Well I’m finally starting to see the light with some of our DIY outdoor projects! Just in time too. It’s already hot early in the morning so soon working outside at any time is not going to be happening. Let me show you what we did with the area outside our back door.
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I finished painting the gingerbread screen door we installed and the door behind it. I’m excited that I can cross that off my many painting projects list! This is just an in stock wood screen door from Home Depot. It already has all the gingerbread trim on it. (If we were staying here you know I would have painted that door more than one color 🙂 )
I used to have my potting bench here that my husband made me out of reclaimed pallets and wood. Which worked for me but we didn’t think most people would be happy to see a huge bench outside the backdoor. So we moved the potting bench into the garden (I’ll show you the new potting area soon) and used a lot of what we had to make this cute little seating area.
The glider I found at Goodwill many years ago and it was on our patio so we just moved it here. As you can imagine, I have lots of pots!
I’ve had these resin containers for probably 10 years or more! All I did to give them a new look was:
Resin Pot Makeover
1. I washed the dirt off the outside
2. Then a couple of light coats of spray paint ( Rustoleum Aqua). It’s specially made for plastic.
3. Then I sanded the raised areas to let the original tan color show through a bit and I have new pots!
I did buy the topiaries but since they’re planted in pots they will be coming with me when we move. They’re underplanted with yellow Portulaca (which is heat and drought tolerant).
I bought two outdoor cushions from Garden Ridge and a new door mat from Target. I also had to special order shutters for the window above the glider. It’s an odd size but they weren’t too pricey. I think they were $35 for 2 from Home Depot. They match the other shutters on the house and give this area a finished look.
We also invested in some rubber patio pavers so we wouldn’t have to trim around and under the glider and pots when mowing the lawn. These we just set on top of the ground – no digging required!
I have a few hydrangeas next to this area. This one isn’t in bloom yet, but I think this area will look even prettier when they’re in bloom!
Now it’s a cute little seating area right outside the backdoor that the new owner’s can enjoy!
Stacey says
June 18, 2014 at 12:50 pmEverything looks so great! I’d be inclined to take that cute screen door with me when you move. Your glider swing reminds me that I need to get cute pillows for mine. 🙂
Marti says
June 18, 2014 at 1:19 pmIt looks good. I like screen doors in summer; I like the squeak of the spring and the friendly slap of the door when someone comes in.
Brenda Kula says
June 18, 2014 at 1:24 pmI love that glider and back door! Your pots look fantastic. I doubt it will take you long to sell. Your home is just beautiful.
Brenda
Betty says
June 18, 2014 at 2:07 pmA few years ago we put new screen doors on our front and back porch. I wished we had put one like yours on the back. It is so pretty. I have two of those planters and when I get time I have to paint them like yours.
Penny @ The Comforts of Home says
June 18, 2014 at 2:25 pmWhat a great screen door! The whole area looks wonderful.
Kathleen Grace says
June 18, 2014 at 2:30 pmIt’s all beautiful, we need a new screen door and I’m glad I can probably find one at HD, but the thing I’m really excited about is rubber patio pavers! We have an area with an outdoor table that we have to move every. time. we. mow. I think those pavers may be just the ticket!
Manuela Williams says
June 18, 2014 at 3:07 pmOh yeah, these are the way to go! After we put in a paver stone patio a few years ago I said never again. These come in different patterns and colors.They also come with clips (you can clip them together) but we didn’t use them.
Vickie says
June 18, 2014 at 3:00 pmYour pretty turquoise screen door just seems to say, Come on in! I love it and the addition of the matching flower pots, too.
Dianne says
June 18, 2014 at 4:56 pmI have always wanted one of those gingerbread screen doors! And I love the color blue it’s painted.
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
June 18, 2014 at 5:16 pmIt all looks great, Manuela! I love that glider. What a great find that was at the thrift store. Love how you tied the blue in throughout, too.
Judy Clark says
June 18, 2014 at 5:42 pmWhat a pretty outdoor area! Love the aqua color. Looks really great!
Judy
Glenda says
June 18, 2014 at 6:48 pmPretty! It screams “sit down, relax, and have something cold to drink”. 🙂
I have 3 resin pots I was looking at recently thinking they need help!
Enjoy your evening.
Debby Messner says
June 18, 2014 at 7:13 pmSounds like we are in the same boat. How long has your home been listed. We are listing ours this week. I think we were both on the market about 4 years ago as well. Love what you did with the door and the glider. I had a roughly made potting table as well. We moved it for the same reason. I also had a long church pew on the front porch. My kids removed it so the house would show better. But I have to put something there. I have another double chair that I will use after seeing your picture. Hood luck to you on your sale.
Manuela Williams says
June 18, 2014 at 8:26 pmIt’s not listed yet. We’re listing after July 4th. Yes, the market was bad the first time we listed. We really want to get the $ that we want 🙂 The market is much better here so I don’t think we’ll have a problem. They are going to build a new Braves stadium about 10 minutes from us, that’s bringing in a lot of new construction already. So even though it’s early in the game for the stadium we’re hoping it’s giving the area the boost it needs. Good luck with the sale of your home!
Vee says
June 18, 2014 at 8:20 pmIt looks so welcoming and sophisticated. Very nice play of color, too. They can’t keep you down!
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces says
June 18, 2014 at 9:44 pmThis is so pretty, Manuela…love the color! And I just bought the same mat at Target today…such a fun design…great minds think alike~
Manuela Williams says
June 18, 2014 at 11:01 pmLOL! Good choice Linda 🙂
Debbie says
June 19, 2014 at 7:30 amWell, it all looks wonderful. I love the color that you chose for both the screen door and the resin pots. The seating area looks so inviting there by the door. We just finished having our house painted (have yet to blog about that…), and I’m looking forward to giving my entry areas some fresh looks. Thanks for inspiring me as always!
Cynthia says
June 19, 2014 at 1:45 pmManuela this turned out great, the screen door looks like the old days. What a great find and this whole area looks perfect. I have about a million pot too, they may need a transformation which may have to wait until next year. Unpacking is the priority when we get in the house.
Cynthia
Andrea at Opulent Cottage says
June 19, 2014 at 4:05 pmWow this looks so fresh and nice, I really need to get my back door area cleaned up now! I have eyed that same lantern, it looks great too. I think I sense a bidding war coming on for your wonderful house!! Everyone is going to love it 🙂
Manuela Williams says
June 20, 2014 at 5:48 pmI’ll just be glad if we get what we ask for. Selling is such a pain with having to leave when people come to see the house and keeping it super clean all the time! I’m hoping for a quick sale!
Deanna says
June 19, 2014 at 8:57 pmIt looks great, Manuela!
The color is fresh and clean and I love the glider and the topiaries!
Can’t wait to see the potting area!
[email protected] says
June 20, 2014 at 2:41 pmLove those pillows! So cute! Do I know about rubber pavers????? Where did you get them?
Manuela Williams says
June 20, 2014 at 5:46 pmKaren, I got them at Home Depot and they come in various patterns and I think 3 colors (like reddish brown,brown and black). They’re in the back by fertilizer, grass seed in the outdoor section (at least at my HD). But they are great because you can just lay them on top of the ground – no digging in!
Melanie says
June 20, 2014 at 5:28 pmI love the aqua door and the matching plant pots. I had no idea you could spray paint resin. I will remember that next year before I put my plants in the pots! 🙂
Manuela Williams says
June 20, 2014 at 5:41 pmOh I’ve done it with the plants in the pots! Just cover them up and tip the pots so you can get the bottoms 🙂
Debbie says
June 20, 2014 at 9:06 pmI love that shade of blue! Very nice!
Manuela Williams says
June 20, 2014 at 10:56 pmThank you Debbie! I’m trying to spread that color around to different areas of my backyard. It’s also on my veggie garden gate and arbor!
Patti says
June 22, 2014 at 1:01 pmLove the blue. It’s my favorite color!! I also really like your header. So pretty!
TerriC says
June 22, 2014 at 8:43 pmThat looks just great! I like it as much as I like my own little back porch! I still have lots of work to do too and we’re not selling. I took last week ‘off’ and just did routine housework. Must get busy!