During 4th of july weekend my parents went away to Block Island, leaving me free reign over their territories and the chance to make a birthday surprise makeover on the patio, for my step mom. We started the project together by putting in the trellis and planting ivy in the planter boxes, which used to be a hideous yellow. I found some old cans of Ralph Lauren paint to dress up the planter boxes. The neighbor later informed me that this paint was very costly, ops. I think it looks really good, I broke my neck making that faux tile. I needed some way to obscure the view of the parking lot, a free way. So I started collecting palettes. The patio requires a few more for full affect, but they hold pots of ivy and candles nicely, and the ivy should continue growing and envelope the palettes. Future improvements may include enormous grasses or trees, a fountain: (i'm excited about that one) and maybe a panel of trellis to fill in the opening from the neighbors patio to this one.
