This summer we visited New York to see the Lowe’s Designer Charity Challenge and came away inspired by how much the designers accomplished using pieces from Lowe’s 2012 outdoor collection and other items from the store. Back home in Southern California, where our house is small, we take full advantage of the mild weather and spend a lot of time outdoors, so creating a comfortable backyard was a priority.
When we moved here three years ago we immediately stocked up at Lowe’s for everything our home needed, including outdoor furniture and a barbecue. We chose the Allen+Roth Eastfield patio collection and loved the dark wood finish and green Sunbrella cushions. After a few years the wood required maintenance, so we painted it, but the cushions never faded and have always been easy to clean.
One thing our yard lacked was an umbrella and a proper outdoor dining area. A magnificent magnolia tree provides morning shade, but afternoons get hot with no place to retreat. With a small child, we wanted to enjoy the yard all day without worrying about sun exposure.
We considered returning to the Eastfield collection, which has an aluminum option painted to resemble mahogany—great for low maintenance—but decided instead on the Blaney collection. The Blaney line offered the look and pieces we needed.
We’d never owned wicker furniture before, but the dark finish with light patterned cushions appealed to us. The style complements a variety of outdoor pillows, rugs, and umbrellas and fit well with our yard’s aesthetic.
To introduce more color to our mostly succulent garden, we chose red bougainvillea (Barbara Karst) from Lowe’s. We replanted them in custom-made planter boxes we built to match the exact length needed to cover the back wall and sit beneath a window.
With our shopping list in hand, we made two trips to Lowe’s and managed to get everything we needed. Our truck was fully packed, we avoided the freeway, and everything arrived home intact.
All the furniture arrived pre-assembled with no tools required. Our purchases included:
– Allen+Roth outdoor area rug — 100% polypropylene, easy to clean, fade- and tear-resistant
– Outdoor umbrella — 230-gram all-weather fabric with an easy pulley cord for raising and lowering
– Five Blaney outdoor chairs — three that connect to form a couch and two standalone chairs
– Three Blaney end tables — one to hold the umbrella and two that connect as a coffee table
– Two Kenmont steel patio chairs
– Four steel patio dining chairs
– Seven bougainvillea plants
– Lumber for custom planter boxes
After removing the old furniture, we arranged the new pieces in about an hour. The components are bulky but lightweight and feel durable.
We tested a few layouts and ultimately connected three chairs to create an outdoor couch, placing the two remaining chairs nearby to form a comfortable L-shaped seating area that functions like an outdoor living room.
We already had a white dining table that matched nicely, and the four steel dining chairs were lightweight and coordinated well with the Blaney set.
The umbrella turned out to be the best surprise. We’d worried it might overwhelm the space, but it actually complements the yard and the unique contours of the canopy look great. The pulley system makes it easy to raise and lower, and now we can enjoy the yard all day without worrying about sun exposure.
To finish the makeover, we rearranged our plants and succulents. Four bougainvillea now cover the back pink wall, and the remaining three will grow to conceal an unattractive electrical box and another section of pink wall.
With a baby in the house, we’ve already tested the stain resistance of the Sunbrella cushions and the outdoor rug—and they passed with flying colors. We’re excited for more weekend barbecues and relaxed dinners outdoors now that our space is both comfortable and functional.
Here’s to an endless summer!
Disclosure: Lowe’s partners with bloggers to facilitate product reviews. They do not dictate what bloggers should write or how to express their opinions. Lowe’s sometimes provides product free of charge for review, as they did for this post. Their policies align with applicable ethics and disclosure guidelines.