We haven't done any fall festivities this year. No pumpkin patches, no straw mazes, no pumpkin carving, nothing! The weather has just been so great that I don't think we feel the same urgency we did in Idaho. We had to cram in all the festivities because every day it would just get colder and colder, and by the time halloween came around, we were usually trick-or-treating in coats. Here, it's a much more leisurely pace and the weather is perfectly warm during the day, and just slightly cooler in the evenings. So we're taking our time, enjoying fall. I'm living for it and it feels like this is just the beginning, which also means it's just the beginning of enjoying our courtyard.
Pull Up a Seat
In this post here we talked about our new dining table and how we would have overflow seating in the back patio when we host. Well our new outdoor dining set arrived and it's soooooo so stunning and substantial. Since its arrival, we've been enjoying team lunches out there and it's been so lovely. Last night we actually spent a magical evening celebrating Chris's birthday out here.
Looking Towards the Future
We wrote a whole lengthy post sharing the pros and cons of hiring a local contractor vs. an online designer service, and in it we shared some renderings of what this outdoor space COULD look like. Spoiler alert, it was a juicy one AND since then we've actually made a decision on what we're moving forward with (stay-tuned). For now I'm just so content having an outdoor hangout area.
Shop Our Courtyard
Dining Table | Dining Side Chair | Dining Arm Chair | Outdoor Sofa | Outdoor Lounge Chair | End Tables | Planters | Topiary | String Lights
Beyond the courtyard
Just beyond the gated courtyard, is a grassy area where we've set up a little hangout vignette in the loungiest chairs. For those who will ask, we've also moved the fire pit and chairs to the putting green because it wasn't getting much utilization anyways. Who even knows what this space will be post-renovation! Possibly a garden or a kids playground?
Leave a Reply
WE'RE CHRIS + JULIA
Portfolio
Projects
Ok, I just have to say - I love the courtyard. Exactly as it is. It's like a little secret corner of the world and adds such a nice sense of greeness and cozyness. What if you ripped out the putting green and put your pool into that space? your firepit could go in amongst the trees/wood and that would give you effectively a second backyard where you're not looking at your pool all the time.
I didn't remember a post about having a putting green in the yard, but then I saw the small flag in the hole behind a chair. That's funny, but I imagine that it is quite shady in that area. I think it's nice to have multiple resting spots in a yard, or house.
Off topic, if it gets chilly for Halloween, consider having a "cauldron" of hot apple cider as one of your treats. I had an instapot of the stuff a few years ago and used up all of my cider since it was such a hit. Some kids walked down to the street and sat on the curb for a while until the cider cooled down. It was fun listening to their conversations about school and life. The adults had an option of some bourbon in their cider or a glass of wine. People new to my area were a bit uncertain when I offered the adults a "treat", until they heard what the options were. I have a dedicated bunch of ladies visiting me for the wine - they even visited last year to make sure I was ok.
A lot of churches do a "truck and treat" in their parking lot and my sailing club is trying a "transom and treat" this year with a dinner, games, and a movie on an outside blowup screen. Should be fun!
We moved from Massachusetts( trick or treating in snowsuits) to Virginia when my youngest was 2. I found the perfect fuzzy Elmo costume for her and the poor thing had perspiration rolling down her cheeks- but Halloween in Virginia became our fav as neighbors gathered and kids ran around- no snow suits required🎃
How are the mosquitos? I know you tried that anti-bug torch fuel. I tried it too and it didn't work for me, but I'm an even more heavily wooded property.
we actually haven't had too many issues, thankfully!
I remember you said somewhere that you wanted to take out some of that courtyard from our grass but I honestly don’t understand why you would do that. I grew up in a concrete jungle and as cozy as grass can be concrete made for way more play area. It’s so much more versatile. Just get ready for spring where you can fill it with pots full of annuals to enjoy the seasonal colors.
Absolutely beautiful. I have never been so engaged with an Instagram account, blog, or renovation ever. I feel so attached to what’s happening and can’t wait to see it develop over time! Your home is beautiful.