It’s been really challenging trying to get work done in the garden lately simply because the spring and summer weather hasn’t really been all that great. I like working on the garden on warm dry days which you would think would be plentiful this time of year but unfortunately, they aren’t! If it’s been dry, it’s either blowing a gale or really cold and if it’s been warm, it’s also pissing down with rain orrrr it’s cold and raining. Oh North West England, how you taunt me! So it seemed that every time we had a bit of time to try and tackle a few more bits in the garden, the weather had other plans that day.
Even as I write, the heavens have opened and it’s absolutely chucking it down with rain (and did so similarly yesterday) so trying to do things like paint and plant are just not happening as quickly as I was hoping!
Regardless, I did want to share a few updates with you that we were able to get done and hopefully you can see that things are moving, just a lot slower than I’d hoped by now – and it’s a very similar story for our front patio as well! Gardening in Manchester is just challenging what can I say ;)
So as you know, I am working with the lovely peeps from Homebase on our garden and they were generous enough to provide some furniture for our deck and patio and also gave me some vouchers to allow me to choose a few other things that we needed.
Here’s where we started as a little reminder… a little LOT uninspiring I think you’ll agree!
Well all last week it was finally gloriously sunny and HOT (like properly 30 degree C heat!) so we decided that was it – on Saturday, we were going to get stuff done in the garden. So first thing in the morning, I headed off to Homebase to get some paint and paint brushes as well as have look at some of their garden decor and plants.
I picked up these cute bamboo solar lights (on sale for less than £6 each – bargain) and now I wish I’d picked up a third strand of them! They’ve got that tiki bar look to them which to me just screams ‘summer’. I haven’t yet decided where I’m hanging them but I will be soon enough.
I also picked up Cuprinol’s Garden Shades paint in Ash Black (they have a huge selection at Homebase both online and in store) and finally painted our luminous orange shed! Two coats and it just totally transformed it into something a bit more chic.
So this is what it looked like when we’d first put it up in April…
And this is currently how it’s looking now… (Also, amazing what the trees filling in with all their leaves really does to a shot doesn’t it?!) (Oh and yes that awful scaffolding is STILL UP! Council said it may be a while, it’s all political red tape to get them to remove it.)
You can see I have my new patio set – the Amalfi Mosaic Bistro Set (on sale for £99!) which is perfect for an early morning coffee because the sun shines back here first thing in the morning. Obviously I still need to dress the table and this picture was taken just after we had a massive downpour (!) so that’s why everything is so damp! Ahhh yes, Manchester living at it’s finest.
I also spray painted my planter in Montana Gold Gold Chrome spray paint. I still need to plant something in it but I quite like how shiny it is against the roughness of that brick wall.
So things have moved on for the patio but it’s not totally done – I’m going to be trimming the shed in white (which is why the top part is still orange) and getting some hanging planters for it as well as adding a curtain to the little window. I also need to clean up the patio itself, get some nice fresh white rocks for the path and get some new planters for the patio itself and of course dress up the table and chairs with some outdoor cushions – once it’s dry enough for me to do so! ;)
On the other side of the garden, Wayne finally added facia to the bottom of the patio (I’ve been desperate for him to do this for ages!) out of old pallets we had lying around.
We’ve only done one coat of stain and then we’ll do a second coat of stain over the entire deck just to freshen it up. Wayne also needs to put a proper step on there as well.
He thought he was going to get away with leaving it like this and just staining it. HAHAHAHAHA!! Silly man. We also want to add some paving stones or tiles or rocks of some sort to create a path from the steps to the side path.
Oh yes, I also picked up those gorgeous deep blue summer planters at Homebase (on sale for a mere £5 each in store!) that I didn’t have to do a thing to – they come all planted up with a nice variety of blooms. Let’s hope I can keep them alive! I’m not sure where any of those planters are going just yet – at the moment everything is a bit of a mess so again, still work to do here… plus of course, I need some cushions and something to dress the fence.
I’m debating what to do with that fence because obviously it’s shared with the neighbours so I can’t stain or paint it or else the stain/paint will run through to the other side – which means I need to leave it looking a bit weathered and tired (sob). I may get some bamboo screening to cover it – I’m not sure yet! Decisions decisions.
Oh and as you can see we got the Rimini 4 seaterpatio set as well (half price right now!!) – obviously completely unstyled but I do really love it and when we have had nice warm evenings, we’ve loved sitting out here for dinner despite the fact the rest of the space still needs a little love and attention!
And finally, as you can see, I decided on an outdoor rug!! I figured as I’m going a little boho glam, I needed a colourful rug to pull my palette from. I came across Mad Mats doing a bit of a search online for outdoor rugs but noticed they were only available in the US (story of my life that one) but happily someone was selling them on eBay that shipped to the UK. The bad news is that they didn’t have the larger size I needed so I decided to buy 2 smaller rugs and just double them up. I mean, boho style is all about layering right? So why not layer the rugs? It’s not ideal but the rugs are so much prettier than anything I was able to find in this country so they’ll do!
I did just want to share this picture because it has both Meisha and Quito in it and it shows how well our side garden is doing with the Garden on a Roll product that I got from Homebase two years ago. I’m so happy with it (and no, they haven’t asked me to tell you that, I just think it’s an amazing product). I can’t believe how big some of the plants are getting!
So as you can see, there’s plenty more left to do but at least things are STARTING to come together even if it looks a little disjointed at the moment. Just pray for some more nice weather so I can get it all done and share the final reveal okay?
Disclaimer: Homebase have provided the garden furniture and will be supplying plants and planters for our makeover free of charge for my review but of course, as always, all words and opinions are my very own. I only work with companies I really like and think you’ll like too! Thanks for supporting the businesses that support Swoon Worthy.
Thank you for the fun post. It sounds like the weather in England is duplicating the weather here in New York. Wet. Dark. Not fun. I have a suggestion about your rugs. I’ve done this myself and it has worked out surprisingly well. Sew them together. I’m not a seamstress just bungle along. A simple round and round stitch (my home economic class is way in the past) will hold them together. Can probably even use clear fishing line. Just a thought. I saves you from constantly adjusting them. -Nadine
Oh at least I know we’re not alone in feeling a little ripped off this summer ;) My condolences you guys are having similar!
Also, that is SUCH a good idea for the rugs! I may definitely try that! At the moment, they aren’t moving too much with the furniture on top of them but they do move a bit! Thanks so much :) xx
You have done a great job..Thanks for sharing this.
That is soooo frustrating when the weather is being a beast and won’t cooperate! I love the black on that shed…seriously a game changer. I am also coveting that ivy…ours is sad and won’t grow up! xo
Totally feel you on the Northern English weather. The downpours have been ridiculous. I am back in my winter hiking boots to walk the dogs there’s that much mud in the woods! And I am officially going to adopt this as the excuse for my garden currently sporting 3ft grass (that and the lack of lawnmower and the renovations going on inside whenever we have a spare moment!): it rains too much to garden :-)
Also cannot believe I’ve been following you two whole years – I remember you putting down the garden on a roll – it is indeed looking amazing.
Let’s hope the weather clears up a bit and we can both get out to the garden – got friends coming in early August and I was hoping we could spend some time out there…!
It’s just so frustrating! I was in a long jumper, jeans and boots with the dog in the garden today as well – I mean it’s JULY?! I will keep everything crossed that summer is still on it’s way (how long do you think I can keep telling myself that?!) and so we can both get a few things done! You’re more than welcome to borrow our lawnmower :D xxx
I love the planter that you spray painted in gold. Have you checked out Target and West Elm planters? I have been eyeing a few massive but gorgeous ones at West Elm. Your backyard space is coming together beautifully!
Aww thanks darling! Alas, no Target in the UK *sob sob* although I so wish we did! West Elm UK literally has 2 PLANTERS in their selection (it’s fairly new over here so we don’t have the same stock as you guys) and they are really pricey.. boo! But thank you! Doing my best while the weather lets me ;) xxx
Oh friend! Ill take some of that wet weather off your hands in a heartbeat. This damn drought has everything in my garden brown, dead, sad, and ugly. We are relegated to watering only 2 times a week for 30 minutes. Its pathetic and honestly a complete waste of time. I loooove your garden. Its so lush and green and just beautiful. Love the black painted shed. Also love the deck. We want to build a deck off the master when we do the addition. I also love the little area for coffee/tea and those rugs are amazing! Im so exactly to see how it all turns out friend.
Oh no, I heard about the drought in California! Sounds dreadful! Wish we could somehow split the difference and you could have half our rain and we’ll have half your sunshine ;) Best of both worlds then! It is pretty but there’s so much rain that you can never get outside to actually enjoy the greenery and everything is just so wet and muddy *headdesk* xxx
The shed looks fantastic in black! I would never have thought of doing it in this shade.
Thank you! I wish we could paint our fence panels in black as well but alas, we share the fences with the neighbours on both sides so I wouldn’t be able to! But it is lovely against the greenery isn’t it! I’m really happy with the colour :) xx
Hi Kimberley, I would suggest you can paint the fence. I’ve recently done it at home and if you do it with a brush and are careful it won’t bleed through. Has made such a difference!
Garden is looking lovely btw.
Xx
Oh thank you! That’s so encouraging! What brand did you use if you don’t mind me asking? I’m trying to go off reviews of different products to see which are less likely to drip but I’ve been thinking if I do it with a ‘dry brush’ and don’t load on the stain, it should work, right? I’m desperate to do it because the fence panels are just untreated and look a bit worn out :-/ xxx
Morning Lovely, I used Home of Colour (garden colour) in Smokey Slate. I think it might be Homebase’s own brand. I’m so pleased with it. I used a smallish brush so it took forever but was worth it. I didn’t paint the posts, so the neighbour doesn’t see any of the colour on their side. I’m going to post about it soon on the blog. My photo’s are always rubbish but yours look great. xx
Oh yes, I saw that there! They had some lovely colours – that slate grey must be STUNNING on a fence! You must post about it, I’d love to see how it turned out :) I’ll probably match the fence colour to the decking but I’m a bit tempted to go with the same black we did the shed in…! I might have to try it and just use a small brush and go slowly (it might take me the rest of summer though lol) ;) Thank you! xx
Be brave hun, go for the black. The plants will look great against it.
Here’s my grey fence
http://deardesigner.co.uk/the-new-garden-dining-deck/
xx
Hiya Kimberly, Wow the gardens looking great. The shed looks brilliant black, and with all the gold going on, again Wow lol i love it, and the rugs are fantastic its all coming together. The plants have really come on as well since last year. Ok end of me gushing lol, sorry i just love it. We just need some good weather, hopefully fingers crossed xxx
Your gardens look lovely right now, Kimberly. So if you’re able to accomplish all the projects you have planned, it will look uber lovely! Your idea to cover your side of the fence with bamboo screening sounds very nice to me and then, you might consider adding your newly bought bamboo lights.
Yes, even though you mention it’s not finished, your backyard looks fabulous!!! And I can’t not mention your black shed. It’s amazing! I don’t know why, but I didn’t think you’d go black. I was thinking a dark royal blue, but I have a feeling you’re not finished with it yet. Aside from the white trim, I know you have something else up your sleeve. Like hanging-wise. Or I’m utterly wrong.