I’m convinced: If you have a cute place for coffee with sunshine, life is instantly better. When we first moved into our home, we knew we wanted to add a deck. Though we have a lower one out the basement door, it was a big desire of mine to have something right off the main area near the kitchen. Dreams of dining al fresco with a close proximity to the kitchen for easy drink refills danced in my head. Two years later… It’s here!
If you’ve been a longtime reader and you’re thinking it’s been a while since I’ve done a home post, you’re right. In the past, when we bought, renovated, and sold fixer-uppers like it was our job (it wasn’t, haha), I had a lot of reveals to share. (Wow, going back to house #1 is a throwback.)
Now that we live in a new home, there haven’t been many reveals to share. (But it’s not a forever home, so who’s to say that won’t change?!)
I’ll admit that I miss the satisfaction of transforming a dated home and giving it a makeover; however, there are many advantages to newer homes as well. It’s all down to your personal preference, I suppose!
And my personal preference? Chic style and sunbathing moments. So let’s get back to that.
Though I hesitated to share this “reveal”, because the project isn’t quite done yet, it got me thinking: Is the work ever really done? There’s always the little bit of trim or paint touch-ups that feel like they take 2 years to get around to. And then, if the construction is done, the decor and layout are always changing. The word “reveal” feels so final.
Like, YOU HAVE NOW REVEALED THIS AND NOTHING CAN CHANGE. EVER!
So, I’m just throwing out the word “reveal” and instead I’m grabbing the word “in progress”. Homes are always in progress anyway, just like life.
And when it came to this home, I had a certain vision. My inspiration? Parisian Balcony. In fact, I wanted to call it a balcony so badly, because that just sounds so much more elegant, but facts won. (A balcony is built extending from the home, while a deck is built supported by the ground.) It might not sound as cool, but… c’est la vie.
As I was gathering inspiration, I was instantly drawn to ornate railings, limestone or checkerboard tiles, an abundance of plants, and the feeling that you’ve been transported to a European rooftop.
Like most projects, the idea starts off so grand, and then you start gathering quotes and you go, “How much now?!”
I was envisioning a wrought iron railing, a stucco backdrop (never mind the back of our home is vinyl), and other grand things that quickly didn’t materialize. Though the original vision shifted, what we typically end up doing best is creating a chic style without spending an arm and a leg. I’m proud of that.
And you know what I can control? The furniture, the plants, and the memories to be made. So I decided to focus on that instead.
For a little context…
(We’ll get to the reveal…er, I mean in progress photos in a sec, I promise.)
To see where the deck got added, take a look at the cellphone pic below. This window is in our dining nook, right next to the kitchen off the back of the house. This is the window that got swapped for a door. You can already see the deck is being built!
So, we (contractor) took out the window and put in a door leading to….
EUROPE!
No. Not really.
But the Europe of Iowa!
Isn’t she lovely?
Right outside the door is this charming round table that is perfect for coffee mornings, reading, dining, and even working from your laptop. Styling tablescapes is one of my favorite things to do, and I’ve had so much fun romanticizing life’s moments with this furniture piece.
Also near the door, you’ll find this elevated planter brimming with plants. We live on a hillside, and though we’ve done our best creating a garden space, steep hillsides are just so darn tricky to transform into a manageable space if flat space is your goal. I decided that a balcony garden would be the best (and closest) thing for now. Though my dreams of a sprawling garden courtyard will have to wait, having an herb kitchen right next to the kitchen door has been heavenly!
Popping outside quickly to clip a few herbs to use for dinner is truly such a small yet life-giving thing.
In this balcony garden space, I’m growing roses, climbing roses, eggplant, peppers, lettuce, oregano, dill, parsley, cucumber, peppermint, rosemary, lavender, a fig, tomatoes, and basil. Now, who says you need a lot of space to have a garden!
We didn’t end up with a wrought iron railing, but we got an aluminum one, and I’m happy with the simple black style. I also really wanted a railing without a support post that extended up for a streamlined look, and I’m glad I found that.
As for the flooring, I’m hesitant to say much or give any guidance because we are experimenting, truthfully. I really wanted a stone look, and though they make interlocking stone tiles for decks that replace traditional boards, they are very expensive, and we decided it wasn’t worth it. So after a little research, we are trying out a porcelain tile instead. If it holds up, I’ll share more. And if it doesn’t, then we can remove it, sand it down a bit, and just paint the deck boards underneath. We have a backup plan if it doesn’t work out, but it was worth a shot to me, because I absolutely love the look of stone and tile. So far, no regrets.
The other side of the deck is dedicated to reading and sun lounging.
The sides of the loveseat actually lower, providing the perfect spot to lounge in the sun. The coffee table is a second-hand find.
I made sure to add a few potted roses, because there’s not much better than the breeze carrying the scent of roses through the air.
Despite the smug look on my face, I am thrilled! And I’m convinced that I’m either European or Southern at heart, but my Iowa location won’t stop me from adding a chic touch to whatever we create.
Here’s to a summer of reading in the sun, enjoying delicious meals outdoors, munching on croissants next to the intoxicating smell of roses, and watching the sun rise while you sip your coffee. Most importantly, here’s to creating a life you love to live – no matter where you are.
Want to see how we added a European touch to our other garden space? Here’s How We Brought a Touch of Provence to the Midwest: Our Backyard French Country Garden
Gorgeous. So glad to see your post. Your vision is wonderful. Though being a Midwest girl myself, worry about porcelain with freeze thaw. Hope it holds up. And the furniture has to move in during winter. I believe you should live further south or in France some where. However I love Iowa and the Midwest…Awesome decorating. So glad to see another post on your home. Great job!!
Thanks, Judy! I don’t disagree with you… maybe one day we’ll find ourselves south.
Love Love Love everything about this including your dress and hat! I’d have a nice glass of wine out there with some cheese and I would be in heaven – in Iowa!!
Ooo yes! Must do the wine and cheese next.
Oh my this is absolutely beautiful.You did a fantastic job. I know I would be outside enjoying the sunshine all the time. Enjoy!
Thank you so much! I can’t get enough of enjoying the sunshine out there, that’s for sure.
Beautiful! It makes me want to jazz up our deck and enjoy coffee out there more often. I have a miniature rose that I just love out there. I’ve also added some hibiscus. Enjoy your coffee!
Ooo… miniature rose and hibiscus. Sounds divine. And thank you so much!