A Summer’s Day to Night in a Multitasking Space
This post was sponsored by Terrain. All photos & opinions are my own.
As is the case in most smaller homes, every space here — whether indoors or outdoors — multitasks. Here’s a glimpse of the most frequently used, and most versatile, spot on our porch:
Above: Reclaimed Work Table with drop-down sides.
By day, this is a potting zone, largely open to the elements, but shaded from the hot sun via the reclaimed pine ceiling (and blissfully protected from the mosquitoes thanks to the screen). Come evening, this is a conversation bar — a spot where we can gather with neighbors and friends to connect and brainstorm without disturbing the kids in their shared bedroom off of the kitchen.
Above: Cotton Tablecloth + Stargazer Strands
As usual, this area is comprised of a mix of thrifted, hand-me-down, and repurposed items. Everything is supported brilliantly by an expandable recycled + reclaimed potting surface from Terrain. The table’s combination of two drop-leaf sides and a back rack with shelf make this design particularly friendly for smaller spaces in need of increased versatility. (It would be a wonderful piece for a deconstructed kitchen.)
Above: Slip-on clogs (made from recycled materials) by an adjustable secondhand stool.
I customized the table by attaching a secondhand tension rod paired below the built-in shelf to create a spot for hanging tools and linens.
Above: Watering Can + Cotton Tablecloth
Above: Garden Carry-All Basket + Snips
I also added a small, thrifted towel rack with repurposed curtain clips to the face of the table for a spot for hanging our family’s gardening and work gloves.
Above: Eartha Pedestal Planter and a thrifted towel bar turned into a rack for my Long Gloves and other garden + work gloves.
The end result is a spot that can easily transform from utilitarian work zone by day to a hosting zone by night, regardless of the weather.
Above: Optic Glassware + Solar Lamp
Here’s to making every space count — inside and out.
Above: A Copper + Brass Tulip Sprinkler watering the upcycled garden space just beyond the porch.
The Gift of Merry Making: Giving & Gathering Thoughtfully
Recycled glassware for a compact home bar.
Note: This blog post was sponsored by Pottery Barn. As always, the words (with the exception of exact product descriptions), opinions and imagery are my own. I want to thank the team at Pottery Barn for not only partnering with my small business for this post, but also for donating boxes of warm, non-toxic, Fair Trade Certified comforters to in-need, transition-age foster youth at The RightWay Foundation.
During the winter holidays, I’m usually one to bundle up zero waste presents such as food/beverage and passes for future adventures as gifts. However, months of physical distancing and cancelled travel plans have entirely reshaped our seasonal rituals this year, as they have for millions of other families.
This season calls for delicate navigation of the often-changing path of gathering and giving safely and wisely upon the persistent backdrop of the pandemic— especially here in a major city. Rather than meeting with family and friends, whether near or far, we’ve made the tough but necessary call to remain sheltered at home for the 9th+ month in order to better protect my “High Risk” pregnancy, and hopefully keep our at-risk loved ones and community members safer.
From time to time, we see our “pod,” which consists of our next door neighbors. When we do so, we meet out in our walkway garden with our masks on (including our 4 year old).
As such, I’ve recently found myself exploring unique items that help us create a special sense of occasion at home during this time— items that will also be perfect to gift for ongoing use once we’re all finally, gloriously reunited.
While I want to craft magical little environments that make everyone feel comfortable and festive, I’m also acknowledging and accepting the reality that I simply don’t have much energy to go all out as I have in years passed. A flexible and compact set-up that allows everyone to serve themselves and spread out has been best for everyone’s sense of ease (and for West’s delighted and highly energetic reaction to greeting rare guests).
For the art of tiny but mighty Merry Making, I’ve been using a drinkware + barware set that’s composed of handmade, recycled glassware, and stainless steel and aluminum accessories from Pottery Barn, and concocting a seasonal pear mocktail (and providing an optional carafe of an adult beverage for anyone who wants a dash of spirit to their drink).
Ingredients:
2 oz organic pear juice
rosemary-infused simple syrup
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 slice of pear per glass
1 sprig of rosemary per glass
ice cubes
Instructions:
Combine juices and syrup in a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake. Strain into rocks glass. Add a dash of sparkling/soda water, and garnish with pear and/or rosemary to taste and aesthetic.
The hammered texture of the glasses and their handblown craftsmanship make the recycled vessels (available as tumblers and stemless wine glasses) reflect the twinkle lights and candles outside our home, and look particularly festive.
The sustainably-sourced, Fair Trade Certified “Bleeker” bar set has multiple pieces from which to pick-and-chose, and the tools have their own slim stand for keeping each piece organized, making it a practical gift set:
When setting up a serve-yourself bar on our miniature stoop, I drop everything into a space-maximizing, hanging format with the help of a simple s-hook and petit basket:
Cheers to safely cherishing our moments together— even if we’re coming by those moments in a different way, for the time being. I’ll always raise my mocktail to celebrating love, and to wish for (and work towards) good health for all.
A note of thanks: Pottery Barn kindly gifted us several boxes of warm, non-toxic, Fair Trade Certified comforters to donate to The RightWay Foundation. This generous contribution gets us closer to achieving our goal of creating a safe, warm home for youth in need this holiday season and through the new year.
