I keep crossing my fingers for a chill in the air. I’m so ready for Fall and all things cozy that come with it. Meanwhile, we are still in the thick of our backyard renovation. If you’ve been following along on stories, you’ll know it’s been nothing short of an ordeal; humidity issues, a cavernous hole the size of a small pool – more on that later – a falling out with our plumber and back to managing yet another massive renovation all on our own… before rainy season begins!
I’ve been thumbing through endless inspiration and thought it was time to share the visual vibe we’re hoping to create for our urban outdoor space.
THE BASE: FLOORING
I wanted to pay homage to living in the Mediterranean and for that to be reflected in the design. A bit old school Athens, a bit Greek island, and a touch of Southern France’s unruly gardens. It needs to feel lived in, like the space has been around for years. A bit overgrown, not perfectly manicured but also thoughtful enough to be inviting. Originally, we had started off with a marble checkerboard floor as the basis for the design. I was dead set on it and had spent countless months searching for the right color pattern. After much back and forth, we decided to scrap the idea. Most checkerboard tiles were significantly small and the repetitive pattern would feel overwhelming in our long, narrow and ever so slanted outdoor space.
We instead opted for our runner up choice, monastery stone floors – aptly named to reflect the pattern of centuries-old, monasteries. Teetering between the cooler-colored stone or the terra cotta iteration, we landed on the neutral option; allowing for the pops of color to shine through via fabric selection, flora and fauna and natural textures. Think terra cotta planters, timeless iron details and a built in sofa with extra thick cushions, olive and citrus trees, plaster details, space to dine and entertain and corners to hide away and get lost in a good read. We ended up purchasing the Di Pietra Runi Avorio in four sizes to create the natural design we were looking for. Meant to mimic stone but at a fraction of the cost and offered in anti-slip – a critical requirement for me. In case you’re local, can’t recommend Afoi Deli enough!
THE INSPIRATION
Here’s a look into what’s been inspiring me for the past year as we planned this renovation… From Morocco to Matera, Mykonos to Marbella, the colors and textures are a true blend of a Mediterranean-inspired backyard.
While I love the natural feel in an outdoor space, I also love an unexpected modern pop. When I first saw that chrome side table (top row, middle image) I quickly became obsessed. I found out that it is an Hervé van der Straeten piece called the capsule pouf and is only sold on 1st Dibs or Sothebys. Needless to say, it won’t be making it’s debut in my yard but I did find a similar dupe.
THE HEAVY LIFT
The last tiles were laid yesterday and phase two is slowly nearing completion. When we had first planned this three phase project we had no idea it would take us this long. Or that we would encounter so many surprises along the way. That’s the thing with old properties, you never know what you’re going to find when you start digging and ours did little to disappoint.
Most of our time and money was spent repairing foundational issues that were casually overlooked when the property was built in the 70’s. Over 1000 tons – read that again – of sand and small rocks were used to fill up a hole the size of a small pool where the old septic tank used to be. If you remember the humidity debacle, you’ll know that we were on the verge of pulling out all our original hardwood floors in an effort to find the source. Instead, we discovered a hole so big that rainwater was quietly seeping into the foundation of our property. What a relief it has been knowing that this was finally resolved.
PHASE TWO: THE DETAILS
Now that the heavy lifting is finally done, the fun part of the renovation can actually begin. You know, picking out fabrics and furniture and imagining movie nights and al fresco entertaining. We inherited a marble sink when we purchased the home and I’m hoping to find a way to incorporate it into the design. Lucky for me, I found a gentlemen who’s profession is to solely polish marble in hopes of bringing it back to its former glory. The moment I saw this hammam inspired faucet I couldn’t stop thinking about it, the shell motif, the patina. After searching high and low I managed to find it in Turkey. It’s been ordered and is on it’s way to us!
I’m still on the hunt for outdoor fabrics and utterly undecided which direction I want to take things. It’s an important decision too; setting the color and tone for the space. There’s the 1. unexpected yet timeless pattern with color; 2. a quintessential stripe; or 3. the palette-cleanser neutral with piping and the occasional over-the-top throw pillow. As I would like to buy local as often as possible, this will also depend on what the market offers here.
We’ll have a seating/dining area as you walk out of the house. This is where we have the built-in sofas, dining area and kitchenette. I need to find a chic way to create some privacy and shade in this area as most of our time will be spent here. Hopefully this will also double up for movie nights and even the occasional bonfire as the temperatures dip. The length of the space has built-in planters for greenery that can be seen from the bedroom windows. Orange blossom season will smell divine. And at the very end, there is a small alcove that will serve as a reading nook. Small space, big plans!
PHASE THREE: FLORA AND FAUNA
I know nothing about plants and I am now just starting to learn about what grows here and when the new-to-me seasons are. I definitely wasn’t pruning roses in February back in Chicago. It’s a whole new world to me and one I’m excited to dive into. Drought resistant plants, lots of herbs and aromatic plants to stave off mosquitos and pests, lavender. I would love a white climbing rose, a prominent olive tree for shade, blue jasmine, flowering rosemary. We also have our own lemon tree that has patiently been waiting to be planted. We’ve already enjoyed several lemons over the past year. Since my track record has proven to be nothing short of dire, an automatic-watering system will also be installed. For everyone’s sake.
A peek at some of the pins I keep eyeing for inspiration… Color wise, it’s quite easy on the eyes. Silvery greens, deep blues and purples with the occasional pop of yellow and fragrant whites from succulent jasmine and roses.
All of this has been occupying all my mental space and it feels great to finally put it out there! We’re in peak planting season until November. If we do miss this window, we’ll have to wait for Spring for phase three. Meanwhile, I’ll be sourcing finishes, fabrics and creating a planting design for when we’re ready to kick things off.
EXPLORE SOME OF MY LATEST POSTS!
- A New Era: Five Years in Greece
- Mediterranean Entertaining with Zara Home
- Harvesting Greek Olive Oil in the Peloponnese
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