Last I left off, I had posted a montage of the progress made in one week. The photos were all taken from my office window. Then the monsoon that was June descended and the operation got covered in a tarp at least 2 out of 3 days.
Once the platform was finished, the stairs got added:
Then it was time to take it up a notch with a corner pergola.
As I may have mentioned, we have a view of a NOT lovely parking lot just behind us. Adding a pergola gives us a structure to grow some pretty vines and obstruct the view. It will also create some lovely shade in this full southern exposure area. Its going to take a few years but the vines + the trees we planted at the back should do a nice job in blocking out the bad.
Then the rails...
Finishing touches on the pergola
Put it all together.
If you're wondering what those white circles are on the deck, its these recessed puck lighting things. Our contractor recommended them and they look very cool at night. Its a little thing but glams it up a bit.
We also added these sconces for the general lighting back there. I was a bit disappointed with the finish (the picture made me think they would be more brass and these are bronze) but I didn't see them until it was too late to replace. Not terrible, I just don't love them.
I'll mention now that I absolutely HATE the color the back of the house is painted. This got done while we were renovating the rest of the house and it was not a battle I wanted to pick. But its peachiness still irritates me. I'd love to add some kind of simple mural around the door here but I'm not sure what would work since there isn't that much blank wall space to work with AND I'm not that great of a painter.
So its all finished - at least in terms of construction. It still needs a bit of TLC when it comes to furnishing and accessorizing. I added a coat of rustoleum to my craig's list marble table yesterday and put it in place but I can't find chairs to work with it to save my life.
Any suggestions for chairs or anything else to make it a bit more homey out here? Of course I need some life (plants!) and I'd like to hang something chandelier like from the pergola to add some drama. But I'm on a major budget so cheapskate suggestions only please :)
The corner pergola and the lights in the deck floor are great features...who would have thought! Enjoy! Janell
ReplyDeleteYou are so going to enjoy that new deck. It is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first visit, so I need to start reading more of your lovely blog.
Rhonda
It came out wonderful! I love the lighting you put in it, very cool. Definetly throw in some flowers, maybe using some dramatic, big pots? I love the idea of a cool chandalier hanging above the table, maybe something found at a flea market and painted a pretty pupnch color? Can't wait to see how it turns out! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! You are the envy of all of NYC! I can just imagine the parties you could have in that backyard. DROOL!
ReplyDeleteA chandelier with candles ought to pretty up the pergola. Hmmm, mural. A friend of mine does tromp l'oiel, He truly amazes me. Perhaps not in the budget now, but someday?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.michaelleescott.com/
Well, all of the best on this project. Oh, and can I mention that I love love love your choice of a cocktail table. I really hope it comes through for you.
Thanks for letting us enjoy your journey!
Great job on the deck and pergola! You'll enjoy having this so much. I know you'll do well on the decorating too. You always come up with great ideas to fit your budget.
ReplyDeleteIt came out beautiful! Will you be staining/sealing it? I'd love to see the little table with some black wrought iron chairs, it would look very Parisian cafe that way.
ReplyDeleteIt's gorgeous. You're going to enjoy it so much.
ReplyDeleteYou could try Tolix chairs- the are available at Pottery barn as part of their summer line. (they should be on sale soon - keep an eye on them) They are used all over Europe in outdoor cafes. Comfortable and durable. http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p10395/index.cfm?pkey=coutdoor%2Dchairs they are also available at Sundance Catalog.
ReplyDeleteAnother place to check out Smith and Hawkin is closing it's doors they might have something of interest.
Wow, it is so beautiful! I am in love with those little lights all around, they are very glam!! The pergola was such a great idea to hide the ugly without making it look like a huge wall.
ReplyDeleteAs for hanging something from the pergola- what if you used the scrap wood to make some kind of chandelier from it, you know like those wooden ones that don’t actually have light to them but they are cut out in the shape of a chandelier. You are handy with a saw, so it should be a piece of cake :)
Steph,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great foundation for a beautiful outdoor area, in NYC at that!!! I think the touches you are thinking about will make this space FANTASTIC!!!!!!!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the deck floor lights!!!!!
Anne - The deck is sealed using brushed on waterproofing stuff. (Don't remember the name but its pretty standard). We won't be staining it - I prefer the gray color that will come after a few months in the elements.
ReplyDeleteChristina - Love tolix chairs but they are WAY beyond what I want to spend.
LindsB - That is a great idea about making a chandelier cut out but I don't own a jigsaw. Maybe my brother has one? I'm not quite sure how to make one three dimensional though. If you spot any how-tos, please let me know.
Oh, I love it all, Mrs. Limestone! :) What about one of those vintagey looking metal love seats and a chair with cushions? My grandma has some real ones from the late 40s/50s in excellent condition, and I drool over them whenever we visit NC. :)
ReplyDeleteLooks wonderful - I like the little roof you built - nice to hanging lights from or somethin'.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip on dry brushing my mirror. I am already scheming. Was thinking of adding back a gilded gold after changing the colour again. Many ideas now..
Oh man...that is gorgeous! Love that brooklyn home of yours! You could hang hundi lamps (in assorted colors) or all different sized lanterns (with candles) from the pergola...Start off with morning glory vine...It'll cover it (with lovely flowers) in a season!
ReplyDeleteyour deck looks great! i esp. love the pergola, what a great idea. i saw a candle chandelier awhile ago that was made of scrap pieces of wood, very rustic looking but cool. i'll let you know if i can find the photo again...
ReplyDeletepatio furniture is hard to find (that's not super expensive), good luck!
love the corner pergola and floor lights! my husband just built a pergola on our patio. we measure the akebia vine every day to see how much it's grown up the pergola. here's to lots of time spent on the new deck. pam
ReplyDeleteWow. Totally amazing. The lights are my favorite part right now, but that's probably because you are still in the process of finishing it. But the lights are awesome. And it will just continue to get better.
ReplyDeleteLooks great!
ReplyDeleteCheck out the Better Home and Gardens Bistro Collection at Walmart.com
We were on a serious budget and they are very affordable. Especially now that they are on sale. Good quality too.
Beautiful! Love the recessed lighting, those will look fab at night. I see what you mean about the area around the door needing some omph! Just a thought, but what about some sort of trellis (I'm not a huge trellis fan -- always reminds me of the crossed Home Depot specials) -out of leftover scraps if you have them. I could see some sort of thin cedar pieces in a nice pattern, with perhaps a small overhang just above the door. You could get some large pots (drama!) and plant some climbers in them that would twist their way up and then over top of the door. And maybe there's a plant out there that could possibly mellow the peachy tones...
ReplyDeleteWow, great! awesome! I love the stairs color contrast with the deck.
ReplyDeleteThat deck looks great - I love the addition of the pergola!
ReplyDeleteNicely done! I love it. I hope you get some chairs so that you can enjoy the warmer weather while it is here...chillin on that deck with a book and a cup of tea sounds just devine!
ReplyDeleteThis looks sooo good! I am jealous, we desperately need a privacy fence (to block a "sweet" neighbor dog) from my 3 kids and to enlarge our deck. Love it!
ReplyDeleteLove puck lights, adds so much to the space. Pergola is fantastic too. Cafe chairs would look gorg. with the marble top table:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=2519
I was thinking of something like this: http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p36/jtstitzer/000_0301.jpg
ReplyDeleteBut now that I'm thinking about it- what if you took one of those old brass chandeliers that you see in 80's homes (you know all the ones people are painting and re-vamping) and pull out all the wiring, spray paint it and use it with candles. I bet you could find one on ebay, or even craigslist for like $20.
i absolutely love how this turned out! but ... i can't figure out for the life of me how it's standing up). we have a deck in our backyard that's about the same size and we have a ton more support beams. then again, they used cheap wood that's rotting through so they're pretty much useless.
ReplyDeletei saw a really cheap cuteish victorian style mini chandelier at ikea that might work for lighting - i'm stumped on chairs for you. myself, i'm coveting painted adirondacks but i don't think that's the look you're going for out here.
I love lights or strands of lights....and plants in chic urns...as for the painting around your doors, I would love to see two topiary cypress trees or boxwoods.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing your deck all decked out!
I know you will enjoy many evenings there....
pve
Great looking project! Love those decks all spruced up with a pergola. You always do good work. Just clicked over from Blogher ads, didn't realize you were on there too.
ReplyDeleteLooks great!! Also love the lights.
ReplyDeleteOh it looks so great! I love the lights on the deck floor. I have to show this to my husband he is going to be totally jealous!
ReplyDeleteThe deck looks amazing. I can't wait to see it furnished. I know you are going to do an amazing job. By the way we are probably watching the same thing on TV. Can you guess what I referring to? You know it, Cake Boss is on. I'm obsessed.
ReplyDeleteI love the deck. I would definitely hang a chandelier under the pergola. I would consider placing some planters at the base of the pergola and planting some sort of climbing vine that would climb and cover the pergola. I would also add some evergreens in large planters that way they will look good all year round. Looks great. I can't wait to see what you do with it.
ReplyDeleteLove the deck and all the lights!
ReplyDeleteI did some poking around for the
3D chandelier here is one:
http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/wood-grain-3d-chandelier
Great price too!
Hugs from Conroe, TX!
It's amazing! I commented on Katie @ Bower Power's post about her yard that I was jealous of her outdoor space. Now I'm jealous of yours too! I el-oh-vee-ee pergolas. And the shot of all the scrap lumber? Heart. Palpitations. Seriously. If I didn't live half a country away I'd beg you to let me root through your pile. Looks amazing!
ReplyDeletePeople always forget about lighting - so glad you added the recessed lights. They'll help create more of a mood.
ReplyDeleteHow about anchoring the seating space with a rug (Ikea has some nice graphic ones. A bold black and white stripe, perhaps?). Gunmetal rectangular planters with grasses would create a clean look. You could place them in between the potlights to create some drama when they're uplit.
Just stumbled upon your blog. Great job on the deck and pergola. I would suggest some outdoor curtains. They would add drama and privacy. You can tie them back when not in use. Mixed with a light fixture and plants it'll really look smashing!
ReplyDeleteIt looks fab! Love the recessed light. We bought our deck furniture from Sears five years ago, and they're still looking great now. Quite reasonably priced too.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the corner pergola!!! Love it!!! Such a nice piece of architectural interest, and I'm sure it will only get better with time as vines climb up it. Can't wait to see it all decked out. (PS - this is now inspiration for our back deck!)
ReplyDeleteI would use the marble table as an extra serving place during parties and put a plant or something on top of it the rest of the time. Just go for a bigger and more comfortable table and chairs set for the area under the pergola. The marble table is cute, but not comfortable for all the times you should be cozying up on the deck with morning coffee, dinner, etc.
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone for the feedback. Great ideas that I will have to figure a way to implement.
ReplyDeleteOn the table, I absolutely LOVE this marble table. It looks a bit smallish in the wide angle photo but its not that bad. If it were a few inches bigger, that would be better but this was as closes as I could find and it suits me well. But you can hold judgement until I put some more finishing touches out there.
ummm wow! that is going to be such a nice spot to hang out and read a book or just daydream a bit. and for entertaining! at night when it's dressed and lit i bet it will look just spectacular!
ReplyDeleteLooks great. I love the puck lights - wish I had a way to integrate this into my design. For furniture, I would imagine some funky colored adirondacks, or some fun colored outdoor chairs that cb2 carries this year.
ReplyDeleteThe deck looks amazing. Perhaps you can scour Craig's List, etc. for an outdoor loveseat that matches the table?
ReplyDeleteGreat job! I want a pergola too!
ReplyDeleteWow that looks amazing, great job :)
ReplyDelete