Before and after pics really tell the whole story, don’t they? I have to show these first, so we can all remember where it started and really appreciate the pics I’m about to show you. 
The whole ghastly mudpit, eyesore that we call a backyard. Even my pretty little swing couldn’t save it from the uglies. 
Then the lattice wall was added in March by my Dad. A slight improvement of things to come…and of course, I showed you all the patio project step by step here. And then it was time to decorate and decorate I did! It’s been a fun few weeks since we got back from vacation.
I have been a very busy girl. Since I formerly had a porch and sunroom in Georgia, I had lots of left over things that I had packed away in the attic that I had hoped to bring back out for a screened porch one day, so it was nice to be able to use these again without buying lots of new stuff. This column and urn also came with me from Georgia, as well as the metal bunny. I’ve got ivy and impatiens growing in here. Still need to stain my new lattice wall, but I’ll wait til it cools off a bit. It’s been SO hot already!
The swing got a fresh coat of Java Brown spraypaint from Lowes. It needed freshening up anyway, so it was a good time to change it to brown.
Which happens to look stunning with my new outdoor fabric I picked up for this room.
I took pics on 2 different days and decided to go back and paint the swing brown, so you’ll see in the next pics that the swing is still black, but I didn’t want to retake all those pics, so just use your imagination. 
Tadaaa, the whole patio now! Wait til I show you what I’ve been up to. I’ve had a ball getting all this out and decorating our new patio space. We are really enjoying sitting out here now since it’s finally pretty.
We just love it!
The swing sports a new cushion. This is a cushion I had in my sunroom and I found outdoor fabric at Hancocks last week (on sale too!). And, here’s the big news….I sewed the cushions! Most of them anyway. My friend, Angie, let me come over and use her sewing machine until I can get mine fixed and we whipped these up in one afternoon. She sewed some and I sewed some and it was really very easy. I guess I did learn a little about sewing from my mama after all. I whipped stitched the back of the cushions together to finish them off by hand.
The little vintage planter that I found at the yardsale now holds a plant and some seashells. And iron bunny has been with me for a few years.
I fell in love with this fabric at Hancocks and it’s really pretty vintagey fabric with a brown background and aqua, lime green cream & soft yellow. I backed it with another outdoor fabric in aqua that was on the clearance table.
And I found the perfect lime green piece also on the clearance table for a tablecloth. All of these are outdoor fabrics, so should wear well. I don’t plan on leaving them out all the time though. I’ll bring them in most of the time.
This bunny candle was a yardsale find from ages ago and I bought these citronella candles hoping to keep the pesky mosquitoes away. They haven’t been too bad out there, but I want to try these anyway. I just picked up this set of candle holders at a yardsale over the weekend, so wanted to show you these too…they were $1 and yes, I was happy to take them. Love the leaf design on the glass. So you can see I have plenty of things out here now. 
I found this beautiful iron and wood lantern on clearance at Homegoods and it’s perfect over the table. This is the only accessory I bought for out here. This and the fabric is all I bought. Everything else I already had.
The 25 cents yardsale clock was painted aqua blue.
And all of this hanging on the lattice was yardsale finds too from all my trips out there thrifting.
Table and chairs. I have added some teak oil for the table and chairs since these pics, but it really didn’t make that much difference. They are sort of a blonde and gray mix and that’s just fine with me. I will probably just let them weather anyway.
Here’s a close-up of the fabrics. I just love them!
Those old shutters came with me from Georgia too and used to be on my parent’s house. I may hang them somewhere, but I like them leaning for now. Wish I could put the hose away, but we use it too much, so it has to stay.
Yardsale welcome birdie and candleholder hang on a column.
Yardsale teacart and candle holder. The other pieces I’ve had for a long time too.
I have two of these bunny heads that I got years ago at House Parts in Atlanta.
And that cute glass and rusty metal butterfly from a yardsale for $2 hangs nearby now. 
I found that pretty chippy green planter last year at a yardsale for $2 and I’ll be putting some flowers in it too. 
There you have it…the patio is decorated and we are loving it AND using it! I sat out in my swing yesterday reading and napping…heaven. Hope you got some ideas on how to beautify an ugly space of your own. It was SO rewarding getting this big project out of the way. Now on to something else!
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Wow Rhonda! Everything is beautiful. I love all the whimsical accesories you used. My favorite has to be the candle over the table. The problem here is as you said (The Heat). I can’t believe the hot weather we having. The rain I welcome with open arms but I’m afraid it may not last. All in all,beautiful job! Deb
You really did a great job on those cushions….but I knew you would! I’m busy working on painting and distressing my office desk (black) today…I’m hoping to get the office COMPLETELY done this week.
I ordered an off-white cotton duck slipcover from Ballards to see if the size will work for my parsons chairs. I remeasured them and I think they will work, that way, I’ll have two different looks for the kitchen chairs. I borrowed a can of paint from my daughter yesterday that the builder had used in her house, looks great, and when I got home I noticed the color was Latte! I’m going to try that on the walls to see if I like it and I may go one shade deeper which on the paint strip is hopsack. I’ll be sooo glad to get the kitchen done!
Well, back to the desk job. I’ll talk to you later.
Love ya!
Judy
I’m going to have to take my time with this post…it’s just lovely. I had some garden designers come this weekend and the one thing we all agreed on was the use of gravel in the backyard. I love how you used it with the pavers.
Looks like a wonderful place to sit and read a good book or just sit and enjoy!
I love the cushion fabric and the swing painted brown is fabulous.
Pat
Hi Rhoda,
Thank you so much for telling me the secret to “clickable” photos. I truly appreciate it. I tried it today & it seems to have worked.
Your new patio area is lovely. I can’t believe the fantastic finds you get at yard sales. Everything pulled together so nicely. You did a great job.
Enjoy,
Kim
Wow, wow, wow!! Great job. You really made this into a great space for relaxation.
I love it all, and I especially love the cushion fabric.
Great transformation girl…you have truly made it into your own outdoor comfort zone! Hope you get to enjoy many days out there…have a great evening!
You did SUCH an amazing job transforming that space…WOW!!! I loved seeing all the pics 🙂 Hope you enjoy your outdoor space tremendously…you deserve it!
I’ll be right over for a pinot noir!
Hello there dear friend….I’ve missed our chats…
What I’m about to share over at my post, I’ve waited two years to experience…Nic’s wedding….
Here’s a blanket invitation to share in our joy….
let’s chat
Oh my heavens I want to go garage saleing with you! What finds! What charm! What a transformation!
Hi Rhoda,
That’s looks so good. I love the fabric, it’s so great for summer. You have done a great job!
wow – what a transformation. My dad would really enjoy seeing this – he’s all about landscaping the backyard!
Hi Rhoda,
The patio looks great. I really enjoyed your post before this on the antiquing too!
I have tagged you for a post on your 5 favorite things. Hope you don’t mind!
Thanks,
Diane
Rhoda I so adore your transformation of a muddy unsightly under the deck space. We just finished an exact replica of your space.. Well not exactly finished but looking lots better. We did cave in, and had a lower deck put in. A big decision because of cost. We are so happy with the results. However. I must start yard and thrift store shopping. You are a great bargain hunter. I’m taking a lesson from you. smile!
Thanks for sharing your makeover, Jeanne
Rhoda,
I know you are really going to enjoy your new fun outdoor space! Don’t you just love to turn something with potential into something you love? Looks very inviting.
If you are bothered by the hose, I would do what one poster said… put the hose caddy behind those shutters. You can hinge the shutters together and make a screen of sorts. If they aren’t big enough to make a screen that will hide it well, look for another shutter to add in the middle. All you need are some butterfly hinges (I think that’s what they’re called), and you have an instant garden screen! If you back the back with something like vinyl that can take the elements, you could even tuck cute things like seed packets between the louvers and maybe hang some fun things from hooks attached to the shutters. That could add another great dimension to your design!
Enjoy your new space!
Sheila
It all looks wonderful. Great job. I love the fabrics you found.
Hugs!
Kat
Great project renovation! It all looks wonderful!
Hugs, Rhonda 😉
Rhoda, you are so very talented! You, as always, have done a great job with this space.
Oh it looks amazing! You did a great job. that had to be a ton of hard work, but it certainly paid off! Jen R
That looks amazing! We’ll be over this weekend for a little patio-warming party! 🙂