If you’ve ever thought your backyard was too small to use, think again! This inspiring backyard before and after (from Jones Design Company Blog) shows just what you can do with any amount of space – large and small. This yard used to be just a slab of concrete patio, a bit of grass fenced in with neighboring houses towering over them. Today (5 years later), it is now a place to relax, enjoy dinner, play on the swing set, and unwind with a bit of gardening.
To see all the features they added to their backyard, head on over to the Jones Design Company Blog.
Category Archives: Before & After
Before & After: Backyard Patio
Before & After, Curb Appeal, Gardening, Outdoor Decor, Pin InspirationDon’t you just love a transformation – whether it be on those hgtv shows or extreme makeover? Sometimes it just takes a little effort to make a huge impact. The bloggers of Young House Love know all about diy transformation, and how updating just a few things can bring about a whole new life.
Check out their before & after of their backyard patio from their first house. The simple things such as redoing the stone, adding some soft landscaping, bringing new outdoor furnishings and adding a fire pit, made a huge makeover. Read even more about their backyard makeover on their blog.
Have a Before & After you’d like us to share? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
Weekend DIY: Rock Box
Before & After, Outdoor Decor, Outdoor Party, Weekend DIYRemember those good ol’ summer days you’d spend as a kid in the sandbox, building castles, creating roads, and riding your toy dump trucks around? And if you didn’t have a sandbox, then you were missing out – don’t let your kids miss out either! It’s time to get out your tool belt and get to work! Many parents, mothers especially, cringe at the thought of sand because once you play in it for a whole minute, it is in every nook and cranny of your child – not to mention those outdoor cats that sometimes use your sandbox as a litter box (so gross!).
If those things concern you, why not try this unique idea of building a Rock Box to avoid the mess! This project comes from the blog Young House Love, in which a mom and dad duo write about DIY improving your home on the inside and out.
Their idea for this rock box came when they had just finished building a sandbox for their daughter – after doing so, they realized how messy it was, and were concerned with the materials within the sand that they used. To keep their daughter safe and mess-free, they replaced the sand with pea gravel rocks and now call it a rock box. Their little girl now loves the rockbox even more than the sand – who knew?
To make a rock box for your child(ren), here is what you’ll need: (2) 2×10 framing lumber (cut down to 5′ lengths – they can do this at the store for you), 4 smaller pieces of wood to use as stakes, waterproof deck stain, weed block, square ruler, shovel, pea gravel (20 bags), a drill and decking screws.
For the complete how-to and tips, read their “Sandbox Chronicles” on how to make the rock box. They also have a post on how to make a cover that securely attaches to their fence. Also, read their reasoning for replacing the sand with pea gravel. Here are a few photos from their blog on building the rock box:
(Photo Source: Young House Love)
Happy Weekend and happy rock box building!
Before & After: Beachy Porch
Before & After, Outdoor DecorLooking for a bit of inspiration to update your front or back porch? We came across this awesome Before & After from Grey Like Nesting, featuring the Grover’s porch makeover. They took a planting bed and updated it with decking, paint, and some love. We think this look is perfect for those who are wanting to add a beachy California vibe to your outdoor space. Check out the before and after, and for more photos visit Grey Likes Nesting’s post.
BEFORE
(Source: The Grovers)
AFTER
(Source: The Grovers)
Have a Before & After you’d like us to share? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
Spring into Spring
Before & After, Curb Appeal, GardeningToday marks the official first day of spring – and lucky for us, the weather reflects that today with a wonderful high of 70 degrees F. The coming of spring can also mean many things, such as spring cleaning, new life as plants begin to grow again, finding new ways to do things, or a new fresh look.
How about this spring, you find a new way to relax. You can sit back in a hammock, enjoying the chirping of the birds and the humming of the bees and lawn mowers – and think about how you won’t have to drive in or shovel snow until next winter. We think this photo describes exactly what spring should be all about, when it comes to relaxing…
(Source: House to Home)
Once you are finished relaxing, let’s talk about spring cleaning… Spring is also a great time to clean those pesky things that we normally skip over during weekly cleanings. We have compiled this spring cleaning checklist that pertains to your outdoor spaces for you to use over the next few weeks to get your outdoor space in tip top shape! You can download a free copy of our checklist to print out here.
OUTDOOR SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST
Garden Space
- Clean up any trash, weeds or dead foliage
- Clean and/or replace garden tools
Patio
- Power-wash your patio or deck, and clean to remove grime, pollen, fungus and/or mildew
Other Backyard Areas
- Check and replace pool filters
- Wash windows
- Hang up screens on windows and patch any holes
- Re-seed spotty grass areas
- maintenance
- Check your hoses for cracks and leaks
- Clean out the gutters
- Clean and organize garages and sheds
- Check your driveway and sidewalks for any needed repair
Are there any you think we missed on our checklist, if so let us know in the comment section below! Happy First Day of Spring and happy cleaning!