Dallas and I have a private patio off the back of our condo. It is good-sized, but has four tall walls boxing it in. Two walls are wood and cement, one is brick and cement, and one is patio doors to our condo. The look and feel is really boring and cement-y. The fact that it doesn’t get much sun adds to the drab look and prohibits me from putting a lot of bright flowers back there to add some color. I decided that adding lattice work to one wall and planting ivy would be a good way to add some interesting texture to the patio.
Last weekend was my parent’s 35th wedding anniversary. They decided to celebrate by going on a road trip to Niagra Falls. On Sunday they came through CHicago and stayed overnight at our house. Of course, I couldn’t let them come over without putting them to work on my patio project!
My dad and I made a trip to Home Depot and got everything we needed. When we got back it only took about an hour to hang the lattice work. My mom and I planted more ivy and replanted the ivy I had growing already from last year. Now we just have to wait for it to grow more up the lattice. I think the patio looks a lot better already, though!
In payment for their help, and for their anniversary, Dallas and I made dinner for my parents. We had grilled skewers made with chicken marinaded overnight in a rosemary and garlic sauce, yellow squash, zucchini, onions, peppers, and mushrooms. I also made a couscous salad with fresh mozarella, tomato and basil that we grew. For dessert I made a fresh raspberry buttermilk cake. The skewers are an old favorite, but the salad and dessert were recipes I made for the first time. I liked them both so much, I think they might be a staple for this summer!
I’ve been to your house before, but didn’t get out on the patio because it was winter. That should look nice with the ivy, like your own mini Wrigley.
Mom and Dad are stopping at our house for Jessica’s party on the way back home from their trip. I’ll have to ask them if they liked your shish kabobs better than the ones I made for them at their house last summer. I used chicken, onions, mushrooms, and green peppers. The chicken wasn’t marinated because it was a last minute thing, but then everyone got to use their favorite sauce for dipping.
(FYI… your wall is concrete, not cement. Cement is the dry powder that when mixed with water and aggregates binds them together to form concrete. Sorry, it’s just a pet peeve of mine when people say cement when they mean concrete.)
Dang, I always get cement and concrete mixed up. I thought I chose the right one… guess not!
Hopefully the ivy will take off and grow up the wall. We’ve had rain for the last 2 days so that’s good. Hopefully it will get sunny now.
Now you just need to cover up the bottom of that brick wall with some big Under Armour signs, and it’ll look like Wrigley in no time!
We’ll only accept sponsorship from Steve Koo Photography. For a fee, we’ll display your art on the patio walls. Ha!
Looks much nicer. It will soon look more cozy there… I could suggest some throw pillows if you had a comfy chair back there… thats a good way to add color. And painting the cement or adding a carpet that can breath if it gets wet is another idea.
Thanks for the tips, Nancy. We talked about painting the cement, but I think adding a rug is an easy win!
Yeah plus it’s more warm and inviting and keeps the feet warmer if you’re bare-foot. But make sure it breathes (I bought a bamboo rug for cheap at IKEA). Otherwise mold will grow
I also want to get some kind of wood/cedar storage chest to put the random tools and dirt in .. so they’re not just laying around on the patio.
man. your parents are the best!
i have memories of going home on vacation from school and my mom asking me to help her with weeding! ;P
Oh! You should see it now. Over the weekend I got an outdoor rug and 2 outdoor pillows. It looks so nice now. I have photos but haven’t interrupted virtual vacation to post them yet.