Reveal day for my Fall 2020 One Room Challenge is here!!!! A huge thank you to Linda from One Room Challenge , Better Homes and Gardens and High Point Market for keeping this event going. 2020 has admittedly been a tough year for all of us but being part of this challenge with so many talented designers, all creating beautiful things together, has really made this last part of the year pretty uplifting. I urge you all to go check out the ORC blog to look through all the amazing designs that have been completed the past six weeks. I promise, you will not be disappointed.
Now, lets do a quick walk down memory lane to see where we started. Remember the old brick patio with grass growing in the cracks and the unevenness that made the whole patio a muddy pool after every rain? It was so so sad. But now……
Presenting Our Beautiful New Patio
Thank you to Lauren Zillinger and Laura Metzler Photography for these beautiful photographs
This view will never ever get old. Dining, firepit, ping pong table, trampoline, I mean we are good to go!
Can we talk about this amazing firepit that is also very social distant acceptable? That fall backdrop isn’t too bad either!
Its been a long time since I’ve seen my husband so excited about something but this outdoor kitchen did the trick! A fridge for our wine, beer and juice boxes, a kick ass grill, side burner, trash can and a bar counter is perfect for entertaining everyone!
Our Partners for this One Room Challenge
Polycor
You all, our backyard, that took 9 years of dreaming and imagining, has finally become a reality! But we could not have done it without our fantastic partners in this project. First, a huge and ginormous thank you to the amazing team at Polycor . Every piece of stone in this project comes from one of Polycor’s North American quarries. The history behind the company and these quarries is certainly one for the books. Their stone can be seen in the U.S. Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian museums, the Eiffel tower and beyond! We’ve always loved that our home is located on George Washington’s original farm but adding to the history of our home by including stone from a company that has played such an important part in our historical buildings is such a pinch me moment.
We used Carolina Coral granite for all of our pavers. The firepit wall, sitting wall and outdoor kitchen were built using Indiana Limestone Full Blend and all of the caps are Woodbury Gray granite.
For our outdoor kitchen countertops we were so excited to use Polycor’s Georgia Marble Pearl Grey from their supplier Gramaco. You all, those countertops are a true showstopper and also so heavy! Woodbury gray remnants were used to add supports into cement blocks to keep the countertops completely stable.
The bar counter is a piece of art within itself!
POLYWOOD
We are so happy to partner with POLYWOOD for all of the furniture for the patio. Not only is their entire line of outdoor furniture beautiful but it is sustainable! 30 years ago, POLYWOOD was the first to create outdoor furniture from recycled plastic materials and they continue to stand by their mission to recover and transform landfill-bound and ocean-bound plastic into durable outdoor furniture that will last for generations. Today, POLYWOOD recycles an average of 400,000 milk jugs per day (guaranteed, the Raak family contributes at least 6 jugs per week) and they have now expanded their recycle line to include ocean-bound plastic. They are committed to incorporating 1 million pounds of ocean-bound plastic into the production of our outdoor furniture by 2021! Now THAT I can get behind!
POLYWOOD’s Braxton Farmhouse Rustic Dining Set with the armchairs and bench are so perfect for our outdoor space! I love the bench seating on one side which allows us to have the younger kiddos sit together while the older set gets the cozy arm chairs.
The detail of their designs are amazing! The notches, trestles and nod to a true farmhouse look are perfect.
Every one of POLYWOOD’s pieces are solid and durable. They will be able to stand up to any sort of weather and wind.
My husband chose POLYWOOD’s Coastal Bar Chair in the white sling and black frame. As a lover of color, I wanted the slings to be a different color but sometimes it pays to trust your partner. I’m completely in love with these how perfect my SmithHönig outdoor pillows look against the white backdrop.
They look just as pretty from the back and super solid! Makes you want to sidle up to the bar and grab a drink, doesn’t it? Notice the two pergolas? We made them extra tall so they wouldn’t block our view into the yard from our family room. We’re also planning to stain them a distressed black but just have to wait a little longer before we can tackle that project.
For the firepit seating I wanted guests to be able to turn to look at kiddos playing on the trampoline or ping pong, chat with friends at the dining table or see what’s going on at the bar. I also didn’t want people to be sitting super low to the ground. My husband is 6’5 so it was important to have seating that was easy to get out of. POLYWOOD’s Braxton Deep Seating Swivel Chairs fit the bill. These are so comfortable, swivel on a dime and with its high performance outdoor fabric, they are a fantastic trio of perfection.
I love the cross back design of both the swivel and dining chairs. Simple yet beautiful.
THe Finishing Touches
SmithHönig andUrban Redeux
It’s all about the details that make this design shine even more. I LOVE incorporating colors, textures, patterns and layers into any of my designs and this outdoor canvas was perfect for that. My SmithHönig Shibori Poufs are so versatile. For the firepit I used them for extra seating and also a side table. There are so many different ways to use these. Check out my Instagram to see how I’ve styled them in my home.
You know I love pulling together a great tablescape for any occasion. For my outdoor fall table I used two runners from SmithHönig, their Ashes Of Rose 2 in 1 Table Runner and their Threadbare and Velvet Table Runner . The colors in the runners complimented my outdoor rug perfectly.
You can’t have a firepit if you don’t have the fixings for smores. I created a portable smore station with this wooden tiered caddy from Urban Redeux. This way it can move around the patio and is easy to refill.
And you can’t have a cozy fall spot without vintage camp blankets like these from Urban Redeux
Lets not forget the fun and unexpected additions to any home decor like this vintage bust that I filled with peonies to give that lucky lady a good hair day!
IN CLOSING
Thank you to CSM Design for their design collaboration and build and for showing how beautifully granite, limestone and marble can be incorporated not just in museums, but also in our own backyards. The craftsmanship from their carpenters and masons is like none other. This work is not just another outdoor patio, but an artistic masterpiece.
Cheers my friends! Here’s to another One Room Challenge completed, to fireside chats, lots of laughter and bubbly and a kick off to a awesome holiday season!
Don’t forget to check out my stories on Instagram to see a full walk through of the project!
