Backyard Bounty

I always go treasure hunting after a storm - we were a little too busy to hit the beach  so we took a quick walk just beyond the back yard and I totally spazzed out trying to get pictures and at the same time admire everything, reindeer moss, toadstools and especially the branch mushrooms. (if that's what they're called) It was like finding rainbows in the woods. Very Discovery Channel moment - have gathered (er made my husband gather) several specimens for lots of fun projects.( not the toadstools, too scary)

Project: Backyard Bungalow

This July we took a small break from weddings and built a small bungalow next to our pool. It sounds frivolous but there was this awful concrete no man's land by the pool that was a terrible waste of space and did nothing but heat up everything around it.

Our goal was to recycle, repurpose, use what was at hand as much as possible. Yes, there was a trip to Habitat and a couple to Home Depot but for the most part all materials were salvaged, picked, or left overs from past projects- including the decor. From old black and white pictures taken by my dad to the quirky hand carved mermaids I bought years ago it came together. A big thank you to Theo Milo Photography for the beautiful images.

Honestly , I wanted to move in when it was finished. My favorite feature was an old porcelain sink that we attached to the side and turned into a water dish for our dogs. It's always the little things , isn't it

The dog bowl..love.

I started a lot of plants from my Sweedish ivy so I'd have plenty of green around the building.

Current passion, succulents.

One of several old doors pulled from an old carriage house

We used left over bamboo mats on the floor.

I spray painted an old metal table - makes a great little bar.

My favorite new cooler- line a basket with a plastic bucket.

Old black and white photos next to the terrarium

An beautiful fishing chair from my father in law's boat- fixed by my husband to re use here.

Wrought iron cane made by my brother..a joke for a milestone birthday.

Repurposed beauty

Whoopee! Today one of our projects is featured on the bible of design Design Sponge (go look at it )- seriously they do not fool around! Considered THE top design blog they are the last word, the go to , the tippy top in design..and they liked our little project! We are going to walk around all day today with very big grins on our faces.
We made a table out of slate and a crepe myrtle tree trunk- we have a ton of slate from a salvaged  pool table and up until now we have been making lots of cheese boards out of it (best Christmas gift ever) but I think this may be my favorite use of it so far. Thanks  Theo Milo Photography for capturing it all so beautifully, as usual.

Gorgeous algae prints from my biologist daughter in law.

My signature, the glass cloche.

We made "antlers" from old manzanita branches.

This gorgeous vase is from Blue Hand Home

I styled the table with and without flowers..above is with..love the raspberries.

Sometimes a basket of violet plants  is all you need.

I love the mottled bark