Woodsy Patio Dinner
My daughter loves eating dinner up here, so last week I planned to have a little casual dinner up there the night before our son left on his first solo trip with his friend’s family. It wasn’t supposed to be fancy. Just some gluten-free pizza and a salad.
It’s one of those times I envisioned it all nice and it ended up being a ruined dinner because my daughter ate the pizza before anyone sat down and I wasn’t watching. And I got into an argument with my husband who didn’t feel like sitting down for dinner this way. Please tell me we aren’t the only ones where you plan something nice as a mom and it ends up being a sh$t-show. I was so upset.
The reason I’m telling you this is that even though it looks so idyllic and pretty, doesn’t mean it’s perfect.
I do have the pretty photos of a dinner which never really happened the way I wanted it to.
The tablecloth is actually a king sized sheet. I never use the loose sheets and always either end up using them as a painting drop cloth or if they are this pretty as a tablecloth. This one is by Steve Madden and I found it at Ross for $20. You can’t beat that price for a king sized sheet set, right? And I had no idea Steve Madden even made sheets.
As place mats I used our huge hosta leaves we have in our yard right now. They make the perfect casual place setting. Our peonies just started to bloom and are so so pretty in the center.
I don’t serve my kids beer 😉 if you are wondering. I just wanted the symmetry for these photos, yah know. Little details that matter when photographing.
 
  
 
I was joking that this little fella on the bowl was the only chill creature on the patio that night.
I love that photo even though I don’t want him anywhere close to my salad.
 
I just got news that I will be dropping our fosters off next weekend. I don’t even want to think about it. It makes me so sad. If you missed Fridays post about them then you can click HERE to read more.
Ms Penny liked being on the upper patio with me. I just love her.
sources: similar sheets HERE | similar pizza board HERE | dotted bowls HEREÂ and plate set HERE | similar flatware HERE | similar table and chair set HEREÂ or love this similar one HEREÂ | similar buddha HEREÂ | fur HERE | similar hammock HERE and HERE | similar copper pot HERE and HERE | patio lights HERE | pillows SOLD OUT HERE |
It’s really pretty up here at night too and I wish the mosquitos wouldn’t love me so much because I can’t ever stay out for too long. They eat me alive.
If you missed it, then you can see my porch from last week by clicking HERE.
square white planters HERE | bench HERE | leopard pillow HERE | colorful pillow HERE | similar stool HEREÂ or HERE (mine was from Goodwill but formerly Target | lantern HERE | fire column HERE | floor pillow HERE | triangle pillow from Target last year find similar one HERE | hexagon pillow from H&M (sold out) | similar wood tray HEREÂ or HERE | buddha candle HERE | black and white plate HERE | box wood ball HERE, HERE or HERE
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Inside not much has changed since I just made over our fireplace area. All I did is add some of our blooming peonies. You can see the fireplace makeover HERE:
And my new horseshoe crab (HERE) to remind me of the shore. I love it.
candle HERE | art HERE | curtain post HERE | lamps HEREÂ | rug HERE | silver tables HERE | gold table HEREÂ Â | chairs HEREÂ | pillows HERE | jeans pouf HERE
And I’m happy with the rest of my home just the way it is. No need to decorate more for summer, especially since we are outside most of the time.
throw HERE | black and white fringe pillows HERE | similar jeans pillows HERE and HERE | similar table HERE | candle HERE | disco ball HERE | rug HERE | star burst HERE | similar mirror HERE | similar pouf HERE | similar coffee tables HERE | similar sofas HERE | similar lamps HERE and HERE | similar black lamp shades HERE
rug HERE | duvet HERE | rug HERE | throw from HomeGoods | bed tutorial HERE | similar headboard HERE | similar bed HERE or HERE | my Ikea home decor post HERE | chair HERE | similar throw HERE | lava lamp HERE | downloadable artwork HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE | curtains HERE | pink pillows HERE | colorful diamond pillows from Ikea Germany |  lamps HERE | shades from Target not available anymore | similar greek key pillow HERE | light HERE or similar light HERE | desk Ikea HERE or similar desk HERE
 
blue throw HERE | pom pom throw HERE | fur pillows HERE | chandelier HERE| similar curtains HERE | I painted the art but you can find similar art HERE, HERE and HERE | blue and ivory pillows HERE | tulip chairs HERE | similar glass table HERE | settee is vintage from an auction and I can’t find one similar anywhere | wood bead tassel DIY HERE
My recent powder room makeover with the stenciled walls HERE:
mirror HERE | sink HERE | pop-up drain HERE | faucet HERE | similar vanity marble top HERE | lighting HERE | cabinet door HERE | similar towel HERE and HERE | towel ring vintage and you can find a similar one HERE | basket HERE and my tassel tutorial HERE, handmade soap HERE and HERE | click HERE for the stencil DIY and you can buy the stencil HERE and HERE
fur HERE | leopard pillows HERE | similar bedding HERE | similar throw HERE | similar chaises HERE | longhorn HERE | find a similar rug HERE | similar mirror HERE | bed HERE and similar bed HERE, HERE and HERE | similar nightstands HERE | similar lamps HERE | similar faux banana tree HERE
I hope you enjoyed today’s patio tour.
Next hop on over to Brooke’s at Nesting With Grace. I always really really enjoy her tours.
Check out my other outdoor posts:
Tschüß,
Julia your summer home tour was an absolute delight! You made me laugh out loud on achieving symmetry. Beer for everyone!
Your garden is truly beautiful. It is such a joy to share this tour with you. Have a lovely day!
Haha, thanks Laura. Well if I put a beer in front of them then I don’t have to get up to get a second beer. It totally makes sense not just from a symmetry kind of standpoint 😉
that’s always the way with our family! 😉 it’s normal. love your tour-your outdoor space is so enchanting and lovely! i love the hammock with the lights around it so much!
I always picture this cheerful family chatting leisurely about their happy day and it never works out that way.
Oh wow, your upper patio is amazing. What a fabulous space with so many pretty plants and that hammock looks like the spot where you would find me all the time. I had to laugh at your dinner, sounds just like home. I also absolutely love your front porch, it is GORGEOUS. Thanks so much for joining the tours, your home is always a delight.
Thanks Marty for including me again.
Your patio space looks so cozy. I especially love that bedsheet tablecloth and the bowls. I wish we had such a hosta plant in the garden. The leaves make great placemats indeed. I’m sorry that the evening didn’t turn out as you had planned.
We collect different hostas and the ones with the large leaves are my favorite. Thanks Julia
Just had to comment….I think we have had a nice sit-down meal together 3 times in 15 years! I’m tempted to put gorilla glue on everyone’s seats, especially mine! PS, if we lived in Germany our kids could drink that beer. After seeing your picture I’m craving a Bitburger! Tchuss!
You are totally right Amy and I’m sure my son will start having zips of beer here and there when we go to Germany. After all he is going to be 15 in 3 months. I can’t believe it.
Love your tour. The outdoor space is so beautiful. Great idea using a bed sheet for a table cloth. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Pam
Gorgeous home tour! Love your picture of your patio at night, what a fun place to relax and spend time!
Thanks and now we only need to sit down together and appreciate it 😉
Ha! Totally sounds like my home. I would have left them all and went and ate there by myself. (After dousing myself with bug repellent). At least you got a post out of it and it’s absolutely gorgeous up there with all the plants.
I couldn’t do that because they were sitting there, just not happily 😉
Your outdoor space is a dream!!!!! Feels like an outdoor bistro in a spa! You always manage to pull of amazing home tours Julia, filled with inspiration and fabulous style! Love how you added the sheepskin rug to your hammok (mine right now looks blah! lol!)! And your model is a darling! An honor as always, to share this Summer home tour with you! Cheers!
Thanks so much Vel
The plants on your patio are to die for! Yes, you are not alone. I think whenever we try to plan those “perfect” moments is when everything goes to hell in a handbag! I need to work on just lowering my expectations sometimes!
I think that’s what I need to do too Jennifer.
It looks beautiful and welcoming! Thanks for the reminder that all is not perfection on the other side of the camera lens!
Yeah it’s never perfection on the other side of the lens at least not at my house.
The king sized sheet works great!! We actually have Steve Madden sheets that I picked up from some discount store. They aren’t high-quality but the pattern is fun. Love the use of the leaves as placemats. IT looks so good!
Your outdoor space is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a long day, beautiful! I love how you made use of those pretty greens.
Your patio is just beautiful and so inviting! What I would give to have all the greenery outside my home! Beautiful!
Julia it looks lovely! classic and chic in black with green. I just want to lay in that hammock for hours!
Your backyard is like an island getaway! Amazing!! And I just love the beautiful interior of your home as well. So honored to be in this home tour with you. Have a wonderful Summer!
Julia, I’m smitten with all of your summer spaces! I totally get what happened with your dinner so don’t feel bad about that because it happens to all of us from time to time but I’m so glad you still shared it with us!!! I especially love how everything looked when the sun went down! Also love your indoor spaces too! Happy summer!! Xo
This is my first time on your blog. You have a beautiful home and style! The patio dining area is so intimate, and I love the lush surroundings. Your bathroom is striking with that wall treatment! Beautiful tour. 🙂
This is all so gorgeous, Julia! I want to dive right into that hammock, and your tablescape is just lovely. Wonderful job!
As usual, I’m super late to the party here but your outdoor space is so idyllic (even if the reality doesn’t always match the pictures – ha! I’d have been annoyed too but well, at least you tried and got some beautiful pictures out of it!) . I always love seeing your home and that outside area is absolutely lovely! I’d come round and eat pizza and drink beer with you there no problem 😉 xxx
I wish we could sit out there together. So much to talk about 😉
I also like your outdoor space, thanks for sharing!
Thanks
I love all the green! Such a great look for summer.
love your honesty! its a nice reminder that behind every perfect picture, life might not be as perfect and we should always be grateful for everything! absolutely love your patio, i think i would hang out there all the time.
I just LOVE your home Julia! And that outdoor space…all the heart eyes. I would park myself right there and not leave all summer! 🙂