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Saturday, June 22, 2013

My "New" Patio

Happy Saturday!

When our wonderful father passed away, Sister and I were faced with the task of not only cleaning out his condo and mechanic's shop, but also our family lake house in Wisconsin.  Unfortunately the Wisconsin clean-out happened to coincide with my family's trip to Disney World so I wasn't able to help.  Thank God for my amazing brother-in-law who thought he was going to get a nice vacation on the lake.  He was wrong.  So, so wrong.

Anyways, Hanna & I have been visiting the lake house every summer of our lives. Then when I had kids, we started taking them too.  This place holds some of the best memories of our lives.  Fortunately, we haven't sold it yet so we can always go back.  It was just in the need of a major de-clutter. 

There is a HUGE screened in porch that we spent many, many hours laying around in trying to avoid the monstrous mosquitoes that seem to love Sister so much.  Hanna & I went in on a moving truck to bring stuff back to Oregon and when she asked what I wanted, I told her some of the wrought iron patio furniture.  Our grandparents had this house built in the 1950's so all of the furniture is original to when they moved in.

Well, that was two Summers ago and I finally got the motivation to go into my shop and bring out all of the wonderful treasures Hanna brought back for me.  Then it was out with the old and in with the "new"


We had many, many meals prepared for us by our mom at this table.


Look at that amazing patina.


I remember this bar cart always just sitting off in the corner, never being used.  Now it holds some of my rustier, more worn treasures. I need to get a new top for it, but I still love it just the way it is.

So one of the main reasons I waited so long to bring out the furniture was that I was really wanting to have the cushions recovered.  Well, that was two years ago.  Now when I look at them, I wonder what in the world I was thinking!  I am in love with the faded shabbiness of them.

 

The chairs are rockers and possibly the most comfortable patio chairs I've ever sat in.  Sister kept two of the non-rockers for herself and my brother-in-law was not happy about it after sitting in these!


This little settee needs a cushion.  I just need to come upon the right fabric and I will have one made.

So not only did Hanna send these back for me, she also sent back two absolutely amazing wrought iron chaise lounges.  We spent hours upon house lounging on these on the dock.  However, I am having MAJOR issues finding new cushions for them.  Does anybody have any resources they can share?  I want to be able to use them this summer! 


Brian bought this old 7-up cooler off of Craigslist about 4 years ago for a hundred bucks.  He is always promising to get it running but for now, it holds some of our less attractive but necessary patio stuff.


Another view of the amazing old junk that decorates my patio.


That birdbath holds my growing collection of old faucet handles and sprinklers.  See that Igloo drink cooler?  It has held countless batches of Vodka Lemonades for out by the fire pit.

Remember when I blogged about all of the wonderful things Sister bought me for my birthday?  Well, I didn't get a chance to share what Brian and the kids got me.  I figured it was more fitting to put them in this post.

 
 

How perfect do these fit in with the rest of the furniture?  Brian said it best when he told me that he wanted to buy me something that I would never buy myself from an antique mall (I'm convinced that I am going to find a whole slew of these at a garage sale someday).  I actually squealed and jumped up and down when I saw these sitting on my patio.

Well, needless to say, I plan on spending a lot of time on my "new" patio this Summer.  I told Brian that for Christmas, I want a couple of patio heaters so I can enjoy it year-round.  Good idea, right?

Linking up over at:

The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Share Your Cup Thursday with Jann Olson
Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound

Have a great weekend!

Erica

15 comments:

  1. When I was growing up we had a lake house too and a big screened in porch. I spent many a day and night sleeping on that porch in an old metal glider. I know how the memories can flood your soul. My Daddy built it but he sold it years later--So Sad Now. I adore the metal lawn chairs--they are HARD to find. I would leave the cushions just the way they are.
    Ann

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  2. What great memories. I am glad you can still go back to your family lakehouse but it is nice to have a piece of that world in your own back yard. Enjoy the family pieces and your new/old chairs!

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  3. I'm so happy you finally put your furniture out!!! Yay now we need a girls weekend hanging out on your patio :)

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  4. That is amazing patio furniture. You are so fortunate! I am glad that you didn't replace the fabric. I really like it.
    That little cart would be great to hold plants!

    I love your rusty canisters!!

    Would you believe that I set one of those metal chairs just like that out in my garage sale and it didn't sell? So the second day I sat in it! I thought that someone might ask about it, but they didn't. I need to get rid of some but Oh Well, it is so comfortable!

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  5. I love it! And how special that it came from your Lake House as a kid...and the new chairs are fabulous! I love the cart of rusty stuff. There is something about having a few things that didn't far as well...I don't know what it is :)

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  6. WOW....Fabulous furniture and thank you for sharing your wonderful memories with us Erica xx

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  7. That wrought iron furniture is amazing!

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  8. Nice "new" pation! It looks like a great place to relax and enjoy the summer!
    Warmly,
    deb

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  9. Oh wow! It's fantastic! All of it! Those wrought iron chairs are such a great style and I love the settee. I really really love the metal patio chairs though, they are wonderful!
    You guys have a great patio with so much awesome stuff! I'm sometime afraid that someone will steel stuff if I leave it outside. Not so much in the back, but in the front on the deck. Probably would never happen...
    I'm going to pin some of these pictures and use them as inspiration for decorating my front porch when I get my fabulous chairs back!

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  10. Nothing beats the wrought iron furniture from the 50's. Love how it all looks and can't wait to see the loungers. We have two and I adore them. Thanks for joining TTF this week.

    hugs,
    Linda

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  11. Wow A lake home in WI! How cool is that?! I love the patio furniture, isn't it funny how at first (like your cushions) you have the impulse to change them, but then over time you realize they are perfect JUST the way they are?! I realized that recently going through my record collection, I bought a whole bunch of instrumental stuff of show tunes when I was younger and didn't really like them, LUCKILY I dint throw them out, or turn them into record bowls because now they are some of my favorites! I also REALLY like your 7UP cooler! We fill our Coca-Cola one up with ice all the time and use it!

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  12. Erica, so glad that sister brought you back so many fun things that have family connections. Those are the best kind. I have my mom and dads old table and chairs that she brought home all the way from Mexico years ago. Love the 7-up and igloo coolers. Cushions are expensive. Lots of time cost more than the furniture. Hope you find some. Oh, I can relate with sister. Hubby and I can be standing side by side. He won't get one mosquito bite and I'll get eaten alive. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  13. Your patio is a vintage dream! I love every single piece, especially the ones that have a family history. I love visiting your blog, because it seems that you and your sister collect from the heart, just like me!

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  14. Congrats on your new patio, Erica! It's good to see how the vintage style complimented with chic character to your exterior space. And I like how the way it was arranged. It was loaded with some furniture but it doesn't look crowded.

    AderHoldRoofing.com

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  15. I agree with Julio! Your patio looks fashionably chic! Your shabby furniture set is definitely an eye-candy! This can really be a good spot for entertaining your visitors. Everything just looks so wonderful!

    Premier Building Supply

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