Eating al fresco is a nightly occurence around these parts....

 I've waited for sooo long to have a spot to dine outdoors....
 
This is my inspiration photo for dining al fresco on my outdoor brick patio.  Now that I finally have a good size outdoor space to enjoy eating breakfast on a sunny morning or to light some candles and have a warm summer dinner with my family listening to the cricket symphony. You might of remembered a few posts back where I posted pictures of our first lunch on the lanai  {patio in Hawaiian} with my cousin when the sun was out blazing. Still deciding what I want to do out there.   I'm the worst at making decisions and the older I get the harder it seems to make some decisions, mostly interior design ones.  I know I'd like to use the Jackson Tub Chairs {from World Market } to pony up to the dining table, {since Mr. Incredible nixed them in our dining room}.  I thought they would of looked really unique and different in there.  So it's outside they'll go...{for now, you never know if they may sneak their way into the house..things kinda happen like that around here}

 
  {PB version Tolix Tub Chair in black which are priced double then the ones at World Market}

 
Like I said I think they look great indoors as shown in the above photos or outside in the first two photos....I know they have an industial look to them which seems to be very trendy right now,  but not only do I think they are  super cool looking they are also are super comfortable {because I bought one and brought it home to show Mr. Incredible how fabulous they would look inside our dining room, he said, " I was crazy".}  
Here they are inside saddled up to an all white painted farm table with an all white backdrop.  I like the contrast of the all white table and galvanized metal chairs. 

For quite sometime I have wanted to redo my old ceramic tile dining table......I've had it since before we were married, like about 15 years ago....I love the turned legs on them so I don't want to toss the the whole thing out but I really want to refresh/upcycle/redo it.  I thought maybe using some old rustic wood  with an interesting patina or even putting a zinc lid on it.. but maybe that would be too much metal with the metal Tub Chairs too.   I like to mix up texture and materials when I decorate, I think it adds a lot of interest to a space.  Also would it look a bit trendy and then in a few years look outdated?  What do you guys think? 

When we first looked at this house...there was a green pergola over the brick patio but before it was "officially" on the market they repainted all the graffti inside the house and took down the pergola, I think it had a lot of dry rot. I think we are going to add another pergola but in the meantime I think I need to pick up another shade umbrella, I like this one from here...with the white double ruffle on it...

 
I think I'll keep my eye on it to see if it will go on sale because I HATE to pay full price for anything...are you like that too?  I think the green might go with the cushions I got from Marshalls or TJMaxx a couple of summers ago...and I just got a Coir Rug...I'll show in my next post...so stay tuned, lots of things in the work around the Cottage on Cullen St.

Comments

[shelley e]

love all your pictures... especially the first one. I want to have an outdoor dining area like that.

I don't like to pay full retail either! :)