A spur of the moment project

After looking at our backyard catch-all/2nd garage area, I could take it no longer and decided it was time to do something (anything!) to clean it up a bit. You can see if from the dining room table and a little bit from the family room as well. So, even though it's out of site from people on the street, it's in plain site once you're in the house or out in the yard.

So this is what I see every day as I'm sitting at the dining room table. (Sorry about the dirty windows *blush*)


This is the space from the outside. It is the catch-all for all recent (and not so recent) project materials (the ladder from hubby painting the chimney the other weekend), old exercise equipment that got the boot when baby came along, the dishwasher we're attempting to sell on Craig's List, unused planting pots, and the pool cover, etc.
All things that can easily find a new "home".


This is the view from the other side. There is TONS of space here to set up my own little outdoor workshop, which is great because there isn't even an inch available inside. Behind that huge piece of plywood on the left, there is a black metal shelving unit that will be great to store supplies.


So... off to IKEA I went and came home with some goodies to spruce up the patio space.


My little helper :)


Tada! It's a start. The curtains didn't come with tiebacks, so they're currently being tied with ribbon. The curtains need to be hemmed and I'm considering letting them just hang straight down (maybe add a few more panels if I do that), but no matter what it looks a heck of a lot better already... and it's not even cleaned out yet!
I'll head back out tomorrow during McKenna's afternoon nap to get started on cleaning out all this junk. All the heavy lifting will be left for the hubby since I currently have pregnant lady-no heavy lifting status.


There's that little helper of mine again. It's like Where's Waldo! Do you see her? Love that girl.


These are going to get painted (they're plastic & left behind by the previous owners)... I'm thinking maybe one of those stone effect spray paints.


Awful picture. I have two more of these stools (also left behind by the previous owners), so I picked up some stool toppers too. They could stand a fresh coat of paint too. I thinking maybe going white instead of black. Hmmm.
Obviously this one still has the tag on it, but you get the idea. I'll save the nice pics for when this space is actually finished. ;-) They'll work great as seating on there. I'm even thinking about using that old barn door to make a big/tall craft table!!


I picked up these super cute little bins to use as storage. They'll probably go on the black shelving unit that is hidden behind that piece of plywood.


The view from my dining room table now. Much improved, although still in need of a lot of work, but only going to get (a lot) better!
Feel free to share any tips, ideas/suggestions you may have... I'd love to hear them.