Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Decorating a garden gate

Hello everyone! Benjamin got his first library card last week, so we've been having lots of fun going to the library and checking out books.

Book
I have a weakness for gardening and decorating books and Outdoor Companion by Mary Engelbreit is one of my favorites.

Gate
Isn't this a sweet garden gate?

Gate
I also like this one...

Gate
...and especially this one!

Gate
I starting thinking about my poor pitiful gate. :0) Until we get our fence replaced in a few years, I'm not able to do anything about the wood or color. I decided to look around the garage and yard to see if I had anything to make it a little more welcoming.

Flowers
I started with this old planter box that my mom gave me and I filled with with impatiens.

Gate
I got this garden lantern at a yardsale a few years ago.

Wreath
This was my wreath from last summer. I hung it on the front of the gate.

Sign
I hung this little sign in the center.

Gate
Here is the "after" picture. We've had a few rainstorms and everything has survived just fine. Thank you for taking a look!

49 comments:

Lora @ my blessed life said...

Your gate looks so pretty! This reminds me that I need to dress-up my gate a with a little something this year.

{oc cottage} said...

Too cute! How can you go wrong with Mary E. as an inspiration!

M

Just Mom said...

Beautiful! Our garden gate is about hip high, as is the picket fence it's attached to. I would love to one day get a "real" gate.

Anonymous said...

You turned something drab into something rustic, I like it!!! See nothing wrong with making do with what you already have, Good job

Michelle said...

Beautiful! You have such a knack for dressing things up. I love it!
Thanks for sharing!
Michelle

Anonymous said...

Your gate is lovely! I have a vintage gate my sister bought me. It is on a cedar arbor my husband built me from post my grandfather cut for me. But it is in the middle of the yard and not attached to a fence!

rohanknitter said...

That really looks adorable!

Quinne said...

Hi Kelli :) I like your "old gate" - so much character and I'd guess lots of good stories, too. You have a lovely gift of adding touches, and these are wonderful. Love, Q

The Feathered Nest said...

What a great idea Kelli! I love all the sweet touches you've added ~ isn't it amazing how just a few things can change the whole feel? I found my Victoria at my Publix grocery store and book stores like Barnes & Nobel or Books-A-Million might have it too!! It's wonderful, and I didn't even show that one!! xxoo, Dawn

Adrienne said...

Kelli - I love what you did with your gate. Mine looks similar to yours and you have given me inspiration to make my gate a welcoming place. Thanks for sharing it with us. ~Adrienne~

Rose of Sharon said...

I have that book! I love Mary E., she has such a knack for decorating! Very inspiring. I love those garden gates too.

Hugs, Sharon

Anonymous said...

I stopped by cause you left a note at my blog. It is beautiful here. I added you to my blogroll. I like Mary Englebreit too. Looks like we have lots more in common also. I've have to take a look around. I husband is going to build a picket fence for me and the gate will be a very important part.

Thanks for coming by and I look forward to seeing your blog.

Cindy said...

I have that book and I LOVE it! I've had it for years and I still look through it every now and then. It's sitting on my coffee table!

Anonymous said...

beautiful! I do not know how you do it! If I get my beds made, laundry done and bathrooms scrubbed I feel that I have accomplished much! I wold love to garden, decorate, etc. and love to see what you are doing but I have time management issues and those things do not seem to get done!

Anonymous said...

You did a great job. I think everyone loves Mary Engelbreit.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!! Your's is pretty enough to be in the ME book as well. :-)

~~Anne
www.backyardtreasures.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

The gate looks so pretty. I love how you take what you have an make something great from it.
Maybe you you can get a book on the Amish for the children and have alittle lesson and let them help you make the pie. You would all love that im sure.

Melissa E. said...

Oh! I love it! It was very ordinary at first, I agree, but now it could be in a magazine! Definitely worth your efforts!

Anonymous said...

That looks so pretty, great job !! I love the little planter and the lantern.
We are busy in the garden too. I have placed some pictures on my website ; )
Have a great day !!

dot said...

I love the look of old wood and that gate is beautiful! The things you added go just perfect with it.

Wanita said...

Your gate looks very pretty and inviting. Thank you for sharing another great idea.

Blessings, Wanita

Jennifer Hoots said...

Making do is the name of the game! Looks fantastic.
Jenn

Karen said...

It "prettied up" very nicely!! Love using things already on hand! You're very talented with that!

Jen said...

We have been looking for a black iron gate for the front courtyard...we may have to have one made which is not what I want to do. I love your photos.

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

Thank you for sharing! I love your blog. I ave just started mine and am not up to speed as we just had a wedding but I guess you have to start somewhere. May I add a link to your blog from mine? hugs, Linda

Hannah said...

It is so beautiful!

Mississippi Songbird said...

That wreath is gorgeous... Sounds like a fuin project and I know you will love it when it complete. I love looking at decorating books too. Have a great week...

LBP said...

What a transformation! It's very pretty. Good ideas I may have to borrow.

Blessings

Linda

Nancy M. said...

It looks great! How creative you are! I too enjoy Mary E. books.

Tammy said...

Lovely garden gate! I would love to have one someday! :)

Charlotte said...

It's amazing how you dressed that area up. Now the gate looks fine.

Baba said...

Hi Kelli, You have done a great job with restoring the look of your gate..it looks so springtime now...I need to learn lessons from you on how to decorate..thanks for sharing..

Monica said...

I love it! I just wish I had a gate to decorate too!

Simply Heart And Home said...

I too love to decorate our garden gates. I have a variety of wreathes that stand the test of time and weather that I interchange throughout the seasons.

I love the lantern that you placed near your gate.

Jodi said...

Just looking at your pictures (before I read your words) I thought how much more welcoming your decorated gate looked. I guess you succeeded at what you set out to do! ;o)

.. said...

Hi Kelli, Your gate looks great! I love that lantern that you put next to it. The other day I went to the library to check out a few cooking books. HAve a great day Kelli.

Anonymous said...

How sweet! Mary Engelbreit's designs are lovely, and so is your gate!

nancy said...

O boy! It really doesn't take much to spruce things up if you have an eye like yours, Kelli. Great job.
Nancy

Unknown said...

Beautiful! I have that same book! Isn't Mary Englebreit so wonderful and creative!! Do you subscribe to her magazine? I just love it! Sorry I haven't been around for the past few days. Hope things are going well for you. Have a great night!

TJ said...

That made such a big improvement! Very nice!

I will try to get some photos of my truly small bleeding hearts for Show and Tell. They are probably smaller than yours. I still have no idea why the one is so big.

Have a wonderful day!
TJ

Sandra said...

Love it, it looks gorgeous :) Of course how can you ever go wrong with Mary Engelbreit, she's just amazing.

Hugs,
Sandra

ohiofarmgirl said...

I think it looks wonderful...like welcome to our home. We too are replacing the fence at our home...stop by and get a look at our fence and choice of color. Dianntha

Kindra-At Home With K said...

I think your gate looks so beautiful. I just love your ideas!

Unknown said...

Kelli, you now have me thinking of gates. We really need a couple of new ones.

God bless.

GranthamLynn said...

I love that book too. And ended up giving the library a few extra books for keeping it over due. Don't tell! But I love your gate. What a beautiful job you did. And thrifty as well. Your an inspiration! Thanks for sharing.

Kelly said...

It looks perfect, but you could make anything look wonderful!!!!!

Love,
kelly

Shop girl said...

Thank you for coming by....I am a ME girl.
I love the gate theme, and you dressed yours so well. This was food for thought for our new garden gate, I will have to put on my thinking cap and go for something fun.
Your food looks so good. A friend of mine has said I make a very sinful cake, yours brought that to mind...
Hugs, Mary
I just let my cat in...the moon is so pretty.

Cris said...

Oh Kelli, I like your gate and the rustic color is what makes it beautiful!

Candy said...

I have this book and look, dream, often. I too, love the rustic gate with old wooden wagon.
Enjoying the tour of your home. And the fairy garden...I just stared yesterday collecting to do one. How ironic to find you today.
Candy