I have things to do in my life…I really do… As I was pulling together this blog post though it seems like that for the last 10-15 years the only thing I have to show for my life definitively is an ever evolving deck makeover. A Hollywood Hills cottage deck makeover that has taken many twists and turns and is still ongoing.
Please note that the unique thing about this deck makeover that spans over a decade now is that the basic furniture is pretty much the same. I invested in Brown & Jordan teak furniture and some other teak furniture years ago and it really has stood the test of time.
As you all know, I live in a very tiny little cottage in the Hollywood Hills. I have lived here for some time now happily (but truthfully I am ready for change and may in the next few years rent out this spot and find something new). Anyhoooo….because my house is so small, my outdoor living room is an important extension of the house. It is an area that I must pay attention to like it is inside. The outdoor entertaining space makes my small house quite usable when I have any number of guests.
But the real reason my deck is constantly being made over is also because I am lazy. I never cover the furniture or take the cushions inside or take in any of the accessories that are not made for outdoor. So the wear and tear happens quicker for me than it does for not lazy people! I recommend to all of you with outdoor furniture and accessories, you can triple the life of your outdoor furnishings by covering the furniture and taking the accessories inside during colder months.
Okay…enough of the chitter chatter and onto the photos and explanation of what went down with my decade long makeover!!!
I will start with what it looks like today….
2006 – The Before – Way Before (below)
I moved into my house I believe in 2002 and for several years this is what my deck looked like. I had bought some nice teak furniture but the fence was falling a part and the deck was too. Notice the tin pail with a palm tree in it! Oy.
2009 – Rebuild Deck & Fence (below)
I had a new deck and fence built because the old fence and deck were just about to collapse…or maybe they had collapsed…anyhooo…things were structurally not in good shape so I finally bit the bullet in about 2007 and had everything redone. In 2009, I stained the deck brown and did nothing else to the space. Still had the same teak furniture. Everything on the deck was brown. I had two large trees that arched over the deck that constantly dropped leaves. Turns out they were both sick and ultimately in later years I had to cut them down.
2010 – Deck Decorating (below)
The large trees over hanging the deck that were dying were cut down and the deck became very bright. I had a guest coming to stay with me, so all of a sudden one day in just 5 days I made over my deck in bright turquoise blue, green and brown. Very colorful! You see, I stained the deck a super dark brown.
2014 – Go Neutral Decor (below)
4 years after I did the big deck decorate, things started to look really drab on my deck and all of the bright colors looked faded. The bold rug had been retired and frankly my once cheerful deck was rather worn looking. I decided that all of that turquoise blue and green was too much for me so I went for all neutral tones. I changed all of the once white seat cushions to a sensible taupe and got a nice grey outdoor rug and a few neutral accessories and called it a day. Not too exciting but easy on the eyes on a daily basis. Oh and I also decided to stop oiling the teak furniture because I wanted it to turn grey. Low maintenance and neutral.
2016 – 1 month ago (below)
About a month ago, I decided to pay attention to my outdoor living room once again. Long story, but I had not been focused on my little tiny cottage in the Hollywood Hills for about two years because I thought I was moving. So when I ended up back at home it was time to think about the outdoor area. I just bought a few flowering plants and dressed up the table in this shot. I think around the time I took the 2014 neutral shot, I had the deck painted a light grey color and I think we painted it again even lighter. So now the decking is a light grey. Furniture is still greying. I should give it a good sanding so that all of the oil really is worn off and so it weathers nicely.
TODAY (below)
So just the other day, I decided I was in a mood for blue. So, for a project I was working on, I layered a denim blue and turquoise ikat rug on top of my neutral gray rug, added in some blue pillows and voila…the easiest of all of my makeovers ever.
The look right now is temporary. I pulled it together for a quick photo shoot the other day. Not sure how long it will last but I like it this month!
What do you think of this ten year deck makeover? What would you do next with my deck? Should I keep it the same for awhile and get on with other important things in my life!??!!??? Well at least I know I am ready for some outdoor entertaining!
Hope you enjoyed this 10 year time lapse!
xo
Coco
P.S.
KEEP this look. It’s bright, clean and jazzy, yet very inviting.
My favorite incarnation of your deck was the neutral palette with the green plants and checked tablecloths. I have teak furniture as well with the same taupe fabric. It allows the mountains and yard to be the star and not our furniture!
I love all of the potted plants which gives it a tropical feeling. Have you tried it without a rug? It may make the space feel a bit bigger. Have fun with the neutral palette. It’s the best when you can change a few pillows for a whole new look!
Beautiful photos! It does looks cosy and lovely. I want to decor my outdoor seating as well!
You are a smart cookie laying out $$$$ for the furniture one time. I bought World Market chairs that were $150 each and they fell apart before a year was even up!! They refunded me for them, but I had to threaten to leave them in the back of my truck and park in front of the store with a sign saying how fast they fell apart.
I like aspects of all of the looks. I live in a smaller home 1,400 sq ft and my backyard is where I live. I added a retaining wall, built a flagstone patio, and made it a 3 season living room. Even when it rains, it’s nice to sit under the patio cover and enjoy it. But it was an effort to get here. I’ve had my house for 8 years.
2 years ago I ended a 13 year relationship, then have had 3 major health issues. Whenever I was feeling up to doing some work, something would happen. But I finally laid the last gravel 2 weeks ago in the back. Now, I’m in clean up stage, getting rid of the all the junk my bf left when I booted him. Hopefully my health will hold so I can deal with my stupid lawn in the front. It’s hard doing the work myself, but lifting and moving stone, gravel, huge pots, dirt, and sand will keep me from getting batwings I hope.