Page 53 - ESCARPMENT MAGAZINE | Spring 2013

As much as spring is a time to refresh ourselves after a long winter, it is also a time of renewal. This is often re-
flected in small changes we make within our living space, switching out accessories and decorations to match
the new season. So while we’re dragging out the patio furniture, why not take the opportunity the spring affords
to refresh or rejuvenate our outdoor space?
Most designers recommend thinking of your outdoor space as an extension of the indoors. The backyard is
part of your home and should be just as comfortable. Envisioning the deck as an outdoor room, however, might
be beyond the means of some people and may even discourage others from undertaking even a small rejuve-
nation project. Rather, it might be best to think of how the space will be used and to be realistic about exactly
how much space is available.
Do you do a lot of entertaining? Will be the space be used by kids? What are the climate and environment
like? And howmuch time are you willing to commit to upkeep? These are important questions to consider before
any outlay of money, no matter how little, takes place. What follows are some sug-
gestions for relatively inexpensive ways to rejuvenate your outdoor space.
Perhaps a bit ironically, antiques can be a great way to freshen up a backyard.
The Georgian Triangle boasts a multitude of antique shops and flea markets where
interesting and unique decorative pieces can be found If the antiques will be used
as decoration, look for items with strong lines and circular designs. Bits of old farm
equipment, wheels and cogs, will catch the eye and have a meditative effect. If
you’re looking for something more practical, old furniture can be refinished--if it’s
sturdy it should still function as a table or chair.
Along this same line of reasoning, repurposing or recycling materials for
use as patio furniture and decoration may be worth consideration. For
instance, with a bit of work, tree stumps can be transformed into tables,
and basket containers can simply be turned over and used as stools. A
bench can be made from empty wine bottles by placing them in wire
crates and laying pillows on top. A shoe hanger makes a charming ver-
tical garden and fulfills two functions serving as a decorative element
and dividing the space. Moreover, a hanging garden can provide es-
sential greenery without taking up a lot of room, especially if your space
is limited. Old gutters can also serve as planting boxes and may be
braced against a wall using brackets. Additional holes will likely need
to be drilled into the gutters to allow for drainage--the shoe hanger
should drain naturally through the fabric. *
Spring 2013 Escarpment Magazine 53