We tell our clients all the time to make your house feel like a destination, so you don’t always have to escape to one. {And no, this doesn’t just apply to pools.} But this is our little escape. It’s come such a long way from these beginnings, and while I desperately need a vacation right now, {everyone does in Maycember}, I love having this space to escape to. I thought it would be fun to share a little tour of sorts, since it’s been a minute, and because last week’s post of people living in a state of grey was a bit of a bummer, so I thought I’d follow up with something that’s presently happy in our own home: A Colorful Backyard Tour! 

For Mother’s Day, though I did indulge in a bit of skincare products I’ve been eyeing as an excuse to treat myself, I didn’t really want anything other than a bit of help prepping this backyard space for the season. The kiddos were good sports, and we all teamed up to clean, pressure-wash, and paint some things to freshen up our little backyard space since summer is right around the corner. Outdoor spaces can be a beast and get away from your fast if you don’t care for them regularly. I have to say… I’m ready to throw some parties here. Let the revolving door that is pool season begin. But first, a little trip down memory lane…

Because we’ve come so far.

Some of these elements are linked within the post today because they were collected over time. But for some commonly requested products, I’ve also rounded up similar finds in this board! {Some of these links here are affiliate – thank you for understanding.} 

I love having this space outside as an additional spot for food + entertaining guests! In the 2020 apocalypse, when everyone was like I dOn’T NeEd No MaSk, I dOn’T CaRe AbOuT YoUr GrAnDmA!!!! I’m GoInG To HaWaii AnD SpItTiNg On ThE BuFfEt!!!!!! We were happy to stay home, and concentrate on our own house. During that time, we expanded our dining area with a privacy wall, designed + built this cabana, and tore down the dilapidated old fence to build a new one for our 1-acre property. 

We also planted around 73 trees and bushes on the property to provide more privacy. I think we really just spent our days outdoors and made some fun memories in the meantime. These Thuja giants in particular provided this lush, green wall and grew incredibly fast. Our neighbors started parking their cars so that the sunlight reflected off their windshields, and went right into our kitchen, or their headlights blinded us at night. Problem solved… You can’t even see their house anymore. 

I think the only thing original to this house is the slide and the old shed in the back. {Yes, yes, we have plans for that too, when we can finally get around to it.} We’ve had so many fun memories since moving in…

We loved building this deck with Yellawood + bringing so many fun elements to it all with some fun styling. We also made these planters once upon a time, and they bring so much to the space as well! When we moved in, the back of the house looked like this before we added the pool room… and again… it’s come such a long way. 

Of course, our outside addition wouldn’t be the same without Window World windows + doors. And yes, we will forever shout their name from the rooftops. Here are these details in case you’re wondering: 

• Siding – Platinum Gray
• Shakes – 826 Moon Rock
• Soffit + Fascia – White with Hidden Vent {So we didn’t have to look at those anymore}
• Porch Ceiling {side + front -Mystic Blue Solid}
• Shutters – 3 Raised Panel in 95 Dark Navy
• Gutters and Downspouts in White
• Front Door – Classic-Craft {Their American Style Collection} in Cherry
• Back Door – Full glass double swing door in SW Seaworthy 7620 

And of course, fabulous outside light available through Kichler Lighting!

The porch takes quite a beating in the summertime, and it helps to have a rug right in front of the back doors. I love this one for that high-traffic area. 

Table Details:
• I kept the yellow umbrella… I’ve actually replaced the original since 2020 because it needed a bright redo after a few years of sun fading and rain. {I get this question a lot- We have furniture covers that we use in the winter months, but since we enjoy the pool all summer, we never really close it down.}

• I found this table on sale + added it immediately. It seats 8, and holds an umbrella which were requirements of mine, and while the wooden one was great over the years, it was just too much maintenance to be outside. The pros with this one is the same as the con: it’s metal. Which means it holds up great, but also gets really hot. Since our kids are now older this is not a huge concern – we only tend to eat out here during the evenings. 

• We paired them with these chairs which arrive in sets of two. Game changer from the metal ones we’d had, as we love that these are comfy so they encourage gathering… and again we loved the price. 

Table Setting Details:
Plates / Bowls / Napkins {similar} + rings + cups {similar} + ceramic bowls 
Of course, the runner was a simple purchase from target long ago, but I found it here!

For the flowers, I used vases and vessels I’ve saved for years, combined with garden flowers + a few grocery store combos. + mirror balls here. 

We actually grew tired of covering our patio furniture all the time, because staring at covers is depressing. That means we needed something highly durable since this porch takes a beating almost every day in the sun. We have slowly switched to polywood over the years, and never looked back. An occasional power wash, and you’re good to go. 

Pillows: We desperately need new loungers by the pool, but we’re waiting for those. Instead, we decided to add a little color and dress things up with extra pillows. We love all these to add fun to this back porch + loungers! {Pink / fillers / floral large / floral small / striped texture} 
Copper tables are from here!

We also loved adding these towels for some great added color. 

I’m not sure it would feel like our pool area if we didn’t have our art!

Just beyond this side of the porch is the open yard. We have plans for this side to expand and will be sharing soon! We have desperately needed a plan for Jamin’s grills, and it’s been a minute since we’ve taken on a house project, so this one will be perfect for all things summer. Stay tuned. 

This season, I was sad to take down our colorful Christmas lights. So, I just added them to the cabana, instead. The originals are now sold out, but they have pastel versions here, which are really similar. The kids love hosting game nights in the summer late into the night, and while the photos don’t do them justice, these add the perfect pops of colorful fun while also staying well-lit. {Comboed with these lights + these cords.} 

You can see all the original details from our cabana, here. Meanwhile, I do still love our art here to cover the TV! 

This Kichler fan is a game changer in the hotter months. We’ve also added curtains to keep things protected.

The photos truly don’t do this fun combo justice, but we adore the whimsical vibes these lights bring!

The rest of these are just fun photos, because while I could write about it until I’m blue in the face, sometimes it’s just fun to share something you love so much. Hope you enjoy!

Oh, and before I forget, we added this fun umbrella light + these little firefly lights. The older I get, the more I enjoy lawn ornaments, so I guess between this and bird watching… the downfall has begun. 

As always, let us know if we’ve left something out, or I can point you in the right direction. Hope you’ve enjoyed our happy little tour. We’re ready for all the warm weather. Have an inspired day!