I’ve posted a few snaps of our new back patio design on Instagram, and since many of y’all have asked for more, thought it would be fun to share a full backyard tour here! It’s hard to believe that we’ve been in our house for 5 years, and this summer we felt like it was time to give our back terrace and pool area a bit of a facelift — plus since Adam’s been working on landscaping our side yard for the past year, we were able to recycle all our old furniture by moving it over there. We’ve already been living out back all summer, eating dinner on the dining table every evening and gathering around the coffee table for weekend brunches, not to mention spending as much time as humanly possible submerged in the pool to escape this 100-degree Austin heat.
Also, since most of our patio furniture is from Restoration Hardware, I wanted to give y’all an early heads up that a beautiful new RH Gallery will be opening here in Austin at The Domain in mid-September. Hooray! I’m excited to be on the host committee for the opening party, and the 60,000 sq ft space will include inspiring interior installations, a garden courtyard and terrace, an interactive design atelier, rooftop park and conservatory and collections from RH Interiors, RH Modern, and RH Outdoor. Stay tuned for more on that, and click through the slides for all our patio details!
*photos by Kristen Kilpatrick
I could spend an entire Saturday on this daybed with a stack of magazines, huge bottle of water (and lots of sunscreen.)
A rectangular dining table that can seat 8 has been on my wish list for awhile. We just hosted our first dinner party at this table and it was so fun having it surrounded by friends late into the night. I fell in love with the clean modern lines of these chairs, and their lack of upholstery makes them so durable against the elements.
Since our patio is so visible through the back doors right when you walk in our house, I look for patio furniture that feels like indoor furniture. It instantly transforms the covered part of our terrace into an extension of the living room — and we definitely spend more time in the outdoor part of it!
We pushed together two of these coffee tables to form one table that feels big enough for the scale of the space. An unexpected benefit is that they’re the perfect height for Henry to climb on (without me having to worry about him tumbling off since it’s only a few inches from the top of the table to the ground.)
So happy with how this sectional situation turned out — it’s the Marbella Teak from RH that matches the daybed. All the pieces are super low slung and it makes the entire area feel like it’s made for all-day lounging.
My favorite cocktail sipping spot.
*espadin pillow, dress from solid & striped
I’ve been searching high and low for the right piece of art to go above the fireplace — I wanted something that blended with the space and almost looked like part of the architecture, and I finally had the idea to display these framed medallions in a grid of four to fill in the large space.
This little area near the fireplace was previously somewhat of an unused space, but I feel like we’ve finally figured out the right seating configuration that turns it into an intimate conversation area. We placed another Marbella Teak sofa here so that it’s back-to-back with the sectional, then added a chair that I’ve had for ages and a couple of casual outdoor poufs.
In my happy place…
*ceniza lumbar pillow
Favorite inexpensive centerpiece that I can change out with the seasons: a big bowl of seasonal fruit and a few tropical leaves (these have lasted almost 4 weeks already!)
Henry has a whole different take on how the fruit should be styled, however.
We moved this fiddle leaf fig outside from our bedroom, and apparently this spot is the perfect mix of sun and shade because it’s growing like crazy!
Where you’ll find me every Saturday this summer. I love that our whole fam can pile onto this daybed together, and I usually sit right here with the kids climbing all over me while Adam mans the grill.
All the summer essentials.
