This is the week!! The reveal posts for the spring 2021 One Room Challenge sponsored by Better Homes and Gardens are here! By the Sunday night deadline, everyone will have their final “show and tell” moment for this round of inspiring room makeovers and you can read them all HERE!

The Pocket Patio Project

If you haven’t already been following along, you can catch up here: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7. At the VERY least, be sure to check out the bleak before photos in Week 1 so you can fully appreciate the transformation! We’ve gone from “abandoned parking lot” to “charming oasis” in these last few weeks. Even my son (who you can meet doing the hard labor in Week 3) pronounced it good. I believe his words were, “It has a really nice vibe”, and we were sitting out there catching up on the day at the time.

So…I DID get the decking installed at the 11th hour - Yippee! THANK YOU to Bob and Joel for squeezing me in and to the weather for cooperating! And if you’ve been following along, you know that I DIDN’T get my new doors and trim installed because, delays :( Story of EVERYONE’s life these days, so not a surprise. I’ll update this post when they do make it in. They were the thing that kicked off this whole idea, so they deserve some credit, even belatedly!

I also added this fun little solar fountain to the gardens this week - I love the sound. I found the shallow bowl-on-stand at the local Home Goods and ordered the inexpensive fountain online. I was intending it to be a bird bath, but I think it’s a little small….more of a bird shower! And even if the birds don’t use it, it makes for very pleasant background noise.

The ORC Reveal!

The solar fountain and birdfeeder bring plenty of nature to the pocket patio and lattice planters screen the driveway

The view from the driveway is MUCH improved!

The perfect place for a beverage break

A vintage beat up watering can got a dose of bright color inspired by the magenta impatiens planted in the birch bark bucket. And the 3D textured outdoor pillows are very happy here!

Just a girl and her watering can…under the big green umbrella

The perennial white astilbe we planted bloomed just in time for the ORC finale! I love the lacy white blooms on these.

Lattice planters screen the driveway view and back-to-back half baskets planted with annuals and ivy hang on the lattice for a pretty view from both sides!

A vintage store find, this old child’s wagon got a fresh coat of magenta paint to serve as a platform for flowers, impromptu extra seating, or it can even be pressed into service as a handy coffee table

The newly planted raised garden bed borders the patio. Filled with partial-shade loving perennials on this northeast corner of the house it provides a pretty view from the patio and the office.

A giant wire frame teapot with a coconut fiber liner becomes a planter for annuals on the patio. As an inveterate tea drinker, this is the perfect accessory for my office patio!

So that’s where we are until the office doors come in! Check back for an update here in a few weeks and I’ll add the new pictures!

I’m already loving the new view from my desk and having a great spot to take a break!

I’m linking a few similar items below just in case you are inspired - just click on the images (and the adorable 3D pillows which come in several other designs and colors are on SALE right now for half price!!). Please note: this post contains affiliate links meaning I may make a small commission on any purchases at no extra cost to you!

And I’m thinking about the fall One Room Challenge and plotting what new area in my house will get a makeover…there are SO many possibilities…