Hi Everyone!
Happy Wednesday loves. So you guys….I found it. My purple unicorn. If you’ve been a follower for a while you know Ive been on the hunt for a set of chippendale chairs for over 2 years! Ive scoured everywhere for them. Flea Markets..Craigslist..Thrift Stores…Consignment Shops…Antique Stores…EVERYWHERE. Ive had no luck. I mean Ive seen people stumble upon them sitting out on the curb in the garbage pile for Pete’s sake!! #notme BUT I finally found some.
This is definitely in my top 3 fav finds to date. I was only hoping to come across a couple chairs, but Im beyond happy I was able to find an entire dining set…Im even happier that its for outdoors. I love my bentwood chairs in the dining room and didn’t want to get rid of them, so its great to be able to have both without them competing with one another. Id actually never seen anything like this before so I did a little digging and found that its actually quite valuable.
Looking at the listing for the set I was pretty sure I was gonna reupholster the yellow seat cushions, but now Im not so sure. The vinyl is in amazing condition so I may live with them for a while. As for the set..it will definitely get a new coat of color. Not sure what color yet. Im sure Ill come up with something.
While we are on the topic of outdoors, I thought Id share some photos of our VERY raw, blank slate, style challenged backyard. Our outdoor space is actually really generous and it has the potential to be amazing. We haven’t touched this space except to have several trees removed that were too close to the house, dead, diseased, or a nuisance. There’s so much we want/plan to do with the space. Im looking at it as pretty much a blank canvas at this point.
This door leads into and out of the laundry room. The little window to the left is the kitchen.
Those French doors lead to what is currently used as our master bedroom. This is the space that will eventually be taken down and rebuilt as a master bedroom and bath. I cant wait for that day. Im looking forward to having this be integrated into the bungalow much much better than it is now. Im not sure exactly how much into the yard the addition will come, but its nice to have lots of room to figure out the best approach.
This patio area needs so much love yall. My best guess is this was constructed sometime in the 60s or 70s and its literally falling apart at the seams. The deck is so water damaged and rickety. The aluminum patio cover is old and rusted and molded. Its definitely time for it to go.
The shed has major dry rot and needs to go too. Id like to replace it with something smaller to serve as a potting shed/greenhouse since this side of the yard will be my garden area. After living here through every season Ive learned this is the side that gets full sun all day and will be perfect for growing fruits and veggies. Id love to see several garden beds like these. Ill also be getting a small coop for the corner area to keep a few hens.
My overall goal for the backyard is to #1 get rid of a lot of the greenscape. Its so much maintenance. Mowing is a pain the in you know what. Not to mention we are in a serious drought and have strict water restrictions. Its not at all functional right now, and I really want to take advantage of the space. In addition to the addition Im hoping to incorporate different zones throughout…for dining, cooking, growing, entertaining, etc. Id love to see the yard layered with pathways, a deck, a patio, etc. We also need a new fence….like yesterday!
There’s so much to be done and I know we will eventually get there. Until next time loves…
Xo-Shavonda
Bethany @ Dwellings by DeVore says
Such a great find!!
Shavonda says
Thanks Bethany!
Claire Brody says
Yay!!! Did you just fall out of your chair when you came across that set? I would have done more than that! So happy you finally found it!! Can’t wait to see what you do with the outdoor space.
Shavonda says
I did!! I was just excited to have found some Chippendale chairs. The fact that its a set is the icing on the cake.
Caryl says
Oh that backyard space is awesome for a garden! We use a brick planting area that once housed rose bushes for part of our garden, and then a raised, premade bed in the backyard. We have a ridiculous amount of tomatoes lol We want to expand it next year and move toward getting rid of the lawn. Looking forward to seeing all of your creations! That Chippendale set is beautiful – makes me want one for the backyard patio. We have a pretty generic set and this makes me yearn to create an extended dining room, outside.
Shavonda says
Oooh tomatoes!!! I cant wait to start growing veg. And also we ripped out all the roses we had from the previous owner. Im definitely not a fan.
Beth of designPOST interiors says
I am so jealous of all your plans for your backyard and that CL find is amazing!!
Shavonda says
Thank you so much Beth!!
Corinna - For My Love Of says
Just a suggestion, but you may want to consider keeping the coop a bit closer to the home. They’ll love your fruit and veggie scraps! The Rules for a permit are strict here so we are in limbo for our own hen owning dreams. Your backyard looks like a beautiful space to work with. I’m excited to see how they Chippendale set looks once it’s all finished!
Shavonda says
Thank you Corinna. Thankfully our hen keeping guidelines are pretty lax. In the city the rules are 3 hens only and the coop muct be at least 50ft away from your neighbors house. Plus theres a license fee and a permit fee per hen. In the county from what I know the property just has to be 10,000 sq ft. Im really excited to get them and Im super excited to get started on this space.
Jennifer@The Chronicles of Home says
What a find! I don’t usually have good Craigslist luck either. So happy for you 🙂
Shavonda says
Thank you Jen. Im beyond happy to have something crossed off the “to find” list.
Jenny says
I love the idea of breaking up outdoor space into different rooms and spaces with individual purpose. I can’t wait to see how your blank slate evolves! I can bet you’ll figure out a way to incorporate a semi private patio off that new master too (paint me jealous of that configuration)! The raised garden beds are perfect, we just added some and it is night and day from having a garden in the ground – I’ll never go back. Good luck evolving that plan, it’s a fun process.
Shavonda says
Thank you Jenny. My gram always kept a garden in the ground and so part of me loves the nostalgia of it…but ummm #aintnobodygottimeforthat so Im definitely all about the raised beds. I had one small bed in our last house and I cant wait to have a series of them here!
sarah dorsey says
amazing find!!!!
Shavonda says
thank you sweet friend. You too with those fab chairs!!!
Kimberly Duran says
Oh that dining set is just BEYOND! I love it and I’d be tempted to keep the yellow cushions as well! I’m also jealous of the SPACE you have outside, there’s just so much potential and I can’t wait to see what you come up with 🙂 Actually, I’m talking about my back garden plans on the blog today (great minds and all that) and I referenced your beautiful patio as inspiration 😉 xxx
Shavonda says
thank you love!! I love your garden. Its so quintessential England. Its just beautiful. And I HAVE to figure out something that works with the yellow cushions. I really like them. they are so happy. Im likely to go with grey. Its a good neutral and will totally work with whatever cushion I decide. I would loooove to go black, but with the yellow its a little too Beeish!!
Megan says
Wow! So much potential. I can definitely see a bunch of areas, lots of native plants, a fun chicken coop, everything. You do pretty much have a blank slate and without much work in moving things. Our yard was a blank slate once all the giant, overgrown plants were removed. Good luck with planning things, I’m sure it’ll all look amazing!!! Good luck!!!!
Shavonda says
thank you Megan. Its kind of overwhelming, but Im definitely looking forward to transforming it.
Kristin @ Bliss at Home says
hooray! So glad you got your unicorn! Such a good sized yard to work with. Stinks about drought, but I know you will make it amazing! xo
Shavonda says
Thank you babes! Yea the drought is no bueno. Hopefully next year we get some good rain.
cassie @ primitive & proper says
it’s a lot of greenscape but it’s a great canvas! and that set…. oh that set!
Shavonda says
Thank you love;)