Our New Outdoor Furniture | Ballard, Signature Hardware, Pottery Barn & Hayneedle

This will be our fourth summer in our house since we re-built it.  We had plans of new outdoor furniture the minute we moved in, but the interior took priority - we did need a sofa and kitchen table, after all.  Then, each year that passed, we sort of got comfortable with the furniture we had.  It was fine.  Sure the old love seats we had on the porch didn't have great cushions, and the wood was sort of rotting a little.  The picnic table was great, too.  We could squeeze 8 for dinner and it was easy for kids to get in and out of.  But it wasn't that comfy for adults.  And, because of the set up it created an awkward conversation barrier for those sitting on the love seats on the porch, since half of the people at the picnic table had their backs to them.  

This year, I determined that we had waited long enough.  As soon as spring showed up (little by little), we would have nice, new, grownup outdoor furniture.  

In Mike's perfect world, I would open up the page of a catalog and order everything on that page.  Easy.  Done!  He'll say - they've picked all of this out to go together, who are we to decide to mix and match?  They've done the work for us!  

I, on the other hand, can't help but not be satisfied by exactly what I see on a single page.  I need to mix and match, I need to pull from one source and pair it with another, and another.  It is how I'm made : )  

My requirements were : 

Teak

All 100% unfinished Teak.  I love that real, old fashioned weathered classic like we typically saw in New England and on our vacation to Nantucket last summer.  Classic.

Small Round Table

A small table that can grow for parties.  We have a small family - the three of us.  We use our backyard every morning and every night of the week.  I love our little Wednesday night dinners on the patio.  I don't want to sit down to a giant farmhouse style table with my little family of three.  I wanted it to feel cozy and sweet like a backyard garden should.  BUT, I want to be able to have 8 for dinner, so expandable was a requirement, also.  

Love Seats

We have loved the configuration of having two love seats on our long back porch.  They do all of the symmetry things for me, flanking our French doors.  I come out every morning with my coffee and I sit and watch the seasons change.  

Replaceable Cushions

I wanted to be able to easily replace the cushions each year if needed.  I didn't want to have to have custom cushion covers made.  So, sources like PB and Ballard were perfect for this because they have repeat styles each year with coordinating cushions.

What I didn't find...

A sectional.  I really wanted to add a sectional sofa to our patio.  I thought it seemed like such a comfy idea - perfect for parties, and for afternoon naps in the sun.  It looks like Ballard discontinued the sectional from the line of love seats I selected.  However, this was a happy accident, because I don't know that we would've had room on our patio.  The table and chairs are so comfy with our pillows and seat cushions that they serve as a second lounge area.

I ended up mixing and matching from several different sources to get the look I wanted.  It can be risky to mix and match, but these turned out so great.  I 100% love each item and the way the work together perfectly.

Resources : 

Expandable Teak Table, Signature Hardware

4 x Dining Arm Chairs, Signature Hardware

2 x Dining Armless Chairs, Signature Hardware

6 x Dining Chair Seat Cushions, Pottery Barn in Linen Sand with Contrast Piping

Dining Chair 20" Pillows in Natural Cream Check, my store >

Teak Loveseats with Natural Sunbrella Cushions, Ballard

Loveseat 22" Pillows in Natural Cream Check, my store >

Striped Umbrella, Hayneedle

Wood Planter Boxes $150 each, my store, local pickup in the KC area only (email us) >

Did you get all of that?!

I like to stay pretty neutral outside (and inside?!).  I love our creamy house with creamy upholstery + the soft natural teak wood and lots of lush green.  It is an easy theme that I stick with all summer long.  Of course, there are little pops of seasonal colors in potted flowers like pansies now and mums in the fall.

Dining Chair 20" Pillows in Natural Cream Check>

I took a zillion photos.  Sorry : )  It finally felt like spring outside and I just went crazy.  I could've edited harder, but I just want to be surrounded by it right now so I didn't.

The softness of the natural teak is so good.  It is so, so buttery smooth.

I pile lots and lots of little pots filled with herbs and pansies to greet us.  I mix and match my pots, and layer on lots of different plants to create a cozy, lush feel.

The boxwood hedge is growing up nicely.  I'll probably let it get about 6 inches taller, then start to top it off.

Emma painted some pots that she was super excited about and has displayed them on the steps.

These exact planters are not available anymore, sorry.  I got lots of requests from Instagram about their source.  I love them, too!  We do have access to similar versions, but because of freight charges are too expensive to ship.  If you are local to KC, we can arrange a local pickup.  If you are interested, email us at store@jennysteffens.com

The big 22" Pillows in Natural Cream Check make the loveseats so comfy.  I use the euro square inserts from Ikea ($9) to fill them out.  The covers aren't technically outdoor fabric, but I'm going to see how they do.  Someone also told me that Scotch Guard offers a spray that helps them resist fading from the sun.  I might try that!

22" Large Pillows in Natural Cream Check >

This is a flowering Vinca that has a tiny blue flower in the late spring.   I thought they were a fun change from a mini potted boxwood that I would typically do.  They are similar color and leaf but with a little more of a viney growth.  We'll see how they do!

I tried to take some cute photos of Mr. Darcy, but he just kept looking at me like this.

And this. 

The table only hold the umbrella when it is expanded, which I didn't realize.  But, I love the shape of it expanded, so I'll keep it up for a while.

I love how classic and luxurious the natural teak looks and feels.  It is so solid and heavy.

I chose the Sunbrella Linen Sand cushions because I thought they would be a little forgiving.  The white piping really sets them off.

To make each chair super comfy, I am using on of my 20" Pillows in Natural Cream Check.  It coordinates with the seat cushion so nicely.  

I LOVE how this came together... from so many other sources.  The checks, the stripes, the white piping.  All coordinates so well, without being too matchy-matchy.  

For those of you that are new, we built this playhouse for Emma a couple of years ago.  Here is the DIY post I created >

Emma's cherry tree is in full bloom!  Best $90 tree from Home Depot, ever.  It has grown sooooo much.

This little formal garden will be full of roses and the hydrangea standard will be in full show in a couple of months.  More details on the rest of our garden, here>

Emma's been in our raised beds setting up some fairy gardens this spring.  I am just now realizing that those are quarters... I need to go get those for the car wash!

Well, happy Spring everyone.  Working in the yard is maybe my very favorite thing to do.  I'm still learning all of my gardening skills, but I love experimenting, walking around with my barefeet in the grass, potting, planting, moving and peeping at everything as it grows.  And lounging.  Lounging on our very comfy new furniture : )

School House Blue Block Print Collection

Shop the entire School House Blue Block Collection, here >

Light Blue Berry Napkins, $34

On the sofa, I've used a combination of Checks & Block Prints.  I love how the checks blend and coordinate with these Block Prints.

I tend to style sofas with two Large 22" pillows on each side to anchor, then two Medium 20" Pillows and a Rectangle accent.  Here are the pillows I used here, left to right:

1) School House Blue Flower Large 22" Pillow

2) Classic Cream Check 20" Medium Pillow

3) Blue Flower Rectangle in the Center

4) School House Blue Berry 20" Medium Pillow

5) Large 22" Spa Check Pillow

School House Blue Berry Pillow Cover

Large 22" Spa Check Pillow

School House Blue Berry Tea Towel, $10 >
School House Blue Flower Tea Towel, $10 >

School House Blue Berry Tea Towel, $10 >

School House Blue Flower Napkins, $34
School House Blue Berry Napkins, $34

Classic Creamer >

Shop the entire School House Blue Block Collection, here >

The School House Kitchen | Blue Painted Cabinets

Yesterday we had our first day of operations at the School House.  We're working on getting organized and set up this week.  On Thursday morning, I'll launch the new "School House Blue" Block Prints that you've seen previewed on Instagram.  In celebration, I thought I'd share some more details on the kitchen transformation there.

....

We looked at the School House last fall just a couple of days after it came for sale and I knew exactly what I'd do with the kitchen - I'd paint it Navajo White, put in wood tops, replace the appliances.  Done.  Exactly like our real kitchen at home, but with a more country flair.  Perfectly perfect and predictable. 

Tessa (nineandsixteen.com) kept sending me inspiration photos of dusty blue painted rooms.  A blue kitchen?  That seems a little wild, right?  I wasn't sure it would be the perfectly neutral backdrop that I wanted.  I typically like really creamy neutrals with touches of seasonal colors in the form of tea towels and flowers.  

Then, as we spent more time here this little place started to speak to me a little more.  Something about it just seemed like it needed some character and charm.  It is, after all, a One Room Rural School House  (read details, here).  One afternoon it just clicked.  Why not?  Why couldn't I have a little fun with the paint in a country kitchen of my business's new home?!  

The truth is, this kitchen needed the blue.  The huge windows, the simple layout, the only lower cabinetry, which feels very old fashioned and shaker-esque.  It needed to feel special and charming and country.  

This was the most rewarding kitchen renovation in history.  We lucked out on having great quality cabinets in a simple style that just needing painting.  Because of that, I was able to splurge on the appliances, really the only big expense.  We did make some little tweaks to the cabinets to give them more of the Shaker look that I was after (adding furniture baseboard + wood knobs), more details and step-by-step of that below.

Overall, we spent about $3,000 to completely transform this kitchen.  Yep!  I did some major research on appliances, which were a big expense, and found great deals on really great looking ones.  Resources and all kitchen details are below!

Before :  It started as a very 90's pre-fabbed looking kitchen.  Dark, factory finished stained cabinetry with brushed nickel pulls, a beige solid surface countertop, and hand-me-down white appliances.  

Putting an inspiration board together always helps me solidify my vision.  On my Mac, I alter the images in Preview (adjust color, crop, etc.), then put them in Pages for the layout.  

Resources : 

Paint : Benjamin Moore Puritan Grey 

I went round and round with colors.  Everything that looked a little blue was a lot blue when I painted the sample.  This cool, neutral grey has just slight undertones of blue on the swatch (if any), but perfectly blue when on the cabinets.  I used a satin... but sort of wished I'd used a semi-gloss.

Range : Frigidare Smooth Surface

*I don't know why, but when we bought this exact range, it was on sale for $750.  It is now $2,000... sorry!  But, we do love it and I LOVE the look.  We didn't have a gas line, so I needed an electric range that had the look of a professional one.  This fit the bill and was perfectly in budget... when we bought it.  Sorry : )

Samsung French Door Counter-Depth Fridge

This was the biggest chunk of our budget.  I couldn't go too low on the price, because I needed counter-depth (our fuse box is next to it).  It is a great refrigerator - the best priced with all of the elements I needed.  $1,200

Ikea Wood Tops : Karlby

We had Ikea Wood Tops in our kitchen in Concord, Ma.  We spent about $300 + $200 to have them installed by a local carpenter.  They are exactly what the kitchen needed.  They warm up the blue grey nicely and complete the classic Shaker look.  

Faucet

I knew I wanted Oil Rubbed fixture in here - it just felt right.  I also knew I wanted porcelain knobs.  I tried to find the most classic, simple, country faucet I could to fit the kitchen.  I wanted to avoid the bridge like I have in our kitchen, but now I'm not so sure : )   I do like the look, but I'm not 100% in love with this faucet.  I feel like it might be a little 1990.  Thoughts?

  

Here are some inspiration photos for the right Blue.

I also came across this quilt at a local Lexington store.  I loved the blue.

 

To really see the color choices, I painted the back of a cabinet drawer front and sections of the baseboard and windows.  Paint can look so different in different spots, this can really help.  These were all too grey, too purple, too green...

Can you believe how some blue grey paint transformed this into a charming country kitchen?  As I mentioned, the cabinets were already a great style, but they didn't really look like it because of the dark stained factory finish.  

In a few months, we'll make a hood for over the stove that fits the style of the kitchen.

The windows are outragous.

We installed peg rails along here and have brooms and mops hanging here now.



This is the original library of the school house (the kitchen being a work room for the teacher).

I love the patina of the original stained wood.

 The wood stained doors also give some needed warmth amongst the blue.

Here is a photo of us mid-progress.  You can see how the blue didn't look great right away... it made the counters look pink, and the brushed nickel/pewter makes the blue look dull.



We took all of the cabinets, drawer fronts and hardware off, then primed.  We painted a high-bond primer, then applied 2 coats of the paint on the base and cabinets and drawer fronts... both sides.

The real game changer was adding the furniture base at the bottom of the cabinets.  If there is a space underneath it is called a toe kick.

We built out the the base with some blocks to have something to attach the trim baseboard pieces.

The baseboard gives it a really clean, built-in look.  We did a similar look in our own home. 

We're having a great week at The School House getting everything ready and are officially all set to start shipping out orders. 

I'll see you Thursday morning for the new Light Blue Block Print Linens launch!