When we were house hunting for a lake house last fall, one of the most important factors on our wish list was to find a house with plenty of outdoor living space. We definitely hit the jackpot when we found our house since it has not one, but a few spaces to sit and enjoy the outdoors.
Over the last few weeks I have shown you a few of these outdoor spaces around my house… the gazebo that is out on the lake and the deck right off my studioffice door.
Today I want to show you what I am calling my outdoor living room since it is the section of the deck on the lake side of my house that is literally right out the sliding glass doors of the living room.
As the weather has turned warmer, I find myself sitting here often. I like the spot since it does not get full sun in the afternoon. The light is dappled which keeps the deck cooler.
In my previous post I told you that I am using lime green and turquoise as my outdoor decorating colors. The previous owner left us some furniture, most of it in the way of dining tables and chairs. I wanted something comfy that rocked and swiveled so I could check out the water view from all sides. I also wanted to be able to use the chairs inside during the winter.
I did an extensive search for large, sturdy, but comfy rattan chairs that rocked and swiveled. I also wanted them to be a bit oversized so I could fold up my legs under me when I sit down on them.
I found exactly what I was looking for on Wayfair. They are called Santa Cruz Swivel Rocking Club Chairs. They come with two large cushions that you can choose the color. The color I chose is called Canvas.
Instead of using one of the side tables left by the previous owner, I asked the guy at a nursery I pass every time I go into town if I could buy one of the cut sections of logs that he was chopping up to make firewood to sell. He sold me this chunk of trunk for $10. I placed it on a wheeled plant caddy so that I could easily move it around.
It works perfectly to hold a plant or plate. I love pops of color and have been using this French Bull Melamine tray to place an afternoon snack on when I find myself needing a break from my computer.
The pillows add the pops of color that I crave. I am also using them since they are small and easy to carry to two chaise lounge chairs I placed on the lawn for water level lake viewing.
The house came with all the planters filled with pansies and other perennials.
I added a copper solar path light to the center of each to add some soft lighting to the deck at night.
They are 2X brighter than most LED path lights, so I may not need one in each planter, every other one will be plenty. I think I will use the extra on the side of the house where I have herbs growing. (I will show you the garden side of the house soon.) The lights comes with stakes that make them easy to move anywhere you want. They do require 2 – AA batteries and need to have a few hours of sun each day so they will light up at night.
I attached a few of the solar path lights along the outer edge of the steps going down to the yard.
It was easy to do…
…with pole brackets that you can buy at the hardware store. I simply attached one to the side of each step with two screws.
Then placed the light right in.
I used 4 of the copper path lights along the steps. Two at the top and two at the bottom.
On the steps in-between, I used smaller and less decorative path lights that are not as bright, but that add enough light to see each step at night when going down to the yard and lake. You can find these at any discount or hardware store.
In the yard, the previous owner left us chaise lounge chairs she had lined up along the water’s edge. I replaced them with this stylish set. The market umbrella provides needed shade. It can be ordered in many colors. I chose the color Bronze for the pole, and Olefin-Woven Sesame for the fabric color.
The chairs coordinate with the deck, plus they got great reviews on the Wayfair site, but the real reason I ordered them…
…was that they are easy to store in the off-season since the legs fold under them…
…so you can stack them. Brilliant!
The outdoor throw pillows from the rocking chairs on the deck are easy to bring down to the chairs when needed, plus they add some color.
The past two weeks have been beautiful which makes it difficult to work sometimes. Thank goodness for WIFI that makes it easy…
…to take my laptop to my outdoor living room to work.
It is a pretty nice option to have to be able to work both inside and outside.
Earlier in the post I told you that I wanted the rattan rockers to be inside/outside furniture.
I took this photo of them in my living room right after they were delivered a few weeks ago. They are perfect to use in my inside living room also. I can swivel to watch TV, swivel more to view the lake and swivel around even more to view a fire in the fireplace come winter time.
Double duty furniture that is making this girl very happy.
This post is sponsored by Wayfair. Thank you so much for supporting the sponsors that make In My Own Style possible. As always, all content and opinions are my own.
James says
I really like these deck chairs, they are incredibly versatile with most outdoor areas and are surprisingly long lasting, I’ve got these same chairs in my backyard, with a throw pillow it’s perfect for summer.
Landscaping Gold Coast says
I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post nice post, thanks for sharing.
Rebekah Edgar says
Hi Diane,
I love your DIY ideas! I have a question for you: Have you ever painted outdoor furniture cushions before? And how did they turn out? Would just spraying on a clear coat of sun protection make them darker (revive the faded look)? I want to redo mine, but I want to make sure that the spray would not rub off on clothing in the heat and humidity of summer outdoors, and I don’t want to ruin the water repellant feature of the original cushions.
Thanks for getting back to me when you have a chance!
Becky Edgar
Diane Henkler says
Hi Rebekah –
I have only painted indoor cushions that did not have water repellant on them. I think once you would spray of add anything over the original protection would remove that quality from the cushions. If you really want to paint them, you could add a product made by Rustoleum after you painted them to add back the water repellant quality. It is called: NeverWet and can be bought at any home improvement store or online.
Lisa says
What a lovely and colorful space you created!
Vicki says
Everything is looking so lovely at your lake home. There’s absolutely nothing more calming than living beside water. So glad you’re here!
Diane Henkler says
Hi Vicki – I agree with you that there is nothing more calming than living besides water. I am a water loving girl and born under the sign of water, Cancer. I feel my best when around it.
Denise McDonald says
What a beautiful outdoor space! Your blog post came just at the right time – we are researching outdoor furniture and I think these swivel chairs will be the perfect choice on our deck too : )
[email protected] says
Your house is such a resort space. Love the furniture, it’s perfect.
Darren Phillips says
I love the idea of creating an outdoor living room, some great decorating ideas here Diane :)
Patricia Wilson says
Diane, I loved your posts before you and Ed moved into your new lake house; now I almost literally swoon with each of your new posts. We live literally five minutes’ walk from beautiful Columbia Lake here in Connecticut, but still not the same as living on the lake itself. I’m so happy for the both of you and look forward to each and every one of your posts regardless of topic, as I always have before, yet especially the ones emanating from your new life in your lake house.
kat says
Just beautiful! Those solar lights are so wonderful.
i can’t even imagine what it was like when the only way to get lights was to wire everything in.
Ann says
I have been on the hunt for exactly those outside swivel chairs. Than you for the resource.
Sheryll $ Critters. says
Everything is so fabulous. I am longing to copy every detail
P says
Just wanted to say that I’m glad the blue trim on the house grew on you — I really like it. And the idea of solar lights on deck steps is very helpful! You’re doing a wonderful job — thanks for sharing.
Khadija says
It all looks so lovely. Show us a photo of your lights at night please!
Christine says
gorgeous outdoor living space and I really dog those new chairs as well!
Debbie White says
I always come away with great ideas from your posts, and even though I don’t comment very often I always enjoy reading them and seeing what you do. We are in a similar stage of life and just bought a house on the outer banks of North Carolina where we have a glimpse of the ocean and I can walk the beach every day. I love what you’re doing with your new home and can’t wait to see what you do next. Thanks for sharing!
Lauren @ Mom Home Guide says
Your lake house looks wonderful! I love your new furniture, and the tree stump side table! That was nice of the previous owner to leave you those beautiful planters of pansies!
Alexis says
Love the chairs and loungers, and the wood stump on wheels for a side table is brilliant! Your ideas are so inspiring! When can we book a room for the weekend? (Just kidding) Enjoy the summer.
Patricia says
Love it!
Carla says
Everything is lovely Diane. Living on the lake must be wonderful!
Diane Henkler says
Thanks Carla – Living on the lake is more than I could have ever hoped for. I still can’t believe we were able to make it happen. It is true that determination can get you where you want in life, even when life gives you lemons like unemployment that happened to my husband. :-)
Cheryl Cope says
Looks great Diane. Enjoy your first Summer at the lake house!
Diane Henkler says
Thanks Cheryl – It is off to a good start so far. I hope your summer is enjoyable for you, too. :-)
Elaine Williams in Baltimore says
Just beautiful Diane!
Diane Henkler says
Hi Elaine – Thanks. I am so excited to be able to have a space like this. My previous house had a deck, but it was in full sun all day which made it too hot to sit. We could only use it at night. I am looking forward to spending many hours outside all day long now. :-)
Toni C says
Love what you’ve done with your outdoor living space, Diane! I’ve been looking for an easy way to do outdoor lighting around the pool area and those copper lights seem like they would work well. Are you happy with the amount of light they provide? Also, what are the small lights you used on the steps?
Diane Henkler says
Hi Toni – :-) The small lights are inexpensive LED lights I found at Walmart in the garden section.