Our House… Evening Under the Pergola
We have several porches at ‘Our House’. One of those porches is more like a patio, I’m not sure what designates the difference, but whatever you want to call it, ours has a pergola on it.
My husband and I built it ourselves. The columns are ‘load bearing’ fiberglass type material. We got them from Menard’s. They’re lightweight, but durable, and cheaper than wood ones, (which wouldn’t have been a good choice directly on the concrete slab anyway) These columns are also paintable, so I painted them the color of our trim on ‘Our House’.
This porch faces South. Life here without the pergola for shade, was a little too warm in the summer sun, so I got designing and came up with this.
All the wood on top of the pillars is cedar. I designed the fancy scroll-y ends and then just cut it out with a hand held jigsaw.
The perennial ivy stuff (I don’t know what it’s called… feel free to comment and let me know if you know. It turns brilliant red in the fall, and gets little berries too) grows really well on it, making it comfortable to sit and enjoy the front garden.
We live in NW Wisconsin and this ivy is one of the ‘late bloomers’ so to speak. Its leaf buds are just starting to open. But when they do fully open, the roof is totally shaded from the hot summer sun. Right now, on cool Spring days, it’s nice to have the warmth of the sun, so the late ivy is perfect.
Hanging from one of the rafters of the pergola is this chandy I ‘reinvented’ from a candelabra that I bought so, so many years ago at 90% discount from Pier 1. It’s metal and was dark, dark green and maroon. The roses are meant to hold candles, and did when it was inside.
I decided to freshen it up a little bit though, so I quickly just spray painted primer on it then hit it with green spray paint and then quickly sprayed mostly just the roses aqua. It’s not perfect, and I for sure didn’t want it to be. I like how a little of the white primer still shows.
The ‘crystals’ are actually made out of Lucite or plastic or something non-breakable. I bought a couple bags of them from Michaels, and ‘strung’ them on thin wire, twisting them to stay spaced, then just hung the ‘crystal’ chain around the chandy.
It’s amazing how those sparkles add life in the day and evening to it.
For the light part, I have a solar powered strand of little lights hung around it too. No electric or candle fire, just let the sun do the work.
It’s such a pretty view from our living room window with the sun setting in the evening sky and the crystals sparkling on the chandy under the pergola.
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Posted on May 15, 2012, in DIY - Crafts - Floral, Light Fixtures, Living Room, Our House, Paint Treatments, Porch and Entry, Re-purposing, Uncategorized and tagged candlelier, chandelier, chandy, decorate with a little bit, garden, ivy, Michael's, patio, pergola, Pier 1, porch, shade, sun. Bookmark the permalink. 41 Comments.
Love your pergola! You did a fantastic job designing and cutting out the boards on top. We thought about doing a pergola because I love the look of them, but ended up with a covered porch with skylights. When we had it put in, I asked if they had nicer comments and they didn’t. I’m wondering if I could get some kind of columns like you have and wrap my thin aluminum colums with it.
I was just telling the hubs that I want a pergola! It really helps to make the outdoor space more cozy!
And that chandelier is fabulous!
Kelly
Awesome job…. beautiful, and that chandelier = love!!!
Wow! Chandy out in the pergola is absolutely awesome. The turqouise touch of it makes the ambiance so luxurious.
Job well done.
Greetings,
/CC
Your pergola is perfect! I hope one day we are able to build one across the front porch – it receives Southern exposure and is so very hot! Love your design and that chandelier – amazing. I appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy
IMPRESSIVE! You did an amazing job with the pergola, plants, chandy and decor! What a beautiful spot to enjoy the summer!
Oh what a lovely spot. Love the columns, and the chandy is perfect. Thanks for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty
love your pergola! I like the scrolly pieces on the ends, great touch!
that chandy is too cute!
gail
Any post that starts with ‘we have a lot of porches on our house’ makes me jealous. And this porch area is superb!
Your pergola is gorgeous! What a beautiful place to spend your time…I don’t know that I would ever want to go inside with a space like that!
This is great! It looks very nice and cool out there and I love the picture of the crystals at night!!
What a beautiful outdoor space – I wish I had this
)
Thanks for sharing this week – I always enjoy reading your posts!
Stacey of Embracing Change
Thank you Stacey, so sweet
Beautiful pergola. Love your chandy. What a beautiful place to spend the evenings. Visiting form It’s Overflowing and am a new follower.
Gorgeous pergola! You did an beautiful job. It is so pretty as is your yard too. Love the beaded chandy as well!
I’m so jealous, I want a pergola so bad on my back patio. Yours is beautiful!!
Beautiful! and I love your Chandy! Visiting from Debbiedoo’s Newbie party!
would love to have something similar for our house! Great job! looks awesome
THIS IS BEAUTIFUL! I have been thinking about something like this for our deck and couldnt find a picture to show my hubby what I was talking about…then I was this! Exactly what I am thinking for us! Great job!
great! I hope it helps!
You and your husband did a wonderful job! And I love love love your chandler it is gorgeous! Thanks so much for Sharing at Sunday round up. Have a great week!
Kayla
Aw… thanks
I don’t have one, so I particularly love seeing whst others have done. Your patio looks idyllic.
Came here by way of Nifty Thrift Sunday.
Liz
Your Pergola, your reinvented Tole Chandie, it’s all so Enchanting! What a peaceful and serene place to spend the day.
Blessings from the Arizona Desert… Dawn… The Bohemian
Love your outdoor space! We are trying to decide what we want to do with ours right now.
Oh how pretty! Must be so nice to just relax under the pergola or have a meal or two…Christine
I love outdoor spaces. I could spend lots of time under your pergola. I’ve been seeing lots of pergolas going up around my neighborhood. I plan on going on a little walk to get a closer peek. Thanks for sharing!
Sharon @ mrs. hines class
I can just imagine relaxing on summer evenings by candlelight! So beautiful!
your back patio w/the pergola is so dreamy! xoox, tracie
Beautiful. I have a pergola too and love mine.
You’ve created such a cozy, beautiful place to kick back and watch the sun set! You did an amazing job with that sweet chandy, too!
xoxo laurie
I love it! We will be putting in a patio in the new house so a pergola would be perfect there too. Love your design. XO, Pinky
What a wonderful place to spend time at! The pergola is the crowning touch!
Absolutely beautiful.
Just beautiful. It must so relaxing sitting out there with iced tea ad just taking a break.
Cynthia
G O R G E O U S ! ! I want one!!! Can you pop by some weekend and help me put it together?? Please???
Great job!
always love waking up to find an update in my email…love the patio and pergola…being in the yard is my favourite place…beautiful job
Yay!! Thank you for featuring the pergola!
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