Sunday Funday!

Create An Outdoor Oasis for Less Than $1,000

A concrete patio is turned into a Mexican-themed outdoor room.

BeforeThis small patch of concrete is an eyesore that needs some design attention.

After
Vivid color and creative seating make this patio inviting, exciting and livable.

Plants and Pottery - $290

• A collection of terra-cotta pots hold various cacti. Sheinkopf enhances a pair of pots with an aged finish made of stain, varnish and paint thinner. Turpentine is splashed on over the finish to give it an aged look. (pots and plants: Mainly Seconds; pot: Crate & Barrel - 05155150875549; chimnea and outdoor Pots: Pottery Etc.)

Accessories - $261

• Create a shade awning out of a drop cloth. After cutting it in half  attach the ends to the house and lets one curtain fall down the side of the house to hide the meter. The other half is stretched out over the patio and secured via grommets to a pair of poles anchored in pots with concrete.

• A custom fountain becomes the focal point in the area. Make the piece out of lightweight fiberboard, which is painted with rubber paint and coverd with copper foil. Stack the pieces so that when the water cascades down the sides it will create a ripple effect. The base is lined with slate. After hooking up the irrigation system, spray an aging patina on the copper to tone down the shine.

• Use bamboo thatching on the wrought-iron fence to give the space more privacy. A pathway to the patio is defined with white landscaping rocks.

Furniture - $243

• The low concrete wall is made functional for seating and stepping with a two-level redwood bench.

• A new table and a pair of chairs provide a spot for dining. Pillows in striped outdoor fabric add comfort to the chairs and bench. (fabric used for cushions: Jo-Ann Fabrics - 6647416/Sage/Terracotta/Sand/Outdoor Fabric; outdoor table: Target - 009010904)Incidentals - $113

Paint and Supplies - $86

• The concrete is painted turquoise and the half-wall is painted a terra-cotta color. (paint: Behr - Greensleeves - 490D-7; Mojave Sunset - 220D-7)

Project Total - $993