Bailey Van Tassel

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03 May 2021
DIY

Our Back Patio Refresh

After
Before

We knew when we moved in a year ago that we wanted to make an outdoor living room/cabana type of space, but as life moves, so do the plans for large-scale renovations. After a full year of leaving this space completely empty, I decided that it was time for a temporary dining area. Our weather is too nice, the sunsets too gorgeous, and the years too short.

My first step always is … Pinterest. Of course (you can see the board I made here)! I started perusing patio inspiration and realized quickly (to no one’s surprise) that I like a Mediterranean/ European vibe. Something very old world and natural, easy and rustic yet a bit elevated.

I decided that some large pots would anchor the space, and that we needed lights. A table of course, was the biggest element of it all, and I was so lucky to have found the perfect option for that.

I worked with Polywood to settle on the exact table and color, and then build the rest around that. They are an incredible company that rescues landfill-bound and ocean-bound plastics, turning it into their “lumber”. The quality is incredible, the products are top rate and durable, which for me is crucial with our salty weather (we’re 10 mins from the ocean). It’s the perfect outdoor furniture – I truly can’t say enough good things!

Table Details

Polywood, Lakeside 7- Piece Dining Set

The pots

The pots that I found were from my favorite local nursery, and are pretty huge. Almost 3 feet tall! I loved that there’s a bit of a green tint to them, adding some color. The urn shape is something I am very drawn to, and though a lot of the built-in elements of our yard are more modern, these really did add so much charm and don’t look out of place.

The flowers

The design philosophy for filling pots is to have a “thriller, filler, and spiller”. Something big that thrills and adds height, something full that creates a lush center, and something to spill over the edge of the pot. I chose these climbing Mandavilla to create some thickness to the poles and cover them. I then added some yellow freesia as a filler that has an amazing fragrance when you walk by and plays off the center of the sweet petunias, which are my spillers.

Lights and poles

We learned a lot from this. My husband was so patient with me, and let me prove to myself that doing things the right way matters. I wanted to just jam some cheap poles into the pots and throw gravel on top. Seemed simple, and it was. But it wasn’t sturdy and when we added bistro lights, the tension bent the poles, and the wind did too. So, we had to buy thicker poles, and cement them into pots.

These are the exact poles we got, which are 4ft tall (we put two together) because we wanted 8ft in height. 10ft seemed too tall for our roofline. And we spraypainted them to make them black, as there was white writing on them.

Then we added cap fittings and a hook to complete the look!

Now that our back patio is done, I wish we would have done it sooner! The planning really took the most time, but the rest was done in a day. It adds so much charm and function to the backyard, and we really love it.

If you have further questions, leave a comment here, and Ill get back to you.

 

TAGS:backyardflower potspatiopolywood
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Hi I’m Bailey

Hi I’m Bailey

Teaching you how to grow veggies in any space while show you how to live a garden-inspired life.

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Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken 5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼 7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. Life is dang good. Celebrate it. #gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
Shall we try a photo dump? 

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap. 

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon. 

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him. 

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it. 

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much. 

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces! 

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing. 

Life is dang good. Celebrate it. 

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump
baileyvantassel
baileyvantassel
•
Follow

Shall we try a photo dump?

1. Harvesting so much chard right now. Making a spanikopita asap.

2. Got my tomato and pepper starts! They’re going in this week💘 I’ll share more soon.

3. Sweet baby Duke. I want to eat him.

4. The garden is so happy from the rain and this is maybe photo #12,907 that I’ve taken

5. Salmon bites in the air fryer were a hit. Kids even ate this!! Do it.

6. Seeds I started last week💪🏼

7. My son wrote a book for me about gardening and my heart has never been more full. Complete with his own 5 year old “I luv mam” notes that make me cry because I just love it so much.

8. My daughter and I noticed birds trying to pull our trellis string down for their nests so we cut some for them and draped it around. They took all the pieces!

9. Last weekend I went to brunch with friends and it was a bit of an ordeal getting a sitter, taking the baby, etc. But I’m committed to no longer being a martyr when plans change, and was so filled up by my time away from home. Time with girlfriends for a few years took a backseat and I’ve been actively changing that dynamic. Feels amazing.

Life is dang good. Celebrate it.

#gardeninspiration #gardenlife #gardenmama #gardeningwithkids #organic #photodump

8 hours ago
View on Instagram |
1/4
My husband asked me: “so, what do want to do?”

My response: “garden and hang out with my kids.” 

And so, I figured that out. 

Ah, not quite so simple. But really I like to think about what time in my day makes me most happy and how can I make more of that? What do I want to show my kids matters? Better spend time doing that. What do I believe in? Better spend time in that zone too. Perhaps they all collide somehow? They usually do. 

I spent years really searching for my “calling” or purpose … I can say now that the hard part isn’t finding your thing - it’s being the steward of that gift and realizing how to use it. 

This year will be one for the books as I grow my business, our family, and this garden. I’m here for anyone who has questions about making your passion your work too. 

#mompreneur #gardeninglife #sahm #lovewhatyoudo #organicgardening
baileyvantassel
baileyvantassel
•
Follow

My husband asked me: “so, what do want to do?”

My response: “garden and hang out with my kids.”

And so, I figured that out.

Ah, not quite so simple. But really I like to think about what time in my day makes me most happy and how can I make more of that? What do I want to show my kids matters? Better spend time doing that. What do I believe in? Better spend time in that zone too. Perhaps they all collide somehow? They usually do.

I spent years really searching for my “calling” or purpose … I can say now that the hard part isn’t finding your thing – it’s being the steward of that gift and realizing how to use it.

This year will be one for the books as I grow my business, our family, and this garden. I’m here for anyone who has questions about making your passion your work too.

#mompreneur #gardeninglife #sahm #lovewhatyoudo #organicgardening

16 hours ago
View on Instagram |
2/4
And gardening isn’t cheaper 🥴💃🏻. 

It’s funny how things come around …
Raised on a hobby farm where designer jeans were Wranglers, but all I wanted was to dance in the San Francisco ballet and wear high heels. 

Then once I actually wore high heels for work and lived the city life, I longed for the country. 

I’m somewhere in between now which is just how it was supposed to be.
baileyvantassel
baileyvantassel
•
Follow

And gardening isn’t cheaper 🥴💃🏻.

It’s funny how things come around …
Raised on a hobby farm where designer jeans were Wranglers, but all I wanted was to dance in the San Francisco ballet and wear high heels.

Then once I actually wore high heels for work and lived the city life, I longed for the country.

I’m somewhere in between now which is just how it was supposed to be.

6 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/4
Here’s the scoop! I literally had a dream about this and brought it to reality. I want magic in my kids everyday lives. It’s so so fun and they LOVE it. 

What we did is first buy a functional fairy door off Etsy. There are tons is styles and colors. 

Then build a full box without a bottom to attach to the inside of your raised bed. You have to use a jigsaw to cut the hole out, just making sure it fits with the little door. Then you waterproof the box with plastic stapled on all around. 

 E sure to leave room on top of the box for soil to cover it. Ours is 10” deep, wide, and tall (our beds are 18” tall). 

Let the magic unfold 🪄🧚🏼‍♀️
baileyvantassel
baileyvantassel
•
Follow

Here’s the scoop! I literally had a dream about this and brought it to reality. I want magic in my kids everyday lives. It’s so so fun and they LOVE it.

What we did is first buy a functional fairy door off Etsy. There are tons is styles and colors.

Then build a full box without a bottom to attach to the inside of your raised bed. You have to use a jigsaw to cut the hole out, just making sure it fits with the little door. Then you waterproof the box with plastic stapled on all around.

E sure to leave room on top of the box for soil to cover it. Ours is 10” deep, wide, and tall (our beds are 18” tall).

Let the magic unfold 🪄🧚🏼‍♀️

1 week ago
View on Instagram |
4/4

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