When your house gives you square-footage-challenged lemons, you create square-footage lemonade… or in my case, lemon-wheel-garnished sangria. Each spring, as the weather changes from dreadful to dreamy, I come to realize how my dining area just accommodates two to 3 individuals maximum. Knowing that three is a crowd and crowds, once equipped with adult drinks, often lead to broken glass, damaged feelings and/or stained furniture, I wasn’t going to host a springtastic cocktail party anywhere close to my grasscloth-covered walls. Determined to take the party outside, I put my own carport into the test to find out if I could change it into a temporary dining space on a budget. Together with my own carpenter-friend, Brian, along with my designer-slash-assistant-slash-friend, Aprill, here is a couple easy, cost-effective manners we outfitted a covered parking area for both playground and recreation. And, yes, Aprill is spelled with two Ls.
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It is difficult to think this space has been catching oil escapes and taking a beating out of muddy tires. However, with the introduction of pattern, color and lightweight furniture, it completely takes on new identity as a place to throw back red sangria — and, due to my own over-propping, a gigantic plate of berries that are enormous.
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Step 1: To erase any sign your new, albeit momentary, dining area is simply a waiting space for your reliable automobile, it is ideal to start from the bottom up. Pick up three gallons of garage flooring paint in contrasting colours to make a graphic pattern which will end in a dining-room-rug-like look. I suggest stripes since they’re easy and quick to make.
After washing the surface with a hose and letting it air dry, paint the whole surface a solid base color by means of a roller on an extender pole. Once the foundation color is dry to the touch, use painters’ tape to mark your pattern. Paint your very first accent shade between the correct parts of tape. Once the first accent shade is totally dry, reposition the tape as necessary, then paint your final accent color. Wait at least 4 hours before walking on the newly painted area.
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Step 2: Selecting good seating is key to keeping your guests happy. If you could not care less about your guests’ comfort level, maybe you need to reevaluate exactly what kind of friend you are… ha! Hit up flea markets, thrift stores or garage sales for sturdy, lightweight chairs made of plastic or metal. Pay no attention to the finish on the frame or the cushion; these are easy things to change.
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Step 3: Lightly sand the present finish of your secondhand chairs using a sanding block. To change them on the inexpensive, add a coating of spray primer, then a finish coat of high-gloss spray paint using a spray handle attachment. Or drop off the chairs in a local auto body shop for a super thick, extra durable car-like finish with a much heftier price tag.
To provide the cushions fresh life, remove the present cushion with a screwdriver, tear off the old fabric, then use a staple gun to attach the new fabric. To get a more tailored look, drop off the cushions in a local upholsterer who can add welt cord for a little contrast.
More on altering old chairs
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Step 4: Privacy is very important to maintain those nosy neighbors from listening in on discussions and peeking in on shenanigans. No walls? No problem! Simply repurpose galvanized metal conduit as drapery hardware by attaching the conduit to outside beams or walls using plumbing flanges and metal screws.
Notice: You’ll need clip rings so as to swiftly put up and take down outside draperies panels. Make sure you slip your clip rings on the poles before attaching sticks to flanges.
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Step 5: Once the sticks and flanges are set up, join your drapery panels to every clip ring. Keep in mind you’ll need an average of 7 clip rings per panel. See how Aprill is grinning as she hangs the panels? It is probably due to that excess L in her name.
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Step 6: To present your outside drapery panels a tailored look, it is all about the fold. Once the panels are all attached, run your fingers Chinese-finger-cuff-style through the back and front of the fabric, then make a fold out of the top all the way towards the bottom. From the time you do this, they’ll look like they were sewn.
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Step 7: so far as choosing outdoor tables move, worry more about the rugged foundation than the top. If you find a fantastic foundation but no shirt, simply possess a piece of pressure-treated plywood cut to size, attach it to the base with screws, then conceal it with a tablecloth.
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Step 8: If you’re great with a sewing machine, consider adding designer detail into some readymade tablecloth with a solid border around the edges. This adds graphic impact and takes the I-ran-to-the-store-and-bought-this-last-minute-ness of it all. For those who can not operate a sewing machine, consider adding the trim using a roster of iron-on glue tape and an iron.
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Step 9: Every fantastic dining area has a fantastic light fixture above. To ground your temporary outside dining space without needing to deal with power or major costs, stick with paper lanterns in contrasting colours; they’ll kinda double as art. As far as dangling them all you’ll need are a few hook eyes and string. Take them one step farther by incorporating battery operated tea lights indoors instead of candles that are true. Last, see the handsome guys dude in the photo? Yep, that is Brian. He really hates me right about now for publishing this to the Interwebs.
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Step 10: Every designer-caliber room needs a fantastic piece of art, even if it’s outside. To hang a piece of art as a focal point, just use a masonry nail and a hammer to the property’s exterior.
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Step 11: As your neighbors will think you’re nuts if you maintain a sideboard on your carport 24/7, just add casters into an indoor decoration, then wheel it outside when you need a serving station.
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Step 12: The last step is to set the table. It may sound obvious, but flowers are the finishing touch that really brings all together. To earn supermarket flowers work, just purchase a couple bunches of the same species in various colours, remove the filler, then set them in a vase. If your friends ask where you have the fragrance, inform them”from the most expensive florist in the city.”
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Step 13: At the end of a long day, settle back and revel in all your hardwork. And if these pesky neighbors attempt to get all up in your company, simply draw back those drapery panels and fuggedabowdem!
More DIY:
Sit Pretty Together With Mismatched Chairs
Create a Vintage Suitcase Dog Bed
Create a Two-Way Chalkboard Tabletop
Update a Hollow-Core Door