Tuscan Patio Part II
- At June 29, 2011
- By Lesley
- In Featured
0
Well, as promised here is how I brought a bit of the Italian countryside home after being inspired by a trip to Tuscany.
First came the structural stuff. When we moved into the house (over eight years ago) the backyard had a plain deck off the kitchen and nothing but a concrete slab off the family room. It was pretty B-O-R-I-N-G so we changed the railing on the deck to something more traditional in keeping with the style of the house, then we enlarged the patio footprint and installed stone tiles in a diagonal pattern with a border. Finally, we built a glass pergola over the patio so that it felt more enclosed and could be used all through the Spring/Summer months rain or shine. (Sorry I don’t have a “before” photo taken prior to the structural work because it was pre-digital and those photos aren’t quite as organized as I’d like them to be.)
A few years later, we purchased some new patio furniture (we waited until the Fall and got it on sale) and in keeping with our desire for Tuscan style we decided to go for a bright colour with the cushions.
So, this is what we started with:
(Patio Before )
Next we purchased a really solid old pine coffee table from the Salvation Army Thrift Store.We reinforced the centre of the table and began the process of transforming it.
1) First we put on two coats of primer:
2) Next we put on three coats of black paint
3) Then came the fun part — laying in and grouting tumbled marble tile:
We’re almost done, just a few special touches…
Next we placed the patio furniture, planted some planters, and “voila” all that’s left to do is pour a glass of wine and pretend we are in Italy:
If you would like help creating an outdoor space that makes you feel like you are in Italy (or wherever your imagination can take you), please call Embellished Interiors for a consultation.
Tuscan Patio Part I
- At June 22, 2011
- By Lesley
- In Featured
- 0
Five years ago my husband, our two boys and I headed off on a European vacation. We toured around London and Paris, and spent a week in Tuscany. Sounds wonderful, right? Well, it was… except for our accommodation. We stayed in a so-called Tuscan Farmhouse but really it was more like a barn and there were a few too many bugs for my liking. Aside from that, however, we had a great time exploring the area. The scenery is beautiful and yes, the sunflowers really do turn their heads to the sun.
One of my favourite places in Tuscany was San Gimignano, a small, medieval walled city in the province of Siena, Italy:
(Source: Traveljapanblog.com)
(Source: Pinterest.com)
As you walk along the streets of these small towns, it’s hard not to be impressed by the history. After all, San Gimignano was founded by the Etruscans in the 3rd Century BC! While we were there, I fell in love with the hand painted pottery — dishes, vases and especially the ceramic table tops — but at nearly $3,000.00 for just the the table top (not including the base or shipping) sadly I had to leave that souvenir in Italy.
(Source: www.leoncini-italy.com)
I sure enjoyed window shopping though and brought home a few small ceramics as a reminder of this beautiful place.
(Source: www.flickr.com)
One thing I decided, even though I wasn’t able to bring home a table top, was that I wanted to bring a taste of the Italian countryside to my backyard patio in North Vancouver, and with a few simple touches, that is what I did. Stay tuned (in my next post) for a look at how I brought Tuscany home.
