Summer is just around the corner, which means it's the perfect time to update your backyard for barbecues and outdoor get togethers! If you need a little inspiration or just want to gawk at gorgeous backyards, these 30 outdoor fire pits and fireplaces will make you incredibly jealous.
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I don't have a lot of tree cover in my backyard, so I've been in hot pursuit of a way to create shade... and I thought I'd share my findings with you in case you're in the same boat! Keep reading to check out ten of my favorite DIY ways to create backyard shade.
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Solar lights are functional and great for the environment, but not always attractive. I'm here to change that - today I have a super easy project that will transform generic solar pathway lights into lanterns pretty enough to be the centerpiece on your outdoor dining table. Keep reading to check out the full photo tutorial.
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It's easy to find cool patio furniture - but it will usually cost you a pretty penny. And most of the affordable pieces are just plain ugly. But we were sure that there must be some chic and affordable dining sets out there, so we set out to find them. And now we're sharing our findings with you!
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The backyard is the perfect place for entertaining, but sometimes it's the last part of the home that gets any attention. If that's the case for you, here's some beautiful inspiration that will help motivate you to spruce up your outdoor space.
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Sure, you could throw a few plants in a pot and call it a day - or you could take it a step further and make your backyard landscape truly unique. Here are some super unusual ideas that are sure to get your creative wheels turning.
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When planning out a backyard, most people immediately imagine grass. But why not think outside the box and try a grass-less yard? And the best part? Less maintenance - no need to mow the lawn! Here are ten gorgeous outdoor spaces with no grass.
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What's better than a nap on a lazy summer afternoon? A nap in a hammock that you made yourself! This is a really fun project that can be completed in an afternoon. Click through to find out how to make one of these colorful hammocks for your backyard.
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The grass is always greener... when there is none? There are tons of ways to landscape without the green giant and we've rounded up eleven of them right here! From flowers to gravel to stained concrete, you might just want to say buh-bye to that large water bill.
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It's that time of year when the weather has finally gotten nicer and nobody wants to be inside. And entertaining outdoors gives us a whole new set of creative options for decor, food and beverages, and even activities. Click through for ten totally clever outdoor entertaining ideas.
:format(jpeg)/http://assets.curbly.com/photos/0000/0015/9913/before_large_jpg.JPG "credit: Emily Jones [http://jonesdesigncompany.com/our-house/our-backyard/]")
The 'before' looks like so many backyards we've all seen (including my own): a small rectangle of grass, void of personality but full of potential! The potential here is a yard worth celebrating -- check out the 'after' below!
:format(jpeg)/http://assets.curbly.com/photos/0000/0015/9832/1_large_jpg.JPG "credit: Shirley Bovshow [http://edenmakersblog.com/?p=893]")
Our whole backyard is pretty much a side yard so when I see transformations like this it gives me hope!
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Over the last two weeks, I've been making-over our mildly pathetic back yard with a brand new paver stone walkway and patio. In this part of the series, I'll show you how I planned the whole thing out (including a sweet 3D rendering), and how much I spent on materials in the first (of several) shopping trips.
It's all over on the HouseLogic blog, and I think you'll be really surprised to hear how I my costs under control. Go check it out!
PLUS: HouseLogic is giving away a $100 gift card to a randomly selected person who leaves a comment on my guest post (hurry, you have until Thursday, June23rd at 11:59 pm central time to enter!).
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This is what Corey and his wife's backyard looked like one snowy winter. And this is what their backyard looks like now, complete
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Most people think having a swimming pool in the backyard is a treat. WRONG!! Every year I add up how much money we literally pour into our pool and think, "Fill it in!" This California homeowner decided to give up the whole shebang and opted for a socially, swingin' bocce ball court, fire pit and beautifully landscaped pathways.
Check out the cleaned out yard and the new party plaza.
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Between flowers and vegetable garden tending, you'll have a few weekends to build a zen like river rock fountain to make your backyard the tranquil envy of the neighbors (not that this is a competition, mind you). You can use just about any outdoor garden structure for a fountain, but you can't beat the organic beauty and simplicity of smooth, serene river rocks. The trusty guys over at This Old House make it look very DIY-able. Here's all you'll need to get started:
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Photos: Popluar Mechanics
We've all seen photos of amazing tree house architecture, but nothing compares to this dad's tender narrative of building his kids' their own backyard tree fort. The next best thing to letting his kids build it themselves is reading about his recollection of the construction of his own childhood perch with his neighborhood friends, an all but extinct experience these days. His story, intertwined with a descriptive How To, evoked sweet memories of my own childhood summers filled with treacherous climbs up to our homemade shack and our summer long attempts to make it cozier by adding carpet, floor tiles, and eventually shingles.
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Photo Image: Dave Banks
Don't let these still, cool evenings of Fall go to waste sitting inside watching t.v. It would be way more fun sitting outside with some firepit action, smores and watching a movie with friends, even snuggling up in a blanket for a scary Halloween movie. GeekDad provides a step by step tutorial for backyard diy-ers who aren't quite ready to throw in the seasonal towel.
I was checking out the website of my CSA last week, and noticed they have egg-laying hens for only $10. Having grown up in the city, I never had the fun of homegrown livestock. But a $10 hen, just for me? Where on earth would I put it?
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One of these would do quite nice, indeed. Grassroots Modern highlights ModernCoops: "Designed and built by Modern Coops, each coop is made of recycled cedar and sports a fiberglass roof. The base model is $525 and...
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