Guys, I have been bursting at the seems waiting to tell everyone about my plans for the Spring One Room Challenge (ORC). The ORC hosted by Linda at Calling It Home happens twice a year, and pushes designers & bloggers to transform a space – start to finish – in under 6 weeks. There are 20 official participants each season //see this season’s here //, and then everyone else (myself included) participate as linking participants in a link-up that goes live sometime in the evening during the wee-hours of the morning between Wednesday and Thursday. You should totally go back and look at all the other spaces // here // Not only am I excited to see what the official contestants come up with, but I’m excited to see what the other linking participants can do.
You can view last fall’s One Room Challenge journey // here //
&
Catch-up on the journey for the Spring 2017 One Room Challenge – The Great Outdoors
// Week 1 //
*HomeSense sponsored this post, but all thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make PMQ for two possible.
I had originally planned to do a spectacular patio overhaul and build a deck that would be movable. While I’ll be sharing before photos as we go, you’ll remember what our outdoors like like from this post // here //. It was going to be the Transformer equivalent of wood working, I tell ya! But those plans quickly fell through and then the plan changed 2 or 3 times before settling into what it is now when HomeSense came to the rescue and wanted to partner together for a spring campaign.
In partnership with HomeSense I’ll be upgrading, revamping, breathing fresh life into, and creating 4 distinct outdoor spaces that are renter friendly and colourful & eclectic. Basically, my entire interior shtick, but outdoors!
We’ll be doing our front door & step, back door & step, dining area and then creating a backyard lounge – all in under 6 weeks start to finish!
My plan is to complete one space a week and give you a partial reveal, saving the whole kit and caboodle for the end i.e week 6. I’m also hoping that I can get all my other posts to align so that the remaining posts for the month of April are all ORC related. That way I can break-out a project or DIY into its own post and not slow-down the weekly reveal with things that deserve their own posts.
Without further ado, I give you my four spaces and their inspiration boards!
I few years ago I wrote a post about creating curb appeal in the PMQs or in your rental // here //. While I don’t adhere to those styles anymore, the basic principles remain the same – make your place look nice and the neighbours will have to. After a lengthy back and forth the housing association that manages PMQs, it has been determined that I cannot paint my front and back doors. This causes me great distress as the white currently there looks grubby and does no favours to the brown siding. Ugh.
What I can do though, is add tons of different coloured planters and plants, switch-up the house number, maybe the light, and get myself a fancy doormat. This look is easily achievable with a quick trip to HomeSense, so be sure to follow along with my Instagram stories this weekend as I mill about town finding the bits and bobs for the space.
The next space to get a make-over is going to be the pack porch and step. This area will tie-into our dining & seating areas, so having some flowers, a place to sit if you’re putting on or taking off shoes, and some baskets for easy storage will make the space complete.
I’ll be adding some hanging plants, some colourful planters and a space to hide my beautiful lawn care implements. This entire look can also be shopped and found at your local HomeSense, so when in doubt hit the aisles and grab a cart! I’m hoping to do the front and back doors for under 500$ total, so make sure you track the posts to see if I can do it!
The dining area is going to bring a whole lotta vavavoom! A giant deck would have been lovely, but a 10′ x 10′ pergola with a UV screen will do the trick nicely! The pergola – available at The Home Depot – will create a defined space for entertaining. We’ll be able to sit under there at mid-day, or pull back the screen in the evening for a view of the stars. I couldn’t be more excited for snowbanks to melt so that I can get this set-up and enjoy!
We’re still toying with the idea of re-staining our massive harvest table // here // p.s don’t judge me on those potato camera “progress” shots.
I’ll then accent the space with colourful and outdoor friendly accessories from HomeSense, including pillows and tableware. I am very excited to get started on this part and make my hostess dreams come true.
This last space will be an entirely new one for us. We’ve always dreamed of having a little entertaining area off to the side, or just a space for DH and I to sit and read a book with our morning coffee or watch the sun set. The look of this space will depend entirely on what I can find locally, but between HomeSense and I, I think we’re covered. I know that I want to pull the blues and greens from the other spaces into it, as well as some orange throw pillows.
Basically, this space is the least defined but the most exciting, so stay-tuned for that one!
—–
As always, follow along on Twitter (which I am using more of!), Pinterest (where I’ll be sharing my board soon!) and Instagram stories as I make updates and shopping trips available. We may even have time to build a few things during this ORC, so I’m hoping to get my Ryobi tools out and dust them off!
Which of these spaces are you the most interested in seeing come to life?
We moved here last September and immediately had a deck put on…then it got cold and we haven’t done anything else outside! when my bathroom is done, it’s going to be the first area I tackle. I can’t wait to see this progress…I’m sure it’s going to be colorful and lively like everything you do!!
Thank you Brittany 🙂 I could sorta see your deck through the blinds in your dining room/ work space last fall. I hope we both get finished in time to enjoy them 🙂
this will be a lot of fun! i LOVE the entry the most- those colors!
Week! I know! Those front area colours are kind of what you’ve got going on eh? Maybe I took a bit of inspiration from you 😉
Get out girl! This is AMAZING!!! You are going to rock this. And, outdoors in nb in April is a brave move!! When’s the bbq? 😉
THANK YOU!!!! It’s definitely one of the balzier moves I’ve done, but I think by going week by week, and saving the bigger spaces until closer to the end of the challenge I run less of a risk of snowstorms… but that risk is kinda always present, isn’t it? As long as the weather cooperates for the final reveal I’ll be good to go
I can’t wait to see what you do with your outdoor space!
Thank you Shannon 🙂
I can’t wait to see these spaces, Ariel! Love the plans! I need to make my outdoor areas nicer this year at some point.
Emy! These are going to be so much fun! Now I just gotta get my booty in action and start working on the front door & step area!
This is going to be so fab, Ariel! I love your plans. Way to be ambitious with this 6 week makeover! Love it!
Thanks Tee 🙂 I am definitely airing on the side of ambition, but I think it’s a bold move that’s going to pay off.
hello amazing designs! I am so excited that you are partnering with Homesense! Homegoods is one of my favorite places to shop around here, so I know you’ll be finding some amazing stuff! Can’t wait to see all of these spaces come to life!
Thank you Iris <3 I absolutely love those stores, so being able to partner together was a dream come true!
I have no doubt these outdoor spaces are going to be awesome! Our outdoor living spaces need some major Love right now! i love your colorful eclectic inspiration!!!
I have no doubt either! Thank you for the vote of confidence friend <3
Can’t wait to see all of these! THe mood boards are lovely!
Thank you Christina <3
Very exciting Ariel! and I thought I had my hands full with two rooms! lol. I can’t wait to see what you do with these spaces 🙂
I think we’ve both got our hands full, and we should leave it at that! ha!
One word – love! IN a sea of monochromatic spaces it is lovely to see your splashes of gorgeous colour! xo
OMG – ‘in a sea’ – I was tired…zzz…LOL!
I let ya have it 😉
I knew you would! Next time you’re in my neck of the woods you’ll have to come see it 🙂
Can’t wait to see the finished result! Outdoor spaces can be super tricky, but it seems like you’ve got a great plan in place. So excited for all of the color!
Girl me too! Although not as exiting as doing a nursery for a baby on the way eh?! I hope you’ll circle back to see what it all looks like.
Oh fun! Four different outdoor spaces all getting done. What a great idea for spring! loving all your mood boards 🙂
Thank you! I thought I was pretty smart with that, but then I got a little overwhelmed! HA! But thankfully I’ve got a handle on everything now. Hopefully you pinned some of those mood boards 😉
OK. I am seriously excited about this!
excellent! I am too 😉
oh my goodness, so much fun! Can’t wait to see this!
Thank you! I’m excited to get to the finish line, but slow and steady wins the race, right?
That front door area has to be my favourite, but the pergola is also amazing. Im excited to see where you take this!!!
The pergola! Omg I’m so excited to get the pergola up. That’s our plan for this weekend – power through all the work and then take our time putting the finishing touches.
This is so perfect for spring and summer! i’m loving that coffee table in the backyard lounge. I Can’t wait to see the whole transformation!
I am also loving that coffee table area 😉 I found my 3 piece set the other at HomeSense and am very excited to get it all out there in one piece.
You’re making me so happy it’s finally spring. Love your plans and can’t wait to see how you bring your colourful style outside!
Oh good! It sounds like everyone around the country is trapped in some sort of winter vortex, so hopefully my spring posts will coax it out
Can’t wait to follow along- love all the colour!
Thanks Christine! <3
Wow, what great inspiration boards! I am completely envious, already, of what your outdoor spaces are going to look like!
Well thank you 🙂 I hope you pinned them around for safe keeping.
You’ll have to circle back for the updates and/or the final reveal to see how it all turned-out
Wow!! I can’t wait to see all this come together! THe front door area is the most exciting!
I’m glad you think so! It’s going to have the smallest amount of changes, but make the biggest difference. I’m excited! Make sure you come back to see the final reveal 🙂
This is so exciting! I can’t wait to see all of this take place because we will be working on the exterior this summer after the ORC, I need all the ideas & help I can get.
oh good! Hopefully I give you some good ideas on what to do in your space. I’m sure between my posts and the reveal there will be enough inspiration to go around.
i love your images, can’t wait to see it all come to life. come on spring!
Come on Spring! Heck! Come on summer! Thank you for the kind words 🙂
I Love your plans for the outdoor make over. i am also doing an outdoor sleeping space, we should team up and cross post 🙂
Thank you Jennifer <3 I am pretty excited to put it all in place and enjoy the next few months with such lovely spaces
This is an ambitious undertaking! I’m not worried though, you will rise to the challenge. I can’t wait to see all four space reveals. And huge congrats on partnering with HomeSense! Living the dream!!
It definitely is. But thankfully there aren’t too many build projects, just accessorizing and styling. I think we can do this!
But thank you 😉 Living the dream for sure
HOnestly, there isn’t anything better than getting outside during the warmer months and enjoying a gorgeous outdoor space! Loooooove your moodboards! Can’t wait to see it all done!
Agreed! It’s why I’m putting in all the leg work now before I just want to sit back and relax. If only you could come by for a glass of lemonade once it’s all complete
Cant wait to see how it turns out! I am participating for the first time this year so I am loving following all the other participants!
Well good luck! This is only my second ORC, but you pick it up quickly 🙂
Can’t wait to see it all come together! I love the outdoor dining space design plan. It’s going to be amazing!
I agree! The dining space is going to be amazing, I can’t wait to get it all together. I’ve been planning the lighting scheme for ages now, so I’m hoping to achieve the perfect look out back.
It’ll be super cool to see the different areas come together – I feel like living in Canada has the added weather factor, I would never attempt an outdoor project for the ORC!
I think so too! I’m excited to put it all together over the next few weeks 🙂
It sure does! I was worried we might still have snow, but it looks like we’re done for now… I think?
wow! ariel this is going to be amazing. even your choice to do the outdoor space is to unique and perfect for the spring. can’t wait to see all your plans come to life.
You know it! But thank you 🙂 I like to think that even I can make mother nature play my colour games and will bring me the greenest grass and the most beautiful trees with which to enjoy my outdoor spaces
I’m really looking forward to seeing this all take shape and the final reveal. It all looks beautiful!
Thank you so much Carol! I’m sure you’ll love what I’ve got planned for the backyard 🙂
Can’t wait to see how your new outdoor spaces come together! So smart of you to choose the outdoors, IN perfect timing to throw some fab summer bashes.
I thought I was pretty smart too! Until I started panicking that we might not have all our snow gone in time. Thankfully it all melted this week and now we just have a gross yard that looks like Ypres! Hopefully the green grass makes an appearance before the final week
Love all the happy colors! Can’t wait to follow along!
Thanks Lauren 🙂
Holy ideas!!! I’m stoked to see how this all turns out! our outside is still a blank slate, but maybe someday!!! I’m excited to be following along! Your ideas are great!
Thank you so much! Would you believe me if I told you that this is what my “edited” idea boards looked like?! as in “paired down”? ahaha I’ve got ideas coming-out the wazoo! It’s just a question of time and money and access to a fabulous catalogue of items
I adore the one room challenge, it really forces you to get things done. An outdoor area is the best possible place to do the spring challenge. Can not wait to see what you and homesense come up with.
It sure does! That’s why I love it too!
I want to focus on spending time outside this year (instead of cooped-up in my air conditioned house). I found that the entire summer passed by in the blink of an eye because we didn’t have outdoor spaces to truly enjoy. I’m correcting that this year.