A Salvaged Side Table

I’ve been on an “out with the old…” kick lately. While shopping for new stuff is fun, it’s expensive and leaves me feeling empty. This small pedestal table lived in the guest bedroom of our Chicago apartment. We didn’t take the best care of it upon moving to Seattle, leaving it to deteriorate out in the elements –  and with all the rain, snow, hail, and sunshine we’ve had, deteriorate it did.

Rather than abuse the table further by kicking it to the curb, I decided to give it a little love and a second life as a patio side table. I did my best to sand and buff the rough and warped spots but couldn’t smooth them all out. Then I used a weather resistant spray paint to give it a fresh color and added a couple of ceramic tea light holders.

It looks pretty good, don’t you think?

Ideas for the Balcony

We are wrapping up our first Seattle winter. Coming from Chicago, Seattle’s winter isn’t so bad, but the gray dampness of it is starting to wear on me. I’ve been daydreaming of the perfect balcony since December. Since our apartment is situated on the side of a steep hill, we have a nice view of the neighborhood and mountains in the distance. I can’t wait to entertain friends out there or just hang out with Dave on summer evenings.

I think some sort of lighting is necessary, like these simple string lights. A bird feeder hanging in front of the big picture window would be fun for the cats.  I’d love to have a vertical garden of succulents or herbs. A few of these metal tables would be great as plant stands or a place to set your beer. We have some wooden folding chairs, but I like this affordable bench for when we have guests over. And we definitely need a hammock or two – for the cats, of course. I’m still in search of the perfect nautical stripe outdoor rug, but maybe the bare floor is just fine.