DIY Backyard Playset (Phase One)

Things have been kinda quiet around the blog for the last couple of weeks, mostly because I have been helping my daughter rehabilitate her leg after she got her leg cast off.  She didn't want to use her leg for the first week and then some, and I spent a lot of time trying to get her moving again.

We had wanted to get our kids a backyard playset this year, but after looking around at a lot of different stores and websites, we didn't think our budget could take it.  We decided that to get what we wanted for the price we wanted, we would have to design and build our own playset with lumber we could readily get from the store.  This is called "phase one" because we'd like to add more towers and swings and things like that as our kids get older.

My husband, of our DIY pergola and toddler picnic table fame, had this thing planned and built in a couple of weeks of working on it here and there.  He's amazing!  We used paving stones underneath the support posts to make everything level and stable.  The picnic table fits under there perfectly, and now the kids always have a spot of shade.  From on the platform, there's a great view of the neighborhood and a prime place to blow bubbles.

Next thing on our list: finishing our basement family room.  It's going to be a bit of work to get what we want done down there, but after doing the two bedrooms and bathroom, I think we are up for the challenge.  Of course, I will keep doing my little projects here and there.  I'm hoping to share a couple of those next week, then it's off to Colorado for my family vacation and 10K!

Linked up: Tatertots & Jello

Backyard Pergola

I'm so excited to share a project that we have been working on for about a month now, but that I have wanted for much longer.  Since we live in a new subdivision, there is not a lot of shade to be had outside.  We have planted a lot of trees in our yard, but they are all still pretty tiny.  We have a concrete pad in the backyard, right outside the kitchen and family room.  I didn't take a great before picture, but this kind of gives you the feel of what it was like outside.

Pretty barren.  But still cute kids.  In an effort to create more shade, backyard atmosphere, and possibly privacy, we designed up a heavy-duty pergola.

Each of the 4"x6" posts is set in concrete, and all the 2"x6" beams on the top are notched to fit on the 2"x8" support beams.  The 2"x2" pieces on the very top are screwed down with decking screws.

The curtains are outdoor panels from Pottery Barn that are hung on a galvanized pipe from Home Depot.  They are perfect for shade in the evening.

I love how much of a difference this makes in our backyard.  We almost ran into some trouble on the post closest to the house, but everything worked out perfectly.

We just had to notch a few of the bigger beams to fit under the roof, but the pergola is still tall enough that it doesn't block the porch light.

I am still waiting for some shade cloth to come in the mail, which we are going to hang under the beams on the inside.  We eventually want to have some flowering vines grow over the top, but until them we still want some shade during the day.  Next step for the backyard-- make an outdoor dining table!

UPDATE: We made it in the top 10 of the Porches, Terraces, and Patios Challenge at the CSI Project!

Linked up: Tatertots & Jello