Weekend DIY: Stump Stools

Before & After, Furniture, Outdoor Decor, Outdoor Party, Pin Inspiration, Weekend DIY

Everyone dreams of having that amazingly decorated,-cozy outdoor room often seen in  magazines or design blogs. But you easily brush if off because how in the world would you make it look like that yourself? Well, we recently came across a photo of a lovely outdoor dining set up, immediately thought “oh so pretty” and next, how awesome are those stools?! Then, we thought where do you find those! Finally we thought, let’s look at pinterest for a DIY. Here’s the image we’re referring to:

stone wall outdoor dining table with tree stump stools (Source: Pinterest)

So, stumped on what to do this weekend? (no pun intended, haha) Not anymore! We’ve got the perfect DIY project for you to start and it would make a great addition to your outdoor living room,a porch or even your favorite rustic indoor space! This DIY comes from the blog, The Art of Doing Stuff. The author believes in not spending lots of money on the things that fill your home, as she’d rather find it at a garage sale or on the side of the road as opposed to a fancy store. So when she also saw a tree stump side table in a magazine, she thought, “I can make this”. And so can you.

This DIY stump project is something you’ll want to start this weekend, and finish up in about a month – as you have to allow the stump to dry out. But don’t worry; it’ll be ready just in time for the arrival of spring! The bonus is this project doesn’t cost much, especially if you can easily track down an old tree stump outdoors. Next, you’ll need some polyurethane, sand paper and a paint brush. If you want to make it into a side table, you could even add legs like she did. She shares the whole DIY instructions on her blog, so head on over and check out how to make this amazing stool or side table.

(Source: The Art of Doing Stuff)

We also found another great example of how to use a stump sidetable on the blog Design Megillah. Check it out to see how she made her stump!

Happy Weekend!
team-signature

Weekend DIY: Spray Painting Eye Sores

Furniture, Weekend DIY

Everyone’s got one – an eye sore. And no, not on your actual eye – we’re referring to that ugly collection of ducks you have in your front yard, or the hideous paint peeling furniture set that needs to be buried. Those are pretty extreme cases, but if you’ve got something in your yard that needs a overhaul, why not try simply spray painting it to add a little bit of new life to it?

Here are some examples of how just a little spray paint goes a long way – and it’s cheap!

Young House Love

Mama Roots

Apartment Therapy

Kristen Mee

Young House Love

So now that you’re convinced, here is what you’ll need: spray paint, a primer if you want extra coverage or you think the paint won’t stick to the surface (some spray paint has a primer already in it), and newspaper or cardboard to protect the ground. (Oh, and a beautiful day also helps!)

Spray paint sticks to most surfaces, but if you fear your object is in need of a good sanding or needs smoothing out, you may want to sand the piece. Then wipe everything down to remove any remaining dust or dirt. Next, add primer if you think your object needs it. Get your object out in the yard and situate it on the ground on top of newspaper or cardboard and get spraying! It’s best to give the object, multiple, very thin coats versus one single heavy coat. What’s also great about spray paint is that it dries very fast, meaning you won’t have to wait too long to begin another coat. You may also want to avoid a windy day outside in case you get dust/debris landing on your object drying within the spray paint.

Let your object dry completely (follow on-can instructions) and presto, done! Say so long to that eye sore!

Happy weekend!

Weekend DIY: Pallet Table

Furniture, Outdoor Decor, Weekend DIY

A growing trend over the past few years has been to recycle and re-use in an attempt to become more eco-friendly. This philosophy, no matter where you stand on the whole eco-friendly issue, is that we should do our best to keep our environment clean for future generations. Everyone can do their part in achieving this goal be either taking it to the extreme or simply do your best to recycle when you are able. This week we have a simple recycled diy project: We’re going to take something that could have been waste and re-purpose it using wooden pallets!

coffeetable_diy2 (Photo: Joy Ever After)

This DIY project comes from Amanda at the Joy Ever After blog. Here she takes two old wooden pallets and brings them back to life by turning them into an outdoor table. This table is more of in the realm of a coffee or sitting table, not a dining table. For the complete DIY instructions read through her blog post and comments for helpful tips.

Finding wooden pallets is easy. First, you can check Craigslist: many companies will post that they are free for the taking on a first come, first serve basis. You could also contact a local warehouse in your area that may have some extras laying around. If do happen come across a gold mine of wooden pallets, Pinterest has endless ideas for you to try!

Happy Weekend!

Chimeneas – Outdoor Fireplace

Furniture, Garden Spaces, Outdoor Decor, Outdoor Party, Store

Create the neighborhood evening hot-spot in your own backyard by adding a Chimenea! You may ask, “A Chima-what?” I’m sure you’ve seen these patio ornaments during your last trip to Mexico or in western movies…the Chimenea actually originates from Mexican Tribesmen who developed a way to simultaneously keep their families warm and cook, all while keeping the rain off of their fires. Recently, these Chimeneas have gained popularity in the world of outdoor decor since they also make a wonderfully affordable fireplace/firepit. Also, unlike the Mexican Chimeneas, Chimeneas today are crafted out of durable deluxe clay and are made to last and use outdoors year-round – even in the northern areas.

mexican fireplace chimenea garden chiminea

Chimeneas are an easy way to add warmth, light, and comfort to your backyard space. The long-lasting Chimeneas from Willard & May can be enjoyed year-round when placed amongst your garden, on your patio or deck, in your pool area and even while camping. Use your wood burning outdoor fireplace to add an inviting ambiance, warm-crackling flames, and a delightful wood burning aroma to your backyard space. You can also burn pinion woods (a hardwood pine found in the mountains of the southwestern United States)  as a natural mosquito repellent!

CHIMENEA CARE TIPS
– Use the included metal stand as this helps to prevent the clay from retaining moisture. Your Chimenea will last longer if kept above the ground and allowed to breathe.
– Use a 2-3″ barrier of sand or pea gravel in the base of the wood burning area. Do not build a fire directly on the clay.
– Cure the Chimenea fire pit by building 2-3 small fires prior to regular, prolonged use. Allow the clay to cool completely between firings for at least 4-6 hours.
– Use newspaper or kindling to begin all fires. Never use starter fluid, charcoal, or artificial logs in your Chimenea.
– Keep your Chimenea free from water by protecting it during rain or freezing weather. If water does find its way inside, replace the sand and allow it to dry completely before starting another fire. Apply a non-flammable water-based sealer annually.
– Chimenea will get very hot during and after the burning process. Children should be supervised in the vicinity. Also, keep Chimenea away from roofs, overhangs, and branches and take care when using on a wood deck.

To properly see how you should care and handle your outdoor Chimenea, view the complete Chimenea Care Instructions here.

mexican fireplace chimenea garden chiminea from willard and may store

Included with our Willard & May ceramic Chimeneas are the powder coated stand, the cap, metal grate, and care instructions to get the best enjoyment from your Chimenea. There is no assembly required, just plain ol’ fun and easy! Check out all the different styles available for sale now!

Sneak Peek of Willard & May

Furniture, Gardening, Gifts, Lighting, Outdoor Decor, Store

Our online shop hasn’t quite opened yet, but we thought we’d let you in on a sneak peek  of some of the great items we’ll be carrying below. Starting out, we’ll have a great selection of outdoor furniture, planters and pottery, chimeneas, garden accessories, backyard decor, gifts and lots more!

water can lantern
yellow patio set chic simple

wicker patio set table storage plaid cushions outdoor
serving cart, metal, brown outdoor
chimenea outdoor heating fire place patio
mushroom pottery, shell planter pot
strawberry pot, blue brown ceramic planter pottery
chalkboard paint herb pot grower chives chalk basil
LINKS: Herb Watering Can, Rustic Lantern, Yellow Bistro Set, Amalfi Woven Plaid Patio Set, Wrought Iron Serving Cart, Chimenea (coming soon!), Decorative Ceramic Mushrooms, Sea Shell Planter, Tea Blue Adonis Planter, Strawberry Planter, Herb Pots with Chalkboard Labels

Stay tuned, as you’ll be one of the first to know when we’ve launched!