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texashottie

Opinions on my outdoor patio cushions (pics) please!

17 years ago

Okay, here are some pics of my patio. It's really small---so I ended up pushing two bistro tables together and using the fireplace hearth as bench seating in order to create more room. (I can remove a table when it's just DH and I)

And I love my dog! LOL! I know it's probably a horrible design faux pas to have a gargantuous doghouse with his name emblazoned right outside my back windows, but... he likes it! ;) (He's an indoor-outdoor guy btw)

So to the crux of my post: I am making my own outdoor cushions and I'm having serious second thoughts about my choice. I thought that I would use some green to bring in some color but now I'm thinking these (unfinished!) box-cushions with that green are a bit too contemporary. The patio with all the stone is all muted and the green looks out of place to me.... you too?

Also, I'm scared of getting locked into a color. I started looking online at some cute lanterns to hang out there and nothing seemed to match with the green!

My next thought was to rework/redo these cushions in the cream color and just do a single seam all the way around them (not the box cushion) and add some welting. Maybe a couple of buttons and ties in the back. It would take the "puff" down on them too.

Then I thought maybe do black welting on the cream, black ties, and black buttons?

TIA!

{{!gwi}}

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Also if anyone has any cool ideas for decorating with lighting, I'm open to options. The tables are too small to put anything on, but I thought of hanging a set of 3 lanterns or pendants (with candles) at varying heights over the hearth....? (The fan is in the way and wouldn't be centered with the hearth though.... but much needed during summer in Texas!)

{{!gwi}}

Comments (41)

  • 17 years ago

    Two thoughts off the top of my head:

    first impression: the pillows are too tall (thick) for the chairs. Why not something skinnier and also not green. I agree the green doesn't do it for me either. How about something with red in it maybe?

    Second off the top of my head, it will be hard to sit on on the ledge if the fireplace is going. I assume you'll want to entertain with it on, which leaves your guest with their backs to a lit fire.

  • 17 years ago

    Yeah, I'm not feelin' the green much either. I know there's already a good deal of pattern, what with your brick fireplace and stone patio, but I'm envisioning cushions in a deep-toned tropical floral print, maybe a little muted so as not to be too garish. Russet reds, deep greens and sagey greens and golden yellows in the design, perhaps?

  • 17 years ago

    I have been on the hunt for a black iron set similar to yous for our outdoor patio, although its not covered. Is that the set from Costco? VERY cute! I love the chairs, but I wanted a bigger round table. Home depot has a 44" round. I had seen chairs similar to these with a very plain simple muslin colored cushion. It was very frenchy chic. My other thought was a great black and white damask print I had seen at Gardenridge. They had several styles of chair pads. The black and white would look great with the iron. Alternatively, you could do the band around the cushion with the black white print and the cushion top and bottom in the cream. In the picture I've linked to below is the cushion I am referring to. It is in the lower right of all the cushions. See the black/white damask print in the middle?

    Here is a link that might be useful: gardenridge cushions

  • 17 years ago

    These aren't exactly what's in my head, but something along these lines ...

    {{!gwi}}

    {{!gwi}}

    I think a little punch of color would be nice in your space -- although I'm also envisioning the black & white damask cushions mentioned above, and that'd be cool as well.

  • 17 years ago

    kmcg85 - I just bought that table from Sam's Club - $39.95!! (It is still in the car!!) The chairs wouldn't fit in the car & they only had 1 table - so I bought the tabble & will go back for the chairs. They also had bar height.
    Txhottie - I think the cushions are too huge for the seats. They look overwhelming.They need to be a bit smaller & definitely not as thick. Perhaps use those cushions on the hearth. I do not like the 2 tables pushed together. You have a very beautiful and inviting outdoor area that can handle 2 separate tables & chairs. I would only push them together covered with a table cloth to seat more people for a dinner. Otherwise you are crowding the fireplace- which is very nice.
    I actually like the green - but not the two tone - for the chairs. I agree to not make them boxed. Easier also!!!

  • 17 years ago

    I do like the idea of the cream pillows and contrasting details. (I'd probably try a white that's darker/warmer than the top of the green cushions). Beautiful and elegant monochromatic coloring with the stone, color or lush green with some potted plants or something.

    I'm thinking you do have room to move the table away from the fp. Forward, off to the side, or diagonal at the outside corner. Actually, it would be nice to move the table area to the yard with an umbrella, and just have some casual lounging pieces and a 'coffee' table under cover. But, there's probably good reason you wouldn't want to do that! : )

  • 17 years ago

    I dont think the green looks bad. I am surprise you dont think stuff will match. A popular theme is the pineapple/palm tree themes which all have that sage/celery green look to the accessories. They do look quite comfy....very thick....maybe too thick. If they were not so thick, the green wouldnt be so obvious. Just an idea. BTW lovely patio, love the stone floor! What a great idea to use the hearth as a bench.

  • 17 years ago

    I love the fabric Auntjen picked out. I like the idea of a print to be a bit rugged with outdoor use, food, muddy dogs, etc.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Variety of tropical print outdoor fabrics

  • 17 years ago

    I like the green a lot- apple green is THE color this year and it looks great. I do not like two tables pushed together, however. I would either cover them with a tablecloth or get a different table.
    And you need pots and plants! In abundance or at least, a couple bigs ones.

  • 17 years ago

    Like Dgmarie, my immediate reaction was the seat cushions are too thick for the application. 2 or 3" foam will probably give a more pleasing proportion to the cushions relative to the chair.

    I like the green very much, but I'd have used the green as the TOP of the cushion as well as the cording, with the cream for the boxing.

  • 17 years ago

    Thanks, everyone! That's what I needed to hear!!

    I did get the tables from Costco and the chairs. There's not much room for the tables---the house juts out evenly with the single pillar that you're seeing in one of the last pics. It makes a "U" shape around the patio. It really leaves *no* room to comfortably walk around and out onto the patio. Also, I push my big parrot cage out there so he can enjoy the outdoors--no way that would fit too!

    I really couldn't find a single table that was the appropriate length and width to fit that space using the hearth. On top of that, most table's legs hit the hearth, making it so someone couldn't slide in and out from the hearth without climbing over the legs...

    Yeah, I agree those cushions are too puffy.

    To be honest, I'm not a tropical person. I'm not much into the tropical prints, though I agree those muted tones would go much better. I'm more of a Paris-girl. ;)

    Yes, Squirrel, I need to get my potted plants on the patio, etc. It does look nekkid. :)

    I do like the idea of table cloths to hide all the legs going on...

    Oh, and the damask is nice, I like that pattern A LOT. But my neighbor has that same pillow and IMHO, the white is too stark for the muted tones (she has brick/stone too). Like someone mentioned, my cream is probably too stark as well.

    Thanks everyone!

  • 17 years ago

    I like the green; it picks up your lawn. I agree that the cushions are too thick. Also, what do you think of this fabric for your area? It picks up some of the masonry colors, as well as the lawn.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Duralee Outdoor

  • 17 years ago

    Auntjen - Those are my cushions for my outdoor wicker furniture. Boy did it fade last summer! I am going to turn the cushions around for this coming season, and then have to recover for the next. :(

  • 17 years ago

    I take it back--I moved my table and chairs around and I do have room to center it on the patio with comfortable clearance!

    KD, I like your choice and I think it blends well! I'll have to munch on it because that's a different design direction than I was thinking...

    Part of me wants to keep it with the same colors as my home since this patio is outside a bank of windows... I'm leaning towards the plain cream...

  • 17 years ago

    Although I love the cream, remember that it will get dirty.

  • 17 years ago

    My decorating sense is not that good, but I could totally see some black and white toile out there. I love the green as an accent colour.

    Carrie

    Here is a link that might be useful: Look closely - there's even a dog there!

  • 17 years ago

    I MISS GARDEN RIDGE!!!!!!!!1

  • 17 years ago

    We have had a Sunbrella Dupione in a dark solid on several cushions on the veranda for two summers and it has held up miraculously well, given Central Texas sunlight. Perhaps this website will offer ideas, if you decide not to use what you already have. Remember, though, the French had colonies, too, and they incorporated some tropical brights. There are some subtle jacquard stripes in this collection, too.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Any ideas here?

  • 17 years ago

    And a little something for Duke:

  • 17 years ago

    I would suggest black and white stripes !!!!!!

  • 17 years ago

    I like green outside, but prefer a deeper green. The color you currently have -- is all wrong :(
    I do not like the light tops on the cushions. It looks like you had to replace the tops cause they were dirty.

    Thinner cushions in either deep green or ming red would look great. The florals Aunt jen posted are lovely as well, and since your top is covered, the elements won't have any effect on the fabric.

    Gorgeous outdoor space BTW, Colorful cushions will kick it up a notch for sure!

    I will be re-doing my cushions this year, and Sunbrella is the way to go. I've had mine for several years, and the only reason I have to replace them is because the squirrels chewed some edges apart looking for nesting material.
    Sunbrella is tough, does not fade and stains do not penetrate...they clean up beautifully.
    Joann

  • 17 years ago

    FWIW the white on the damask cushion is an offwhite creamy color. I bought them for my white wicker on my porch and took them back because the white on the cushion was darker than the white wicker. It made the cushion look dirty. In the store it was on a black wicker set and it looked great! I think the cushions you want are "bistro" cushions. I saw a set in Homegoods.

  • 17 years ago

    Sunbrella has different lines of upholstery fabrics that are designed for the harsh outdoor environment. Some have less of a harsh hand or feel and a variety of prints and solids. I would be surprised if you could not find something that appeals to your taste and coordinates with your interior. Look at sailrite.com for some ideas. I have no connection to the company, other than being a happy customer.

  • 17 years ago

    Wow, thanks y'all!!

    Carrie, I looove toile! However, I have not come across outdoor fabric that is toile yet. I actually have it in my breakfast nook that looks out to that patio. :)

    KD, I think Duke would like that dog fabric! Actually, the cream fabric I used for my cushion was Sunbrella fabric. I think I'll go with it again.

    Mitch, is that your patio?? I love it! I do like the stripes too!!

    KMC, thanks for posting back again. I actually came across those cushions you were talking about today. They are very pretty and they are more of a cream. I still think they may be too bright for my patio---the cream fabric I have on my cushions come off much brighter than the color really is out there and it's darker than that damask you're referencing.

    MRiverGirl, thanks for your link! I checked them out--great site. They have good prices too!! Joann.com has a sale that beats them out by a few cents, but if that's what they are normally priced at, that's awesome!

    I think I'm going to go with a plain beigey-cream and black trim. Then I will try to add my punch with greenery, etc and black wire hanging planters. It will coordinate with my interior better, too. (Sorry to disappoint---I'm just not a gung-ho pattern-person)

    I tried to match my beige up with the stone and the grout. FYI, I learned from my first go-around getting fabric that it's cheaper to order it on Joann.com than the Joann store. (When I brought that to their attention, they adjusted my price but said they were really two different entities.)

  • 17 years ago

    I just wanted to give an update on my cushions and to thank all of those who posted ideas and gave me feedback! I abandoned my beige ideas and sort of compiled the feedback that y'all gave me here and came up with something I'm happy with.

    Being that I'm a Paris-girl, I decided to go with it. I bought some ultra cheap decor fabric from a discounted warehouse and whipped up these cushions. I sprayed them with Scotchguard and we'll see what happens to them. If they last a year, I'm happy. :)

    I just had company visit for 5 days and we had fun sitting out here. :) Thanks, everyone!!

    {{!gwi}}

    {{!gwi}}

    {{!gwi}}

  • 17 years ago

    Very nice! I love the casual mix. The size looks great for the chairs now. You sew beautifully : )

  • 17 years ago

    Just for fun, this is what I did with my table:

  • 17 years ago

    What a clever idea to go with the unmatched cushions that all go together. Well done!

  • 17 years ago

    I love the b/w cushions! They look so great--I have the same chairs from Costco and now may have to try making cushions--although mine are out under the trees, so might have to have Sunbrella for them. Thanks for showing your beautiful finished ones! I especially love the big button tufted accents with the cording!

    And punamytsike, would love to see a close up of your table and how you did the top?

  • 17 years ago

    texashottie, love your cushions. This B/W look is very classy.

    sujafr, I attached a cement board with screws to the table (actually my DH did) and then I used my leftover glass mosaic tile to tile the chess board design on it. As you see, the size was perfect and I did not have to cut any tiles except couple on the curved corners.

    and yes, we do play chess on it :) In fact, we had a family tournament last Xmas (I made 2 tables, the other one is identical but has red/black chess part, rather than yellow/black as here, left over tile you know) and my DH still beat all his sons, thanks to my younger one finishing his last came with a tie with one of his brothers :)

  • 17 years ago

    Really like that, punamy. So what did you do around the edges? It looks like the original table edging.

  • 17 years ago

    Wow, wish I could just whip up cushions like that:) The size looks so much better than the super thick style you originally started with. Great job.

  • 17 years ago

    squirrelheaven, it is the original edge. The little bit of height that the cement board and tile added was not too much, so the grout was all that was needed to finish and bring it to the edge. It looks quit nice in real life also :)

  • 17 years ago

    Yay texashottie! They look great! I really do think the B/W was the way to go! Love the mix of fabric and the buttons!

  • 17 years ago

    Are you taking orders? I'll take a set. Those are awesome!

  • 17 years ago

    Very nice!

  • 17 years ago

    Thanks for the compliments!! KMC, I sure appreciate your posts! I'm glad you checked back! :)

    Punamy, your table is awesome!! I love your creativity! (That's why I love this forum!) Very inspiring!

  • 17 years ago

    The black & white fabric looks terrific against the black chairs. And I love your bow ties on the back. Very nice job you did on the cushions!

  • 17 years ago

    punamy--thanks for the close-up and how-to! looks just as good up close as from afar. I'll definitely have to add that to the to-do list.

    Texashottie, your cushions are even cuter looking at them again! Great looking area and the plants really bring in life there.

  • 17 years ago

    Those black and white cushions are precious. I too wish I could whip up a couple of cushions when I needed them. No sewing talent at all!!

  • 17 years ago

    They look great. I like the mixes of black.
    Joann