Creating a Beautiful Outdoor Space

2 Summers ago we added a very good sized deck to the back of the addition. We have used it so much, and I am so happy to have it!! Even before moving into the addition, we utilized the deck space. It was up out of the dirt, and dry 😉 Very important when you are in construction mode and your yard is a mud pit!

Now that we are finished with the siding, it was time for me to turn my attention toward protecting the deck and sprucing it up. It has been a work station and storage area for the winter. I was really worried about the weathering of the wood, but Matt assured me it would be ok! I borrowed our friends’ pressure washer, and I have to say… It. Is. Amazing. What a cool tool. I love tools sometimes, and the pressure washer is worth it’s weight in gold! Its so fun to see the grimy dirty surface come clean 🙂 I didn’t snap a photo pre-power wash, but this is what it looked like after we power washed the deck surface. It was very grey and fuzzy pre-wash.

I checked the forecast and it called for clear skies. But, if you follow me on instagram you will know that we had to race inside, and ended up with a flash rain/hail/snow storm. I almost wanted to cry. But I didn’t. I took the time to really prep the deck-I didn’t want to cut corners, and all of the prep took me about 2 days. This is what it looked like in certain spots after the storm…

So sad. Thankfully I hadn’t done a first coat on everything, only about an 8×15 foot area… so it didn’t all get ruined. We debated about what to do. I thought about power washing it all off, but in the end I decided to sand the splotchy areas. Time will tell how it will wear… I got that section with a second coat. It’s not perfect, but at least it’s mostly only noticeable to us! I can not tell you what a difference the stain has made! It just brightens everything up, and restores the natural beauty of the wood! I can’t even tell it’s pressure treated. 😉 Of course I was so excited I had to set up our darling red bistro… 

I bought a few plants several weeks ago and have been faithfully bringing them in each night to protect them from frost. I haven’t actually planted the small herbs and succulents, but I am pumped about the basket planters I bought.Matt’s mom gave me the geranium and pot for Mother’s Day. I love it!

The stain was from HD, and is Behr- in “Chocolate” It’s a tinted transparent stain. I didn’t want to go too dark or too orangey/cedar… this ended up being just what I had in mind. I love it when that happens! I think it complements the natural cedar well.

After I snapped these photos I got to work adding the second coat, and working on the bottom tier. I have one more coat to go on the bottom section, and then I need to take care of the skirt boards. The only problem is I ran out of stain. Oops!

I can’t wait to get this project finished. After a lot of rain days slowing me down, it looks like there are clear skies ahead! I also can’t wait to share some of the other things I have been working on around the house. Squeeeeeeeee!!

-Miss Ash