Instant Makeover:
One Patio, Three Styles

The patio, before our designers started work.

THE CHALLENGE: Furnish the patio so that it becomes an inviting area to sit and enjoy the woods. Do it in one afternoon, on a budget of $1,000 or less.

THE TEAMS: Three teams of Gardener's Supply employees, each armed with our catalog, chose a design theme and then shopped for furniture and accessories to fit. Each design had to include seating, and had to be completed in an afternoon, including assembly and potting plants. Here's what they created.

Team 1:

Design theme: country living in the French style.

Country living in the French style was the inspiration for this team's design. A classic curved Reflection Bench, cousin to the one designed by Claude Monet for his gardens at Giverny, is the centerpiece. Self-watering planters mimic the signature blue ceramic pots of Provence, and are planted with—what else?—lavender and rosemary. The Provencal blue is echoed in the pattern of the cushion and accent pillow. Although it's planted with flowering vines, the copper obelisk in the background is a reference to the French custom of using ornamental supports in the vegetable garden.
Total budget: $809.75
Total time: 2 hours, 45 minutes

Contemporary designs provide contrast to the surrounding woodland.

Because of the nearby woods, a rustic design would have been an easy choice. But our second team went the other way, contrasting the wooded setting with a clean, contemporary design. The furniture was chosen for its modern lines and fine wood grain. A bench cushion and matching pillow soften the look and invite a longer stay. The gazing globe has a modern appearance, too, but with a color scheme that reflects the dappled light of the woods.

Crisp, modern planters flank the bench, while in the background, a curved trellis suggests enclosure without obscuring the view.
Total Budget: $775.65
Total time: 2 hours

In this design, the goal was casual comfort.

No-fuss casual comfort was the guiding principle for this team. They chose two faux wicker chairs instead of a single bench because two chairs can be rearranged for conversation. The chairs and matching side table are made of weatherproof, no-maintenance resin, woven to resemble wicker. The cheerful striped cushions are equally weatherproof. At the edge of the patio, three self-watering Terrazza planters hold hibiscus trees. The hibiscus are a little more expensive than most potted plants, but provide a colorful canopy that smaller plants don't.
Total budget: $637.50
Total time: 1 hour 45 minutes