Young House Love

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Adding Bright Red Adirondack Chairs To Our Side Patio

Enough about our colorful stools…

StoolPaint Detail Two Backs

…and on to our newest set of colorful chairs. Oh yes, we’re officially on a bold-colored seating kick. Remember we already have these $35 thrift store guys that we gussied up with green paint and fresh upholstery in the office?

Chair Done5

And this zero dolla (holla!) hand-me-down highchair for Clara that we happied up with some sunny yellow paint?

High Chair Done4

Apparently it’s nothing but the best brightest for our buns. And this might be kind of shocker, but this time… we’ve gone red!

Adirondack After Straight On

A pretty tomato red, to be exact. And it looks pretty darn tasty with the blue hydrangeas around the paver patio that we DIYed last May.

When we shared the big patio reveal pics last spring, we mentioned that we needed some nice solid long-lasting patio furniture, but would be saving our pennies for a while. So after 13 months of squirreling away $20 a month toward the cause, we finally had enough in our little patio-furniture savings jar to get two of these babies!

Adirondack After Single Angle

To refresh your memory, these old folding chairs from Ikea used to be parked there:

Adirondak 1 Before Burger

Which weren’t half bad looking… until you got a little closer.

Adirondack 2 Stains

That shot above doesn’t even do justice to the “hard life” that these old wood folding chairs now exude when you get a little closer. They’re peeling, cracking, creaky, and just generally kinda sad looking. We got two of them from Ikea for $100 over five years ago, and they were great in our former house’s sunroom for around four years.

Adirondack 1 5 In Old Sunroom

But after we moved and stuck them outside in the elements, even though they were made for outdoor use, they weren’t looking nearly as hot anymore. Probably because they weren’t covered with any protectant (like weather resistant oil/stain/sealer/etc). But it’s ok. They were honestly not the most comfortable things anyway, and we’ve always had a full-blown crush on colorful wooden adirondack chairs. How dorky is that? The slope of the seat is just so perfect for relaxing, and we love the wide wooden arms (big enough to rest a nice cold beverage). Basically if there was an Adirondack Chair Fan Club, John and I would both totally volunteer to be the treasurer and the secretary.

But a good well-made wooden adirondack chair comes with a price (we tried craigslist/yard sales/thrift stores to no avail). So we’re not talking about $39 (like our new blue stools) or $35 (like our office chairs) or zero bucks (like our hand-me-down highchair). Hence all that saving. We’re not usually as methodical about saving a certain amount each month for a specific thing, but putting a monthly “payment” of $20 into a jar for lawn furniture actually worked while we continued to squirrel away whatever other cash we could spare in our normal savings account for other things. Our main money MO is usually just to save as much as we can in general – like by only having one car, giving each other haircuts, not eating out too much, buying a fixer-upper in an affordable city so the mortgage is lower than the rent on my tiny studio apartment was in NYC six years ago, paying off credit cards to avoid interest, couponing at the grocery store, etc (you can peruse over 30 posts on how we save cashola here).

Coupons Kroger Receipt

So we’re usually saving up for multiple things at a time in one general savings account to be used towards whatever we think is next on the priority list (ex: the kitchen reno was something we saved up for since putting an offer on this house two Septembers ago, but during that time we also bought other things like materials for our DIY patio, a dining table, or a bed – since they would occasionally move to the top of the priority list). You can read more about our little money management method here.

Back to those new chairs of ours…

Adirondack After Detail

We successfully resisted our instincts to cheap out and get plastic ones because we’re enamored with the real-deal-Holyfield wood ones and knew that plastic ones would be what we call “an interim item” (something we’d buy but and then later be annoyed that we didn’t just put that money toward the actual thing we wanted and save until we could make it happen). So we generally try to avoid placeholder stuff. And lo and behold, this month we finally had enough cash in our jar to close the deal. But you know me, before I pulled the trigger I had to weigh a bunch of options. So here they are:

Contender #1: These guys were $129.95 (marked down from $144 each, with free shipping) from Joss & Main and came in the fun cherry tomato color that we loved. They’re made of solid premium cedar and painted with polyurethane paint for protection against the weather, heat, and sunlight.

Adirondak Joss Main Final

We knew we could always buy an unfinished chair somewhere and attempt to paint it ourselves, but with so many cracks and crevices we didn’t want to end up with something that didn’t look as good (and wasn’t as protected in all those hard to reach spots where water could collect and cause problems). So chairs that came pre-painted by the pros with polyurethane paint for protection against the weather, heat, and sunlight definitely appealed to us as something that would hopefully stand the test of time. Just didn’t want to spend less but end up with something that looked shoddy by next summer. I guess you could say that we’re happy to save money on free/cheap indoor chair makeovers but worried that messing around with wooden outdoor furniture was more risky since they have rain/sun/other outdoor variables to contend with. But when it comes to metal outdoor furniture – we love a good DIY!

Contender #2: Next I found this guy for $289 – eeks! More than double the price. Back to the hunt.

Adirondak Build Direct

Contender #3: This guy on Target’s site was on sale for $123 (also with free shipping), down from $174. But we didn’t like the look of this one as much as the first one (it felt sort of squat/less classic).

Adirondak Target

Contender #4: We also found this one at LL Bean but it was $299, so it wasn’t our first choice either.

Adirondak Llbean

Contender #5: Then we saw this guy in another Joss & Main sale, but he was $250 (down from $339) and we actually preferred the $129 tomato red color for our little hydrangea complementing plan.

Adirondak Joss Main Folding Yellow

Contender #6: Ballard Designs also had a plain white or wood one for $299.

Adirondak Ballard

So that’s how we found ourselves right back to our original find: Contender #1…

And about two weeks later, these guys arrived, and our little patio-furniture fund has officially been restarted (we still need other items out here, so we’re just going to continue our $20 a month habit).

Adirondack 3 Pieces

After “some assembly” we finally had our sloped back, wide armed adirondack lovies all ready for use. I know this might not be exciting for you guys, but it was kind of epic for us. We even invited John’s parents over to see them. It was a full on viewing party for our adirondack chairs. There was oohing, ahhing, sitting, petting. All of it.

Adirondack After From Side

And sure enough, they look pretty perfect with these great balls o’ flower.

Adirondack Hydrangea

We’re definitely far away from a fully furnished patio, but we’re closer than we were before. Inch, inch, inch. We didn’t even think about how nice these guys would look with the warm wood tones in the fence and Clara’s rock box, so that was a nice accident.

Adirondack Full Patio From Steps

We’re thinking we might start saving for a square woven outdoor storage ottoman like this next. Oh and see those blue garden stools? I got one at HomeGoods for $39 a month or two ago and loved it so much that I actually went back and grabbed another one last week (although the free black metal chairs that surround the second one – left by the previous owners – are only temporary). We really like how the blue stools tie into all the blue hydrangeas, and even the blue birdhouse in the tree (also a HomeGoods find from last year for $9). Heck, even the crazy blue rain barrel sort of fits into the scheme now. Haha. We can’t wait for those newly planted hydrangeas on the right side (next to Clara’s rock box) to grow enough to catch up with the 2-year old guys on the left. Once they’re all nice and big it’ll look even more garden-riffic back here.

So that’s the latest on our little patio. Have you guys been doing any outdoor furniture buying or saving? Do you think it’s crazy to pick chair colors based on flower colors? Or to have family over just to ogle some new chairs? Haha, it just might be.

Comments

  2. how2home says

    I think you guys made a fantastic choice to splurge a little on these babies. Even though they may cost a little more but great furniture that are made with GOOD quality will last you a long period of time. The blue pillow against this tomato red chairs is a banging color combination! Great post :)

    Reply

  3. Laura says

    Love all the chair eye candy!! I am sooo loving all the color. The stools in the kitchen look fantastic!! I didn’t think the gray stools looked bad, but now they are showstoppers!!! The new red chairs look great, too!! Can’t wait for you book to come out.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I know! They were labeled as “teak outdoor chairs” so we thought “well teak is supposed to be great outside and super low maintenance” – but we never oiled those babies up or sealed them over time. Wop wop.

      xo,
      s

  5. Emily says

    Did you consider making them yourselves? My husband hasn’t actually tried it, but he’s convinced that they would be really easy to make. If he ever does it, I’ll let you know!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, check out the paragraph under Contender #1 to see why we opted not to this time, but we have heard from others who had luck with it!

      xo,
      s

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Wow- that’s really weird! We know a lot of their merch comes from places like wayfair.com (overstock.com sometimes has it too). I think they sell a lot of items from many different places though, so perhaps that makes sense? As in, Walmart and J&M get items from the same manufacturer (and sometimes Walmart can sell them cheaper and sometimes J&M can?).

      xo,
      s

  7. Bianca C. says

    You guys honestly made the PERFECT choice! Seriously congrats! My grandparents recently bought that beautiful chair, plain and we painted it white and protected it, looks great! And soon I’ll be painting some kind of mural on it for them.

    Also Ill tell you what I would do with your space to make it functional and filled.
    Where the old chairs are, that circular area can could be dedicated to a fireplace with stone/chairs for seating down the line, my grandparents did that to a section that was unused by their pool (which we dug ourselves 5years ago!) and now everyone congregates there, and yes wonderful cold or warm nights we make smores and the whole shebang :) then the second circular area, since you open the doors to it, could be left the way it is to allow the gorgeous garden/tomato chairs the limelight. Wherever that wicker container could hold more seating, etc and allow room to cook on that grill.

    Anyways that’s what I might do with that space, love ya guys!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw thanks Bianca! It would be great to add a fireplace down the road (with a toddler we’re a little nervous about that for now, haha) but I love your ideas!

      xo,
      s

  8. Kristin says

    The patio looks great! I like the red color of the chairs.
    Besides… could you explain a german girl how to pronounce “adirondack”? Seriously, I have no idea.
    However, I find it very interesting that you have so many names for a specific kind of furniture (such as Parson chairs, I know how to pronounce that), we do not have that many names and have to explain the exact style.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hahaha, that’s hilarious Kristin! It’s Add-err-on-dack. Sort of how it’s spelled actually! Sounds like an animal to me. Like a Yak. Haha.

      xo,
      s

    • Jess @ Crunchy Hot Mama says

      I love that Kristin asked how to pronounce it. My BFF still calls them An-deer-on-dack chairs to this day and that’s what I call them now, too :) It definitely is a hard word, for such awesome chairs, if you haven’t heard it before.

      Love the chairs, love the patio, love this blog. You guys are awesome & inspirational!

      I was going to ask if you guys do a budget since you seem so put together with spending, etc. Now I see you replied to another comment about that. I love the idea of saving into a jar, though, so it hurts less than when you see a deduction on your balance. Thanks for the tip!

  9. Kelly says

    You guys never cease to impress me! Now, I’ve been wanting to email you about this, but feel bad because I’m probably just missing it in one of your posts…but I can’t find it! Do you have a percentage run down of where your money goes? Like 10% to savings, 10% to charity, etc.? My husband and I are pretty good, but have a hard time getting a good system down for paying bills and such. We try new organizational things, but nothing ever sticks. Suggestions?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I wish we were that organized! Haha. I would say that a greater percentage of our income than most peoples goes to DIY stuff since it’s our job as well as our hobby (always gotta have another project to share). But we probably spend a lot less on “extra curricular stuff” than most people (we don’t eat out very much, we see a movie about once a year, don’t buy clothes very often, usually just go on road trips and stay with friends/family, I don’t dye my hair or get my nails done, etc). So I think when it comes to “spare cash” we just devote more than average to house stuff and try to save in other ways by skipping other stuff. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  10. Jaimie says

    I have a neighbor (that I don’t actually know at all) who actually builds his own Adirondack furniture. It’s pretty awesome.

    Reply

  11. Leslie says

    You have done such a great job with the back yard. It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL with the new chairs and the hydrengas! Very patriotic, ha. GREAT JOB! IT’s AWESOME!

    Reply

  13. katalina says

    painting question… I know it is all in the prep work and tools. I have a small portico with wood floor and stairs that I stain with a clear stain every couple of years because it is in full sun…

    would you paint with a brush like I have done in the past or a sponge roller the width of the boards?

    I don’t have a power washer but I scrubbed it with water and some vinegar.

    thanks- k

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I bet you could use a roller to seal it a little faster but I wouldn’t use it for stain. As for the sealer, just roll it all at once as quickly as possible since the roller can get gummed up if sealer sits too long. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  14. mp says

    Clara needs her own chair! Wire chairs and settees were all the rage when my daughter was young, so I got her a red wire settee at the Williamsburg Pottery. She loved it and my mom still has it in her house.

    Reply

  15. Heidi says

    The Company Store have some great deals on outdoor furniture if you haven’t already checked them out.

    Reply

  16. Analise says

    SUCH a cute color combination! I’ve been playing with that sort of palette in my living room (navy, white, tomato red / poppy red), and it tends to just look sliiiightly too patriotic. Somehow — as always — you’ve made it work beautifully! Totally inspiring.

    Reply

  17. Emily says

    We had my parents over a few weeks ago to eat dinner off our new grill while we sat at our new outdoor dining set. haha! so, i completely understand the welcoming party for the adirondacks! they look beautiful! LOVE your hydrangeas – i just planted a mini blue hydrangea bush and I cannot wait for it to grow and fill out :)

    Reply

  18. Kristine says

    Awesome find! Love the color scheme w/the tomato red and blue. Also, those hydrangeas must make your patio smelling so nice!

    Reply

  19. Carla Mahony says

    I ADORE hydrangeas and we planted eight of them 18 months ago in a long, deep garden bed across the front of our house. They look beautiful in spring, summer and autumn but terrible in winter…and they are no where near as big as yours. Do you guys prune yours back in the winter months or just leave them alone? And do they go all yellow and scraggley and leave-less in the winter? They certainly look gorgeous now and the red chairs bring them out – just lovely :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We actually don’t touch ours (not because we’re awesome gardeners with a trick, but because we’re deathly afraid we’ll kill them). They definitely end up looking like sticks for a little while over the winter (Richmond is pretty warm so we only get a few stick-like months where there are no leaves) and then they green up nicely! I think we forget how nice it is to have them blooming just enough that it’s a novelty when they come back out! Haha. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  20. Brianna says

    Wow, you really would not have expected this much color looking back at your old house (back when I found your blog lol). Internet applause happening for the take-it-and-run-with-it approach to the fantastic color choices. :)

    Reply

  21. Amanda K says

    We bought two tomato red Adirondack chairs from World Market last year that look just like that. The paint is starting to peel a little, but I don’t really mind. We get so many complements on them!

    Reply

  23. Melissa says

    It so much fun to see how everything is really coming along in this house; I’m always anticipating the next post! Love your choices. Question; do you recall the name of the hydrangeas and did you add anything to the soil to make them so blue. They are gorgeous and love the color combo with the chairs. I have two pink ones and their blooms do last quite awhile; would love another one. were they Nikko blue, by any chance?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      These are the kind we got: http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/mopheads.html – and as for adding anything to the soil, it’s just their natural color! We hear you can alter them to be pink though, just by adjusting the alkaline levels in the soil! So if yours are pink, you can probably add something like pickle juice or rusty nails to the soil around them to get them to turn blue! Those are a few reader tips we have heard, but maybe google around to learn more? Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  24. Laura says

    Hi Guys!
    I’ve got 2 little girls at home, and have GOT to ask- where’d you find that navy blue/white dot shirt on Clara (the instagram pic where she’s watching the deck be built)?
    Thanks so much!

    Reply

  32. Stephanie says

    They look awesome!! It kind of surprised me that you guys didn’t have an option for DIY adirondack chairs though…

    Reply

  34. Katie says

    Just bought 2 of the same adirondack chairs for my parents for their birthdays! I hope they enjoy them as much as you two! We will definitely be having a “showing” party as well. :)

    Reply

  35. Kayla says

    After 369 previous comments, perhaps someone else mentioned it, but just in case I thought I’d comment. Since you’re great DIY’ers I thought it’d be feasible. The DIY Network posted a video on how to made an Adirondack chair out of a wooden shipping pallet. (Couldn’t post the direct link because I’m using an older brower). If you Google it, it should come right up.

    Reply

  36. Rachel says

    Hi guys,
    Joss & Main is running the adirondack chair sale again & I was wondering if they were comfy & Holding up to the elements well (so far). Thanks!

    Reply

  38. eva says

    Hello, long time ago that still your blog, I found it by accident and I liked it so I traced it to the top, and the truth is to congratulate you
    And today, I dare you make a question, there are chairs in the middle of a barrel of ceramic blue and had not ever seen in my country, Spain. Some time ago I saw you and I have also seen in other places and I never managed to find the name or description and therefore you appellant.
    Thank you in advance and I encourage you to continue in the same line.

    Reply

  40. Emily says

    Are you planning to “save” the ikea chairs in any way? I have similar ones from ikea and hope to figure out a way to breathe life back into them…..any thoughts?

    Ps you guys are the best!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I’d love to sand them down and possibly spray paint them a bold color (since I don’t know if the wood will ever truly have great luster again). Will keep you posted!

      xo,
      s

  41. Julia says

    Hi Sherry,

    How are these red chairs holding up? I found them on on Amazon and is considering getting them for our yard. Would you recommend it? Is it equally comfortable for both you and John? My husband is 6 ft tall and I’m just over 5 =P

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      They’re really comfortable for both of us and construction wise they’re holding up really well. They sat in the sun all the time so the color is a little faded, so I’m planning to spray paint them (they sort of just look washed out from being faded).

      xo
      s

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