This summer we’ve been working hard on updating our back yard. It’s a major, longterm project, and today I am happy to share one update that added so much personality to our space: painted stone tiles!
My inspiration for this project was one part Palm Springs and another part Kate Spade. My vision was something simple, classic and 1960s inspired. We don’t have the time or budget to change everything in our yard this year, so I am always looking for updates that can be done to what we already have. This stone patio, below our back porch, came with the house. I purchased these fun orange Acapulco chairs (here
and here
). And when we added them to the patio it looked a little sad and drab. I knew we needed something fun. And after unsuccessfully shopping for the perfect outdoor rug, my mind turned to paint!
These are the colors I chose for our project. We had them mixed in Valspar latex porch and floor paint. We primed random tiles with Kilz primer. We painted three coats of color on each tile. Last, we sealed the tiles with Clear-Seal concrete protective sealer. It took a full day, mostly due to dry time between each coat!
A month later I am still loving this project! It’s fun, fresh and adds a lot of personality to our space. I love that if I get tired of it next year I can just paint the tiles again in a new color, or maybe even a pattern. I love that it’s not too time intensive! People keep saying it reminds them of the light up tiles in the Billie Jean video. I am more than ok with this. 🙂
What’s on your summer to-do list? Any outdoor projects? xo. Elsie
106 Comments
I love this project. I’m all about color and this is such a fun way to throw color into an otherwise earthy backyard! Thanks for sharing :).
Definitely a brilliant idea when you want to add a pop of color to your patio! Love it
http://sincerelylara.com
I wish, wish, wish, I could do this to our driveway, but have been advised against it by so many people, what do you all think>
That’s fun. The chairs are great!
Oh I love this garden project of yours! Beautiful colours and perfect for summer! 🙂
Lulu xx
http://luluslittlewonderland.blogspot.com
My next summer project is to get the biggest round cattle tubi can find to make a pool. With your awesome neck patio, do you now feel a need to dress to match?
So cute! Love budget friendly projects that work off what you already have. So encouraging and refreshingly within reach! Thanks for sharing ideas like these 🙂
I was so excited for you to talk about this project! I remember you mentioning it somewhere… maybe instagram? I was instantly excited!
Oh wow! This looks amazing! Such an awesome idea to update your outdoor space! xxx
holljc.blogspot.co.uk
This is a really fun idea although I’m more of a pretty cottage garden girl! This is the first Summer we’ve had our own garden so we’re loving our new (very) mini veg patch and thinking of fun ways to decorate for outdoor parties!
Wow, this is so awesome and seriously love this project!!
I love this Project! How FUN-
I haven’t finished my outdoor projects as of yet, BUT I have finished a few projects ‘Outdoors’!
Check them out:
http://www.kreativekatiekonnect.blogspot.com
This is super cute! Where did you get those Pantone individual color cards? I’ve seen them in various blogs and wanted to know how I could get my hands on some of them? Thanks.
This is really cool! It looks awesome!
Right on! That looks very good. It’s a great fix-up. I love your colour choices.
That’s such an easy way to change up the look!
xo Lisa
Love this! You’ve inspired me to do something like this myself. Thanks for posting 🙂
Super, super cute- love the colors!!!
So cute!!!! I love this idea.
Emily
eageremily.blogspot.com
What a nice little injection of colour! Too cute!
http://www.fullbellywornsoles.com
Since I’ve started to see photos of your backyard I have been waiting impatiently for you to share this project with us!
And I love it! It’s so fresh and original and funky (just like you somehow!) that I know why you keep hanging out there between friends with such smiles on your faces!
I can’t wait to see more project in your home, you are always so inspired, I know I’ll love it!
Love
Melodie
http://sevenlivesandmore.blogspot.fr/
Such a cute idea!
Such a simple, fun way to update boring old concrete pavers! Love it.
This is such a lovely idea to add some colour! Looks lovely.
http://erstwhilefelicity.blogspot.co.uk/
I love this! What a great way to bring color outside. It’s fun and can start a conversation. Very important.
xo. Kailagh
This would be great for kids too!!
http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/ciate-chalkboard-nails-hit-or-miss.html
really cool idea, i love it!
love jelaegbe.blogspot.de
I love this!
It reminds me of a street in downtown San Diego.
My husband and I have been doing some yard work as well.. you can see the start of it here:
http://whenlifegivesyoumellins.blogspot.com/2013/06/backyard-woes.html
ADORABLE! Love the Billy Jean reference : )
This is the project we did in our yard this summer that I am the most proud of:
http://glasshalffullness.blogspot.com/2013/06/our-tipsy-planter.html
I think it looks great! Way better than an outdoor rug.
What a unique project! I love the patio chairs!
Wow! Seriously one of the cutest ideas I have ever seen to transform boring concrete into something majestic – a work of art. i think it must make you smile. I would be so happy to see that everyday. I am thinking about painting my back patio walls from boring dirty white to a fun color – not sure which yet! something that makes me smile!
🙂
Ko-Shin
dream
What an awesome idea, the finished project looks great!
Jo
Peonies and American Honey
Looks wonderful!
http://www.rosesjaunes.blogspot.co.uk
The “solar power” color is my favorite. It almost looks like sidewalk chalk, but much more polished. Great idea ladies!
Love it! It totally makes me want to play hopscotch or something.
That looks lovely! My boyfriend and I are about to start working on our yard and will need some inspiration. Can’t wait to see the rest of the yard!
Leah Faye
e plus l
Looks great – very fun and cheerful! 🙂
I adore how this looks! It also reminds me of something similar we did at my old home! Love it!
xoxo
Juliette Laura
http://juliettelaura.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/InfiniteStyleShop
WOW, that’s the greatest idea ever! It looks so.. fresh 🙂 xx
Justine | BRIGHTON DREAM
What a lovely idea, it brightens up the whole place! xx
http://www.creativityandchocolate.com
Love this! Such a lovely idea. xx
What a lovely idea!
xo
Diana
http://unusuallylovely.com
where’s the paint?!
Love the bright of the colors!!! Lovely project 🙂
Ingrid, The paint is from Lowes.
xoxo.
The colors are awesome. Great job!
It’s ideas like this and the washi tape arch that I think are so amazing, just the right amount of colour to look really cheery! x
http://www.uni-of-life.blogspot.com
I absolutely loooove it!!
Xo, Kate.
http://withloveandcolour.wordpress.com/
It looks great :))
XOXO Sandl
http://www.prizmah.blogspot.com
http://www.bloglovin.com/prizmahfashionblog
https://www.facebook.com/prizmahblog
Ahhh! Love this! Perfect idea for someone like me, who loves color 🙂
<3 dani
http://www.shopdisowned.com
http://blog.shopdisowned.com
Love the different colours!
Seaside Beauty
xxx
This is a brilliant idea!! Has inspired me to continue a project I started but sadly abandoned :/ lol
Love your blog!!
Mo x
great pictures my dear!<3<3<3
this is so smart and great looking! i love the idea of a pattern too! thank you for sharing, i love a good DIY!
This is such a FUN idea! I love how it gives that perfect pop of color. We haven’t done many permanent changes to our backyard besides getting the grass to grow, but I did make some paper bunting to put up between our globe lights that are strung around our patio for 4th of July. I also put some colored tassels in the tree by our patio to add a splash of color. It’s nice to be surrounded by green, but sometimes it’s nice to have some different colors pop through:) I left a link for the patriotic inspired bunting I did last week. It reminds me of all the fun additions you’ve made to your patio lights! http://www.thistooisfoundhere.blogspot.com/2013/07/peicd-projects-even-i-can-do-patriotic.html
RADICAL!
We love the touches of colour on floor and these chairs are amazing!
http://inatrendytown.blogspot.com.es/
super cute!
Grew up having those chairs and definitely have them at my parents Acapulco home, they’re a staple of my childhood but $400 for them is insane! Definitely overpriced- wish you lived in LA so you could get them cheaper!
I just started the ball rolling on my outside projects: http://www.luckylittlemustardseed.com/2013/07/macgyver-it/ 🙂 love the tiles btw!
What a great idea !
I’ve been looking for chairs like that for my patio – do you have a source? Love the painted tiles! A succulent wall is also on my list.
Chandra, I purchased mine from Amazon (links in the post) They’re pricey but amazing. 😀
xoxo!
Aei, if you know of a cheaper source for Acapulco chairs (in a variety of colors) let me know! I’d love to share it with the readers. I haven’t seen them for a considerably better price online, except for the CB2 ones (limited colors available) and the mini ones.
XO!
I love this! We are looking to expand our patio and this will most definitely need to be an option!
I absolutely LOVE this
I say mission accomplished. Looks fantastic. I wonder how the sealer will hold up. The last time I saw painted concrete floors, it was indoors and it eventually bubbled and peeled off. The finish on the concrete was smooth not textured like yours, though, and I’m not sure if any sealer was used. It’s a challenge to get color into a concrete mix that’s as vibrant as your paint colors, so this is really an interesting option. I’d be interested in knowing how long it holds up.
lovely idea! it look great!
i really like the way that turned out! and dayum, if you can afford 2 chairs for $800, then i need to get my blog on!
What a wonderful idea! A very nice beautiful mess 😉
Great idea! It looks really pretty.
xx
http://www.serendipitystyle7.blogspot.com
I love this project! I’ve been looking forward to this post since you gave us a sneak peek photo weeks ago, so simple but makes such an impact!
Love the pop of colour!! Great idea!!
I love it, makes sitting outside so much more enjoyable! Feeling inspired!
I love this and think it would be a great idea for a porch or concrete steps.
Mana
http://fashionandhappythings.com
LOVE this so much! Simple and adorable. I am eyeing my patio right now!
Cute summer idea – totally works with the style and color of your chairs 🙂
Totally love this project. It reminds me of my Macaw, and I have been planning on using his coloring as inspiration when I get our deck is finished.
Great idea – makes it a little more colourful and happy!
AHKA VINTAGE BLOG
What a great idea! I’ve never seen this done before, but it looks fantastic. Adds such a great pop of colour to the area.
On my summer to do list:
1) Buy new chairs for my dining table.
2) Paint an accent wall.
3) Use washi tape to decorate a wall/arch.
4) Learn to sew (or at least sew something).
5) Take more photographs.
Haha.. there are more. My to do list is always a mile long. But I would really like to have these things done by September.
Alex from http://www.polkadottedpixels.com
This is such a great idea! It makes for summer-savvy evenings and adds so much life to your porch. 🙂
Lubna | ELLE VOX | $100 GIVEAWAY
Wow that looks amazing, it makes me wish I had a back yard haha!
This is perfect! I like the idea of re-purposing and beautifying stuff I already have at home.
http://annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com/
Such a lovely fun project. I don’t have my own patio, but I’d love to keep this in mind for a later date.
Thank you for the inspiration!
Love it – it gives so much character to the space 🙂
Rosie x | Every Word Handwritten
I did this a couple months ago when I added onto the existing patio. I still love it. It is one of my favorite parts of my patio
This is so cute- I love it!
laurenslittleblogs.blogspot.co.uk
xx
So cool! What a great idea!
http://pennywisepoundcake.com
HOw fun! I think I might do this with sidewalk chalk…
Beautiful !
Check out my new outfit post :
http://hidinginheaven.blogspot.fr/2013/07/the-one-with-shorts-boots.html
If I ever have a patio Im so doing this! This is so cute and quirky!
Ok, seriously, you gals are killing me with all this backyard awesome. LOVE this idea.
I LOVE your chairs! and the idea is amazing!
this is so cute & fun!
http://kendra-genevieve-rose.blogspot.com
I love these! You have a disco garden. Reminds me of Saturday Night Fever!
Really makes me want to rip up my decking and start tiling!
x
How fun! Such amazing colours here, too! It’s hard when the budget doesn’t extend to doing everything at once… I’m building a house and know how that feels! But it’s great that you’ve found a way to add personality without endless costs! Love it!
AHH! This is so brilliant, Elsie! So bold, perfect for summer and I bet it will be so refreshing in the winter to have that pop of colour! Love, love!
Cx
http://mixedmediumstheatre.blogspot.co.uk/
These are so cool!
i absolutely love this!
Valentina
Valentina Duracinsky Blog
Please tell me what kind of paint you used. I have been thinking about a project like this and wondering how to execute it.
I am so glad you blogged this! I have been wanting to paint my patio for months, but didn’t think it would work… Watch this space, I am following your lead 🙂 THANK YOU!!!
Kirsty, UK
http://thisisntgoodbye-kirsty.blogspot.co.uk/
Health-and-Fitness Shoes do not Cause Bunions
These look great! What a neat idea.
I’ve been looking into concrete stain for an update to our concrete patio, but this looks considerably easier.
However, I’m wondering how painted tiles have held up over the years? Did the paint fade, chip, etc., and if so, how long did it take to do so?
Hi Devin,
In Missouri we had pretty severe winters and I did have to touch up the paint every Spring! 🙂
-Elsie
Awesome, good looking tiles… more colorful