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My Deck Makeover – 10 Year Time Lapse

April 11, 2016
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Deck Makeover Today After
This is my deck right now.

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….

Deck Makeover April 2016
Today – In April 2016, my deck is light grey with a mix of blue and neutral tone fabrics.

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.

Deck Makeover Before 2006
2002-2006 – This is where it all started.  Some nice (very expensive) Brown & Jordan teak furniture and a tattered looking deck and fence.

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.

Hollywood Hills Deckk 2009
2009 – No frills decorating. Teak furniture was oiled to stay brown.
Hollywood Hills deck 2009
2009 – My Hollywood Hills cottage deck.

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.

Hollywood Hills Deck Makeover 2010
2010 – Deck gets a major makeover!
Hollywood Hills Deck Makeover 2010
2010 – Deck seating area features custom made off white cushions on the teak furniture, a brown cane rug and some turquoise pillows.

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.

Deck Makeover 2014 Neutral
2014 – A bench on my deck in neutral taupes, dark green and grey.

Neutral Deck Makeover 2014

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.

Deck Makeover March 2016
March 2016 – This was the flower filled look of my deck just last month.
Outdoor Living Room Deck Makeover March 2016
March 2016 – This is my outdoor living room seating area last month. Looks kind of like it did back in 2014 actually. The neutral look stood the test of time.

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.

Deck makeover April 2016 blue ikat outdoor rug
Today – This is what my deck looks like in April 2016. Blue and grey is the color scheme this week.
Blue Ikat Outdoor Rug
Blue Ikat Outdoor Rug

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.

 

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4 responses to “My Deck Makeover – 10 Year Time Lapse”

  1. Indigo says:
    April 11, 2016 at 9:38 AM

    KEEP this look. It’s bright, clean and jazzy, yet very inviting.

    Reply
  2. Elizabeth Burns says:
    April 11, 2016 at 10:30 AM

    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!

    Reply
  3. Lavues says:
    April 12, 2016 at 1:15 AM

    Beautiful photos! It does looks cosy and lovely. I want to decor my outdoor seating as well!

    Reply
  4. TC says:
    April 29, 2016 at 12:57 PM

    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.

    Reply

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Keep it simple. No need for bells and whistles an Keep it simple.  No need for bells and whistles and fancy things to make your house a home.  In this picture, a plant, two chairs I found at the flea market, a layered rug situation and some modern art...de-cluttered space can be equally as inviting as one filled with memories and treasures.  If you are stuck with how to decorate, I say keep it simple.  Purge and start with the basics.  Full disclosure, this is a shot of my living room from a few years ago when I first moved in...I didn’t even have drapes up when this was taken.  I have since added pieces and changed out furniture and added a 2nd sofa...but it started super simple and it was lovely back then.  When the world is swirling around us and making no sense, how are you keeping things simple at home?  #socococozy #bringstylehome #cococozy
Pre-pandemic throw back photo to where I was last Pre-pandemic throw back photo to where I was last year.  Clueless as to what was to come.  Was in Paris, with my mom, enjoying her summer apartment in the middle of the 6th arrondissement.  I had just left the U.K. visiting friends for a few days in London and the Cotswolds.  None of us knew that this summer 2020 would be so different.  Today, I can only hope this time of tumult and great divides leads somehow to a future of calm and harmony.  Going backwards in time is not an option.  Pushing forward is.  Happy Sunday to you.  Where were you last summer?  Where do you imagine you’ll be next? Xoxo #socococozy #bringstylehome
Incredible living room before and after as designe Incredible living room before and after as designed by my good friend Steve Jones @bettershelter!  I went on a tour today.  I also went on a tour a year ago when he first got the house.  See my stories. Swipe to see what this room looked like before.  Life lesson from a room transformation:  When faced with the daunting and not so pretty, look to do the work, and you can make changes to bring  out what is good.  Right?  This home by the way is going on the market soon and is in one of my favorite parts of town, View Park.  What changes have you made lately that have turned bad into good? #socococozy #bringstylehome #remodeling #homerenovation #californiadreaming
“Be patient with yourself it has been a funky fe “Be patient with yourself it has been a funky few months in the world.” My friend Manon texted this advice to me today.  She is right.  A little patience and a lot of kindness to yourself and to others during these unusual times will go a long way.
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Am in my living room right now looking at these pretty flowers in that white urn I found lying around.  The urn works (see Flower Power highlights for backstory). Thinking on who I might send one of these bouquets to today as a little act of kindness.  Still working on the patience piece of her advice! 🤪 Who might you send flowers to?  How can you be more patient with yourself? Happy Saturday!
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