Don’t get too excited — this is more about function than looks. We rescued our old spray-painted metal and glass coffee table from John’s parents (they used it when their house was on the market and it ended up tucked away in storage). It came from our first house’s living room and, since we didn’t have a spot for it indoors, it made sense to put it on the patio where other outdoor furniture shares the same metal-and-glass vibe.
Is it a perfect match for the space? Not exactly. Is it excellent for resting my pasty, in-need-of-shaving mom legs? Absolutely.
Sometimes you work with what you’ve got — whether that’s a pale pair of legs or a $30 thrift-store coffee table — at least until you upgrade (furniture upgrades only; legs are a different story). Here’s another shot of the table without any appendages:
And check out the surprise in the background: our hydrangeas popped open with bright blue blooms. We assumed they might be white from the buds, so it was a fun surprise to see that vibrant blue. It’s one of the perks of your first spring and summer in a new home — discovering what decides to show up and surprise you. It’s basically Oprah-style plant giving: “You get a hydrangea! You get a hydrangea!”
When we did the big patio reveal, I admit I hauled some indoor pieces outside to help with scale and because it was fun to stage the space (John thinks I’m odd, but whatever). That little exercise gave the patio a charming look for photos.
But here’s how the patio actually looks most days now:
Yes, that’s a whale-shaped baby pool. It was a sweet gift from a friend who had the same one as a child, and Clara absolutely adores it. Being the slightly overprotective mom I am, I padded the bottom with towels so it’s gentler on her swim-diapered buns.
Oddly enough, the patio is far from “finished” in terms of furniture, pillows, and decor — but for now it’s pure paradise. It’s a reminder that spaces don’t have to be perfectly styled or perfectly scaled to be joyful. Sometimes a whale pool and an old coffee table are all you need.
Before I sign off, here’s how much the backyard has filled in since our first house tour. This is the left side of the yard a few months back:
And here it is now:
Pretty dramatic, right? The right side looked like this a few months ago:
And now:
It’s getting lush — welcome to the backyard jungle. Burger and Clara love to explore, and an old mystery bush we couldn’t identify turned out to be full of roses.
Roses, I think — I’m not great with plants, but that’s my best guess. Either way, there’s plenty of monkey grass to tickle my pale legs for hours.
So tell me: do you have a similarly unfurnished-but-functional outdoor spot? Did you own a whale pool as a kid? Are your legs as delightfully pale as mine? I’d love to hear about it — I promise not to gossip. Much.