Shut the (Mid-Century) Front Door

Here it is! After 6 years of this project getting pushed aside for more pressing matters (roof, landscaping, gutters, water heater, kitchen and bathroom remodels, backyard shed, etc.) we finally have a period appropriate front door on our ranch.

It is a Builders Choice fiberglass door that we special ordered through Home Depot. They have a few other retro styles and can be ordered either primed white or finished in several colors. We chose a primed one and painted it this great minty green. The color is called Haven from Sherwin Williams.

The Schlage brass escutcheon was NOS that I purchased on eBay.

Since we were focusing on the outside this spring, I thought we needed some new planters to amp up the curb appeal. These match our new garage door colors: Holiday Turquoise and Haven by Sherwin Williams.

We also painted the undersides of the large overhangs on the house using the Holiday Turquoise. It is from the Suburban Modern collection.

I have also been changing things up on the inside. This bark cloth tablecloth was scooped off of Etsy with a Mothers Day gift card. It coordinates nicely with my drapes.

I think Judy Jetson would be proud.

The new Goodwill store in my town has been a treasure trove lately. I am keeping the Vegas tray. Everything else will go in my Etsy shop.

I found this plant (?) stand at Goodwill also. With a Home Depot bowl planter I think it looks good with my turquoise hoop chairs.

This chaise was picked up last summer and sports a new coat of paint and colorful cushion. I also spray painted those little plant stands in new colors.

 I picked up a new umbrella for the patio table. We are still searching for a different patio dining table.

Check back soon to see the newly painted cupola and weather vane on top of the garage!

Finally: The New Shed

Yes, we finally have the new shed in our back yard.

What took so long, you say?

The answer is this: purchasing the shed kit and all building materials, the building permit application, drawing a site plan, borrowing a 150 ft. tape measure, reviews by the zoning department, borrowing some of the concrete forms and finishing tools, delivery of the stone, forming the concrete pad, pricing concrete delivery with different companies, pricing concrete finishing, delivery of concrete, lining up another person to help with the finishing, and then waiting a week for the concrete to cure. All while working mid-nights. It took all summer.

The concrete had to be wheelbarrow-ed from the street because it was in a fenced portion of our yard:

This is the concrete truck in front of the house. At 7:45 am. Luckily we have nice neighbors.

Here is the pad finished:

While we had the mess, DH added on to our patio and sidewalk. Here is Nash, who was warned to stay off the wet concrete:

After waiting a week for the pad to be ready the shed actually went up very quickly.

It sure came in handy to store all of our garden and patio items.

We are now beginning our inside remodeling. Kitchen, 2 baths and mud room. IKEA has just delivered most of my kitchen.

Stay tuned!

Outdoor Spaces, Thrifted Finds and a Mid-Century Sectional

I hope you like photos because this post has lots of them!

Updates on the interior of our home have been pretty minimal lately. We have been focusing on the exterior after the long cold winter. Here was our front yard in January:

It finally warmed up in May, so we headed outside. A few plantings and small trees died but most of the roses did come back after a merciless cut back from me:

As you know, we are on a tight budget, so for the outdoors we have worked with what was here. This spring we splurged and purchased 2 Pom Pom Spruces for the front and side landscape. We shopped all over our area for the best deal and found 2 perfect ones at a local home improvement store and waited for them to go on sale. Aren’t they just so cool?

We also had 4 yards of dark mulch delivered. It is from a family owned nursery nearby and they delivered it for free. I just love the way it tidies things up.

We have also purchased a shed for the fenced in portion of our yard.  It will go where the old fish pond was, in the corner here:

The garden is coming along great:

My atomic hairpin leg plant stand came with its original pots and made its debut outside this year. I planted it with tiny petunias and think it looks great with my retro turquoise hoop chairs from Big Lots:

Here is my pretty granddaughter sunning herself in one. Her dress has all of my favorite colors!

This vintage bird bath top was found in an old shed. It was missing the base so I used it for a planter on the front porch. It is a pretty aqua green.

I just love colorful coleus. It gives a little tropical feel to our Midwest landscapes:

Here is a new addition to the patio. For those who have read my past posts, you may remember Nash as dear Woody’s friend who occasionally came for a sleepover. She is ALL business and would rather herd you than play. I try to keep my mooing to a minimum so she will leave me alone.

 

Even with all that is going on outside, I have squeezed in a little thrifting. Here are some recent finds:

This adorable winking snowman tree skirt was $1. The groovy flowered case is full of Barbie and Dawn dolls and accessories. The Gurley Thanksgiving candles and light up Christmas candles will go in my Etsy shop.

This Pyrex was purchased from a friend who is always on the lookout for items I am interested in. It all matches the tablecloth, which was a gift from another friend. It had belonged to her grandmother. Oh, and these are my first black snowflake and pink Gooseberry Pyrex!

Another great tablecloth from her grandmother:

This pretty pink and blue pitcher was $3 at a local indoor flea market. Swoon….

This lid was a mystery find. It is unmarked and fits a Pyrex 403 bowl. I cannot find another one like it online. Does anyone recognize this piece?

I saved the BEST for last. The elusive mid-century sectional of my dreams has finally been found! It is a wonderful champagne color with sparkly silver threads. AND….it was kept in its original plastic furniture covers until just a few weeks ago. It is pristine. All I have to do is add some pillows!

My son messaged me with a photo of this beauty, which was listed on a personal FB page for sale. It was a leftover from a garage sale so the price had been lowered. We got it for $200. I about fainted.

Here is a closeup of the great Frieze fabric:

Now we need a boomerang, guitar pick or round coffee table. The hunt is on.

Well folks, what have you been doing outside now that summer has arrived?

Did your plantings survive the crazy winter?

Have you been finding any great vintage bargains?

Please share!