Pillows

Forget anything I've said or even thought about pillows. Now that I have pillows-I-love, I love pillows! I found ten bright, cheery, incredibly preppy pillows for the outdoor sectional at Indigo.

Here's the scoop:
- citron, blue and orange
- indoor pillows with down inserts (we bring them inside when not in use)
- 50% off right now, between $19.95 - $27cdn

I thought I wanted bohemian/southern Californian deck accessories: a sectional that stepped out of the urban outfitters look-book, or even better, a deck that was styled by Morgan Satterfield. I pictured loads of kilims in many sizes, with rugs and brass and hanging plants. Still, I was reluctant to buy ten or more kilim pillows because as soon as I do, someone will sound a gong and declare them dead. Also, kilims are scratchy.

Next, I would like to cover the seats with something that isn't white. White does not mix with kids. Bad idea. Even Sunbrella fabric, with two incredibly filthy little boys, is not good. Sure you can wash it, but it gets dirty again within 30 minutes, and some stains do not lift*. I am on the hunt for a reasonably-priced chartreuse overdyed rug or two, or killer blue shibori cloths. Both would lend that boho vibe. (I know I can mix boho and preppy, because I searched on pinterest and it is a thing)

If you have used indoor pillows outside before, please raise your hand!


ps. Not sponsored
pps. The 16x16 sunbrella pillows that came with the sectional are not comfy, and squirrels ate half of them. 
ppps. One of my river birch behind the deck doesn't get as much light as the other. We had the large maples trimmed (just this morning) to allow more light to filter in.   
pppps. Indigo has everything in these colours, tea towels, dishes, throws...etc...and check out Anthropologie's Lemlem collection, too. Pretty close, but not.

*Knowing all this, I still buy white pillows!

Exterior colour test

I am determined to pick a paint colour before the long weekend!

Today, I took down a storm window at the back of the house and painted the wood a sandy brown colour (two quick coats).  This is an old can of paint we bought when we were trying to choose a colour for the stucco.

At this time of day, it seems a little too light, no?  A little too grey?...I have to check it out in the sunlight tomorrow...


Even better is benjamin moore, iron mountain...

(we will be staining the deck darker...I have to pick a colour for that too! oh dear!)

Triangles

This DIY makes me very very happy! 

Although after I printed the pillows, I realized upside down triangles may have more graphic punch ...  What do you think? Better than my first attempt at colour, no?  Should I attack more pillows? Maybe add a third or fourth colour into the mix?  I have five or six more plain white sunbrella pillows packed up snuggly in the garage, but its sorta a pain to take in 15-16 pillows every time the forecast indicates rain...

ummm....its blue and 'orange'!  But its an orange I mixed myself so it is definitely on the yellow side...but closer to tangerine like the poufs!

These pillows look awful

I don't think I can handle the new bright pillows on the deck....all white is boring me, but these might be too much.  I will live with it a bit before I get too judgey...what do you think?

(part of me wants to add at least two more patterns before I shut down the experiment...something with a tiny pattern, and something green...but I still think these patterns are too juicy for me!  I am (now) craving more boho)

OH MAN THEY GOTTA GO!  They lasted 5 mins

Just like that, all white is calling to me again! Fickle, fickle woman!

UPDATE...I DIY'd some colour!

$8 chair, etsy, and a yellow umbrella

I got a few odds and ends done around the house today!

First off, here is the $8 goodwill chair, I recovered it in fabric from Tonic Living (found them via Rambling Renovators)...I considered making the trip down to Y&Co and buying something fabulous...but this way, the fabric magically appeared at my door after clicking on some buttons!  Who doesn't like that!! (Except I misplaced the little baggie with the screws for the chair, so the seat is not fastened down.  If you see the screws, please let me know) Follow this link to see the before picture.

Then we (the baby and I, that is) hung this photograph I bought off etsy (a local artist, check her out!)...I love the rectangles of the building's windows next to the rectangle windows in my new basement door...its just a little something that may or may not catch your eye as you pass through the hallway...lets call it a diversion.

Then I put up the Virginia Macdonald Yellow Umbrella photograph in the powder room (ok, you caught me, this is actually the SMALLEST room in the house, probably smaller than any room in your house too!)

...and I also picked up this pillow, on sale at Tonic Living, just to make the sectional a bit more groovy...I thought it would go well with the tangerine colour poufs and the orange deck... 

hmmm...i really wish they had 2 of these left...one isn't cutting it

hmmm....and the orange isn't really the right orange...and I think its too much pattern for me all in one day...

Oh well...I guess I will give it to my niece for her room! 

This may be the beginning of an accessories buying spree...or not!


I may have to get thrifty tomorrow...



Update: I will probably redo the chair because I like it, but, its just too much pattern for me...and I also need to raise the picture in the bathroom by about an inch... the orange pillow is definitely going to be given away.  So much for getting things accomplished!  The B&W photo, by the way, is To.Die.For! Perfect placement on my first shot! Whoo hoo!

Orange Deck

Our yard is in need of some serious upgrades. We started this weekend by re-staining the deck - ORANGE!

We 'accidentally' stained our cedar deck orange last year...(no, we are not idiots...these things happen when you have a screaming infant)...overtime the colour grew on us, but the application of stain was pretty ghetto, so we power-washed the deck, then power sanded it, and started over...

We have big big plans for the yard...plans involving a new garage, new driveway, new fence, and new patio/stone area.


In the meantime, I fell in love with these stone planters (from the Horsefeathers liquidation sale).

There was something sculptural about them, I just had to have all four! My very own stone henge! ..

Instead of filling them with gravel and then dirt and then plants, we are going to buy some large plants (like ferns) and just pop the pot into the top of each container.  That way I can take the plant out in the winter, and I will have four quiet sentries keeping watch over the yard during the colder months. 

Do you have a lot of outdoor work? Does it seem to take a back seat to the upgrades inside?

Splurge!

Look what arrived in the mail today!!!

I completely forgot we ordered them...
Our designer, Maya Carvalho, picked them out and, well, I have a thing for stools...(and for orange)