"Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest."
~ Henry Van Dyke

Monday, June 6, 2011

Make do and mend Mondays

Sometimes it is fun to challenge yourself to do something with as tight a budget as you can. We just created a coffee corner in our garden doing just that.


Back in February, we started searching on a Dutch website called Marktplaats for a table and extra chair for our garden in our new home. We have a second terrace that is large enough for more than the one rocking chair which I had at our old house. These chairs were sold as a one time offer at a major DIY chain years ago. I was able to find a second one for which we paid only 20 euros. The original price was 99 euros. As soon as we got home, Jos got stuck in on sanding it so we could oil it with the same oil we use on the other chair.

The table was becoming a challenge. I did not want a big table but also not one too small. I felt like Goldie Locks trying out the furniture of the Three Bears. We finally found an old French bistro table made of wrought iron with a stone top. It needed work but was only 10 euros.

We scraped it with a steel brush, cleaned it and painted it black. I loved it for the pretty and decorative scroll work under the table. It came up like new again.

A few items on the table which can be seen from inside the house and our chairs sat by the table in the shade of our sweetgum tree. I rarely ever sit in the sun so this is fast becoming my favorite spot.

A perfect spot to sit and listen to the birds with a cup of coffee or tea and read a book...

This area is not finished as we have to have the terrace rebricked and I want to work on decorating the edging of this terrace but in the meantime, we can sit there and simply enjoy...

Cost of this mend so far is only 30 euros. Who does not like a bargain?

13 comments:

Nancy said...

I know you find deals on Mart P, but this time you outdid yourself. That table is awesome and finding the same chair for so little was great.
This is now a beautiful area for sure.
Love you, Mom

Elizabethd said...

That looks calm and relaxing. What bargains you do find!

Saskia said...

Great table, like how it turned out. what a brush of paint can do!
I'm selling some pedants, and old chairs. Want to buy them?? They are on marktplaats too.

Deborah said...

What a wonderful comforting spot.

Susan in SC said...

I would love to fins something like this as well. It is lovely!

DonnaTN said...

Life doesn't get much better than a rocking chair in the shade!

In den Uylenbal said...

Hi Heidi, love the rocking chairs !! The table is also really nice, and only € 39,= together, WOW !! It's a cosy coffee/tea corner, love it ! Greetz Lejo

Sonja said...

Wat een romantisch hoekje heb je gemaakt!

Babs in Alabama said...

I'm loving the accents too, Heidi :) I wish I had your energy and know-how. I'm trying.
hugs,
babs

Annie said...

What a great work you do, Heidi ! A real beautiful area !

Anonymous said...

This is a marvellous transformation Heidi. What a bargain!

Marie x

onlymehere said...

Wonderful place to read a book or just unwind. The table was a great deal too. I always love a bargain!

Tracy said...

LOVE the table, Heidi... and you've creating a very cozy seating area. Hope you're enjoying these summer days! :o) ((HUGS))