Patio Makeover – Sweet William Sewing Style

It’s done!

It’s done, it’s done, it’s done! (sung in a ‘happy dance’ sort of voice).

My favourite room in the house is ready – and not only am I going to show it off, but I’m going to go outside and enjoy it once I’m done showing it off. I’m sorry, I’m too excited to contain the bragging.

Let me preface this by saying that my patio furniture is roughly 9 years old we got to fill the space when the patio builders were finished. It was a cheap set from a hardware store that was supposed to see us through a few years. After those few years, money was still tight and the girls were small so it didn’t seem worth the extra expense to go with a bigger and better set – so I called up my bestie Katherine at Sweet William Sewing and asked her to update my cushion covers to buy us a bit more time.

Katherine sewed those beautiful (removable) striped cushion covers. Did you notice the perfect piping?

I loved them – I love them still – but my outdoor decor was lacking in cohesiveness. The cheaper patio chair set was an almost-black colour, the more expensive lounger was definitely brown, my DIY cedar table didn’t match anything and that branch table? It was great for a season – a real novelty piece.

The photos above might not show it adequately, but the foam inside the cushions was pretty flat. It was even flatter by the end of the summer, so another patio makeover was in order. We have a concrete patio so it’s pretty easy to find furniture that compliments it (thankfully!)

I contacted Katherine at Sweet William Sewing Company and asked if she could help me to once again breathe new life into my patio set. I gave her a single flamingo pillow to work from and asked her to recover the chairs, make new pillows and re-stuff (re-foam?) the cushions.

Pretty unbelievable eh?

This woman has style, she has taste, she has vision and she has ridonculous talent!

The seat cushions are double the thickness of what they were before she started, and all the fabric is Sunbrella – which means incredible quality.

As much as I was present during the fabric selection, Katherine really did all the coordinating. I asked for quieter seats and bold pillows and she came up with a combination of layers that is bright and fun, and yet warm and welcoming at the same time. (Did I mention that she is awesome?)

The most dramatic part of the patio makeover is my lounger – the base is still brown, but having it recovered in this grey and off-white scroll ties it together with the rest of the set. I have no idea how she could re-cover a piece that has sections and bends and Velcro attachments – but she did and it’s stunning.

We usually use this as bench seating, but I’m planning on consuming several great books (and perhaps a few great beverages) in this seat this summer.

We have a ginormous Intex pool off to the side of the patio, so the kids can swim and have fun while I soak up the sun (or relax in the shade) nearby. That counts as multi-tasking doesn’t it?

I found this cute bucket at HomeSense and decided to keep a few towels in here for day-to-day use, but I can easily fill it with ice and drinks should friends come by (note: I protected the finish on this bucket by spraying the inside and outside with a clear gloss spray paint)

Even with the water at straight-from-the-hose-cold – the girls were in!

With a post-swim warm up in the hot tub.

While I “kept watch” nearby.

The DIY cedar patio table was updated with a coat of black paint and I added a few large floor tiles (which I scored at the Habitat for Humanity Restore) to the surface to bring in the grey.

My DIY privacy planters shelter the hot tub, and there are morning glories planted on either side of the cedar balls, so hopefully in a month’s time, the wood will be laden with beautiful vines and flowers. However I do still need to venture out and have a look at hot tub covers because I do need a new one.

I sat out yesterday with a hint of humus and my new book and snuggled in for the duration.

Heaven!

Perfect piping, crisp edges, gorgeous (and durable) fabric – I’m just tickled pink!

Thank you Katherine at Sweet William Sewing Company – you are a talent and a half!

Click the logo below for Katherine’s website and pricing, or click any of the highlighted links above to see her latest projects on Facebook.

Sweet William Sewing Company Specializing In Custom Sewn Slipcovers, Draperies, Shades, Headboards, Bench Cushions and More.

If you are in the market for a patio makeover, you really should start with the fabric – it makes a WORLD of difference.

Have a great one!