Outdoor Living: Cheap & Chic

The temperature is going to hit 85 degrees today in NY, which means all that I can think of is spending some time outdoors.

 

One of the projects we want to tackle this year is a deck. Over the weekend Jon was at  Big Lots and saw something he knew I would love right away!

Now it may look like an ordinary gazebo, but it had me at BAMBOO plus the super price of $200 didn’t hurt!

 

Picture of it in the store:

Bamboo detailing:

That’s right folks it has bamboo detailing throughout all of the framing. Of course my immediate question was can we spray-paint it? Poor Jon said yes so now of course I want to paint it in a bright shade! Perhaps red?

Then I would leave the top as is, but those side curtains would be coming down and I would be making new ones with this:

Outdoor fabric that is only 9.95 a yard and with a classic stripe that just screams summer to me.

 

Add to the mix some red French bistro chairs, which are on sale this month for $115 each.

Then search Craigslist for a pedestal table that you can refinish.

 

Voila found this baby for $30. With a little sanding and a lot of high-gloss black paint we would be in business.

Of course I want to hang something like this in it:

But at $399.99 that is so not happening.

 

So, how about instead I try and recreate the look with this for $30:

Yes it doesn’t look exactly the same, but use some imagination and see it strung up with coral beads like our inspiration from PB.

 

These beads are only $2.96 for a 16” strand.

 

Woo hoo! I think I just convinced myself that the gazebo is a must buy. Jon was itching to pick it up since Sunday and I’ve kept telling him that we should wait until the deck is built, but with only 6 left at my local Big Lots. I will be picking one up tonight!

 

* When you go onto Big Lots site it asks you if you want to join their rewards club. Do it! You get their ads emailed to you two days in advance and then tend to put 20% off coupons in those emails as well.