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Prime Patio

Living in Chicago, you learn to appreciate every extra square foot of prime real estate space.  An extra inch here and there in an itty bitty floor plan can easily lead to the happy dance.  Have a random nook in a not-quite square bedroom? Use the space to hide your laundry baskets, hang some coat hooks, or stash the kitty toilet.  And on the top of the oh-so-precious list of must have space? The patio.  If you live in the city and you’re lucky enough to have a strip of green grass in the back, a front porch, or in our case, a petite patio, it’s as if you’ve just struck gold.  Whether you’re in the market to rent or buy, these precious spaces can be a huge selling point.  The night of our second walk through in our now-home, Scott and I stood on the back patio and began dreaming up the possibilities of our own little outdoor oasis.  Measuring in at a whopping 7’x10′, it may not seem like much to brag about.  But in the city, that space is a slammin’ chunk of real estate.

Last sumer, I have to admit that we failed miserably at pimpin’ our patio.  Living on a second floor walk-up in a three story building means little-to-no-sun on our outdoor haven.  Although we bought planters, flowers, and a miniature table, our set-up just didn’t quite work.  We had a too big grill, and our precious space started to look cramped.  Our “no sunlight required” blooms began to whither due to possible over crowding, and a neighborhood squirrel did some serious dirt digging through our pots.  No amount of rain or watering cans could keep our colorful petals alive, and by August, I think we just gave up.  One thing I don’t have is a green thumb, but I can learn from my mistakes.  This year, I’m thinkin’ we may have done things right.

patio11In June, we purchased a significantly less amount of flowers, but due to my lack of a gardening gene, I couldn’t begin to tell you what they are.  I do know that they proudly boasted the need for shade, and we have plenty of that.  As a result, they’ve had their space to grow and flourish, and we couldn’t be more proud of our little blossoms.  See them peeking their little heads over the railing? And they still have a few months to keep on keepin’ on.

flowers

These poppin’ plants put a smile on our face every day.  Scott babies them with songs and water, and one of our many rewards is this view from our bedroom wimdow:

kitty1

The generous husband also oiled down our attention starved table, and I added a chic, earthy runner to complete the look.  (Not shown) tucked against our brick siding is a bitty charcoal Weber, which we got with a little grill swaparoo with a fellow friend. This leaves us much more prime real estate, and as a result, the hubs is one happy grill master.

patio2

It’s always a work in progress, and we may add a pretty string of bulbs to make for a romantic outdoor dinner or nighttime gathering.  For now, it’s simple and just our style.    All this just leads me to wonder, when’s the next patio party?

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  • Jenny7.20.09 - 9:07 AM

    patio looks great! congrats on keeping your flowers alive…mine are slowly becoming mulch :(ReplyCancel

  • Kalli7.20.09 - 3:29 PM

    it looks adorable. Patio party when I arrive!

    My mom (who knows her plants) says the pale pink ones are impatiens (we used to always have those around our house in the shade) and the red ones are double impatiens, a hybrid with double layer of petals.

    you might want to check out Pearl Market’s website for some garland/light ideas http://pearlriver.com/v2/index.html
    They are the store in Manhattan where I got paper parasols and rice paper sheets to mattify shiny faces in the summertime.ReplyCancel

    • Kim7.21.09 - 10:04 AM

      Kalli, thanks for the lighting tip! And yes, now that you told me they’re impatiens, I remember that being on the tag. Can’t wait for our patio party in a few weeks!ReplyCancel

  • tim7.21.09 - 2:18 PM

    glad to hear my webber is still lovin life!ReplyCancel

  • jill7.21.09 - 7:05 PM

    maddie is such a princess. love her pretty face!ReplyCancel

  • Kelly7.22.09 - 7:56 AM

    So cute!! I have managed to keep my potted flowers alive this Summer as well…yay for us!!ReplyCancel

  • Scott7.22.09 - 1:43 PM

    That’s right, Tim! Too bad the big bertha at the trails got trashed.. I miss that thing!ReplyCancel

  • Orlando Railings6.14.23 - 6:39 AM

    I absolutely adore this article! The
    transformation of the space is remarkable, and the careful selection of
    furniture, plants, and decor truly brings it to life. ReplyCancel

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