighbors are always chatting over the fence to us too. (Or better yet - they're handing over pie or homemade candy or other treats - great neighbors!)
Someday I would like to add a little fountain and maybe something on the ground.  We've thought about a pea gravel area or maybe getting one of those huge outdoor "just hose it down" rugs to put under the table but we're still up in the air about it.  What do you think we should do?  (We've even talked about another brick in sand patio, but we are a bit older now and I'm not 100% sure we could do it on our own - not that we're that old but Worker Bee hurt his back this spring and he isn't 100% yet - and frankly I'm not swinging a pick ax to get it done. Aren't run-on sentences fun?)

Today I'll be joining the party at
and


Well thank you so much for taking the time to pop in!  Your visits are always such a treat.

Tonight we will be enjoying barbecued tri-tip, caesar salad, and some garlic French bread with my mom, Baby Bee's BFF, and our cozy little family.  Hmmm....maybe some coffee ice cream with dark chocolate shavings for dessert.

Maybe one day we can all get together for a delightful lunch in my little dining area - but I'm afraid it can only be 5 of you at a time.   Who wants to come?


P.S.  Wow!  Just found out Cottage Instincts has brought back
so I'll be hanging out over there too!
Hope you can check out all these fabulous parties!

39 comments:

  1. I love the chairs in their new "black" paint. So pretty...would love to have a little snack there! Thanks for stopping by and seeing my baseball windows. Bev

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  2. Count me in! Yes, the chairs and table look fabulous! Those pillows really pop, too.
    Mister and I were talking about installing a brick patio.....I think I should hear your story first. Doesn't sound like it's for the faint of heart.
    Nice job!

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  3. Now that is a total package. Looks so summery.

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  4. Great job on the "drab to fab" re-do. The seating all looks great, and bright colors are perfect to go with it all.

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  5. I adore it!!!!! :) Thanks for your visit and happy thoughts!

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  6. Oh Yes! I want to come eat in this backyard oasis. Love the benches and chairs painted black. They look fabulous! Great idea to get the black mesh table to go with them. Your PB pillows look so pretty too. Great job! I've been known to have some run-on sentences too! Your blog looks so cute. Love the plaid background. laurie

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  7. You're absolutely right! We do have the same PB pillows. Don't you just love those luscious colors? I stalked the place online until they went on sale. I love what you've done with your outdoor space.
    Brenda

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  8. Gorgeous!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  9. Oh yes they do look fabulous! The whole area looks beautiful and inviting.

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  10. I love it. You did a fab job.

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  11. The chairs look great with the table. It loooks like a really wonderful place to have dinner.

    I have always wanted to have neighbors who send goodies over the fence!

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  12. What a beautiful transformation! Love how you glammed up your set!

    Hope you're dinner was fabulous!

    Julie

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  13. Very stylish. As always, you do a terrific job.

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  14. The black looks really nice, I like the little lanterns too!

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  15. Oh my goodness, what a transformation a little paint can make!! Your new dining area really looks great...count me in for an al fresco dinner. :0)
    Fondly,
    Ann
    @
    The Tattered Tassel

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  16. This looks like such a pleasant spot for meals.

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  17. Looks great! What a neat place for an outdoor meal. Great job on the chairs. Love the pillows!

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  18. It does look FAB! I love the chairs painted black.

    Carolyn

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  19. It is always satisfying to reuse items that just need a new look. I love the space you have created and the fun way you share the story. I enjoyed my visit with you and thanks for your kinde comments when you visited.

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  20. Black's a tough color for outdoors but so effective. Your set looks great and the bright cushions really add wonderful pops of color. No wonder the neighbors are hanging over the fence! Jane F.

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  21. Love love those pillows! Verly pretty... Thanks for participating in our "Show Off Your Cottage Monday" and letting us into your lovely home...

    Blessings

    Cielo

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  22. Fab makeover! I love all of your nice touches too with the pillows and lanterns. I could see myself entertaining in that cozy spot!

    Jeanine

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  23. If you lived in my neighbourhood I would certainly come! Your garden set is beautiful, you did a great job! Love the blue cushion! Enjoy your meal!

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  24. looks great! nothing beats reworking what you have, and those colorful pillows and lanterns really brighten it up!

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  25. They look beautiful! Don't you love what a coat of paint can do? LOL! The pillows are very pretty, too.:)

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  26. OH my goodness, I absolutely LOVE the paint job! This looks fantastic. I just found an old picnic table and two benches at a sale for $10 and have been debating on colors. I've let my kids have a say since they'll use it most and they've suggested black. I have watered paint down before for another project but the thought didn't enter my mind on this...until now. As I type and think about I'm more convinced to go with the black, like yours. I love the style of your chairs and bench! Just great. I'm calling the kids in to check it out now!

    Nancy

    p/s My transferware switch plate cover is actually a ceramic/earthenware one with a genuine transfer, so it's unique in that aspect. I did find an online company that had some plastic ones with a decopauge or some sort of toile print and they were darling!

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  27. Absolutely fabulous! I'm working on sprucing up my lanai this week - stay tuned for pics!

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  28. Love the lanterns! Every garden party needs them.

    Thank you for visiting me!!

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  29. The black gives your chairs a whole new life! Love it!

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  30. I'm amazed at how handy you are! Your table looks great - I like putting together different textures - wood and metal!

    Looking forward to our craft day!

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  31. This looks like a fabulous site to eat and have friends around you!

    I love your blog and will follow!
    Smiles, Cyndi

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  32. Love your blog! Love you patio set!
    And so glad you commented on my blog so then I could find YOU!
    So funny that you would mention taking your grandparents travel trailer and head to the National Parks. That is one of the reasons we got our cozy cottage. We saw the National Parks series on PBS and knew we had to get a vintage trailer and hit the road to all the State & National Parks!

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  33. I do think it is looking fabulous , now ! I love it !
    Blessings,
    ~Myrna

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  34. Hi Sweet Bee,
    Have a look at this blog:
    http://champagne-balade.blogspot.com/
    this photographer will be going back in time to take more pictures of bees .....
    You made a nice corner there, looks very inviting, so when I am in California I would love to stop by. But, alas, it is not on the planning list yet ....
    Have a nice day! and thanks for stopping by in my gardens.

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  35. Just stopped by to see what all the buzz was about from Kathy's post on you! She picks them well and I love your blog. Your table and chairs look so nice now! I did black the last time and this year all that needs painted is going white. I like the black.
    Hugs- Tete

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  36. What a wonderful and inexpensive transformation! Looks very inviting. I'm thinking the rug would be the easiest. They are made now to be durable and stain proof.

    Thanks for visiting Porch Days. Glad to hear that so many people are recycling.
    Nancy

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  37. I love you chairs and that bench is great. Wonderful patio set!

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Thank you for buzzing by and taking time to leave me a little note. I always enjoy hearing from my friends.