Don’t Be a Deck
May 5th, 2009 § Leave a Comment
Ok, that title doesn’t really make any sense, I just thought it was funny and couldn’t come up with anything creative. I’m working on sprucing up our upstairs deck on as small a budget as possible (stay tuned for finished pics, this stupid rain storm has really put me behind schedule). So in trying to stay low budget, I was in Ikea the other day picking up some outdoor accessories and I came across their decking (pictured above).
This comes into play because our deck is in desperate need of refinishing, but we rent so I don’t want to invest the money or time. So I’m thinking of using the Platta decking to cover up the wrecked wood. They also had another smaller decking option with plastic snaps on the bottom, which might work better because I’m not completely sure how the Platta decking will stay in place. Unfortunately, they don’t have this other style online but you can check it out in the store.
I didn’t know Ikea had decking so I thought I’d let you guys know. The quality seems decent in person and of course the price is right. Anyway, stay tuned. Hopefully this rain will stop and I’ll be able to finish my project new decking and all!
- Adrienne
A-Listers Need to Know:
Price: $5.99 per piece
Purchase: www.ikea.com
Summer Has Arrived (part deux)
April 29th, 2009 § Leave a Comment
I was in West Elm yesterday and was impressed with their outdoor pillow collection for two reasons, one because the selection was so large and two because I didn’t even know they made outdoor pillows! I really like their orange and grey options (which is a big color this season). The only patterns I wasn’t really into were their Ikat options, I think I’m just sick of Ikat.
The quality of the pillows seemed pretty good. They might last a couple seasons with a lot of wear and tear, but for the price that’s not too shabby!
- Adrienne
A-Listers Need to Know:
Price: $24-$34
Purchase: www.westelm.com
Umbrella, You’re My Only Friend
April 21st, 2009 § Leave a Comment
We’re having a record breaking heat wave here in NorCal and while I’m loving the high temperatures, I’m also wishing we had air conditioning. That being said, the lack of central air has increased my appreciation for more traditional heat combatants such as fans (if you put a bowl of ice in front of your fan, it really cools off the air. I learned this on a plantation tour in Louisiana and it really does work) and of course outdoor umbrellas.
I purchased the above outdoor umbrella in yellow at the most recent Restoration Hardware warehouse sale (yes, I’m sure you’re sick of hearing about that sale, but they have seriously good deals there). While I got mine for about $150, I do think the high quality of this product warrants its normal $459-$559 price tag. The umbrella canopy is made out of Sunbrella® fabric, which is attractive and incredibly durable. The top of the stand is also super easy to adjust from side to side, which is a lifesaver as the sun is setting. So far, I’ve been very pleased with mine and plan to sit under it with a bowl of ice, a fan and a cold beer to get me through the afternoon :)
- Adrienne
P.S. Just a heads up, make sure you double check the umbrella dimensions to make sure the canopy is going to provide enough shade for your space. If you have a 6 person outdoor dining table, it may not provide enough shade but would work well for a table of 4.
A-Listers Need to Know:
Price: On Sale for $459-$559 (price changes based on fabric color choice)
Purchase: www.restorationhardware.com
