Freaking out? Who’s freaking out?? Not me… JK. Week 5 of One Room Challenge has me in quite a tizzy because there is only one week left for us to whip the backyard into shape. Thankfully we had a few gorgeous, sunny days last week that allowed me and Sean to work like maniacs and get SO much done. In case you’ve missed any of my Instagram Stories updates, we have been cranking and making some major progress. Let’s dig in and see what’s new… cuz we’ve done SO MUCH!
We spent all weekend doing some backbreaking work on the Rock Ridge Stone pavers, but it is SO WORTH IT. Minutes before I wrote this post, we put the last bits of pea gravel down between the pavers and it looks so amazing — natural and organic, professional-looking, and so perfect for the style of our house. The light color of the stone is exactly what we needed to brighten up the space and complement the black fence. I could not be happier!
I also got reallllly impatient and unpacked one of our pieces from Stori Modern because I was SO excited. After all the hard work Sean has put into the fence, I desperately wanted to see how our new patio furniture would go with it — and I am obsessed. A large part of why I chose the Graphic Loveseat is because I wanted something that felt modern, yet classic. Materials were another key part in our decision making. It’s not news that Seattle gets a lot of rain, so our patio furniture has to be made of sturdy materials. The Graphic Collection boasts a powder coated metal frame that will look brand new for years to come, even in the rain. And I love that the cushions are covered in Sunbrella fabric, which is fade- and mildew-resistant! Plus, how perfect is that black piping?? There are so many options for cushions, but I decided to keep it classic and chic.
Stay tuned to see the rest of what Stori Modern sent, including the Graphic Lounge Chair, Graphic Coffee Table, and Memoir Dining Chairs during next week’s reveal. Sean wouldn’t let me get too carried away and unpack everything until we were finished powerwashing the house!
I’ve also been planning my gardens, which is, quite honestly, my favorite part of this entire project. I adore gardening and can’t wait to plant soooo many gorgeous plants. I’ve been making the rounds at all of our local nurseries and hardware stores in order to turn our backyard into a lush, foliage-filled oasis! Here are just a few of the plants I’ve picked up to plant over the weekend.
We still have SO much left to do, but I am confident we will pull it off. Here’s the list:
- finish the rock walls for the terraced garden beds
- finish the fence gates
- powerwash the house and deck
- install the new sconces
- hang the cafe lights
- install landscape ground lighting
- install the fountain (did I mention that Sean desperately wanted a fountain for our backyard??)
- plant everything
- layout the furniture for the patio and the deck
- style everything!
One more week until the reveal… be sure to stay tuned next Wednesday to see the full reveal of our Backyard Oasis. In case you missed it, here are Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, and Week 4.
Be sure to follow along with the other designers participating, too:
Apartment 34 | Beginning in the Middle | Coco & Jack | The English Room | The Gold Hive
Gray Malin | Jenna Sue Design | Jojotastic | Kelly Rogers Int. | Linda Holt | Marcus Design
Michelle Gage | Natasha Habermann | The Painted House | Rambling Renovators
Sacramento Street | Shannon Claire | Sketch 42 | Stephanie Kraus | Bisou Style
Media Partner House Beautiful | TM by ORC
photography by Jojotastic.
