Patti Wagner is an interior designer with an immense passion for homes, interiors, and renovations. Along with her husband, Brian, they thoughtfully renovate rental properties in their home state of Minnesota. When it comes to their own 1927 Tudor home, they have remodeled, renovated, and refurbished many of the spaces in their home. This summer, it was time for their outdoor dining space and teak furniture set to get some love.
The Space
The Wagners’ second-hand Smith & Hawken teak wood outdoor dining furniture for their patio was already badly weathered when they got the set nine years ago. Despite the durable design, busy schedules and a lack of teak wood restoration know-how led the set to begin to mildew over the years.
Patti wanted to make this space more functional for her family, giving the space new life with a good cleaning and a fresh new style. Patti described her vision as, “A place that was charming, relaxing, pleasant and where our family could have conversations after a nice meal. I imagined planters filled with blooms, comfortable seating, and an outdoor umbrella with a little personality.”
The Process
When it came time to refurbish the dining set, Patti researched the best ways to clean and restore the teak wood furniture to its former beauty. You can read all about Patti’s no-sanding restoration process on her blog, including all the products they used for the project.
With lots of research and a little elbow grease, Patti and Brian were able to revive their teak wood dining set. The next step was outfitting the space with beautiful, functional, durable fabrics to complete the refurbished design.
The Details
Patti chose the Piped Outdoor Dining Chair Cushions from Pottery Barn in Sunbrella Natural to add a comfortable, stylish touch to the newly revived teak chairs. Patti explains, “I knew I wanted light colored seat cushions so it was imperative that not only were they comfortable but also easy to clean, mold and mildew resistant, and would last a long time.”
She added the Premium 10’ Rectangular Sunbrella Outdoor Patio Umbrella with Rustproof Bronze Aluminum Frame in Sunbrella Black Stripe from Pottery Barn to shade the dining area. After their last umbrella malfunctioned in less than two years, Patti was determined to choose an umbrella that was great quality. “I wanted an umbrella that was weather resistant and could resist mold and mildew because it would be sitting outside all year long. I really wanted the black and white stripe to add some personality and charm; therefore, an umbrella that was fade resistant was also important.”
Advice from Patti Wagner
Patti’s advice for starting your own outdoor refresh project? First, think about how you want the space to feel and choose a theme. Then think about the function. Ask yourself what existing useful products can you breathe new life into and what do you want to purchase new?
“Think about some key items like an umbrella, pots/planters, outdoor rugs and seat cushions, that can add personality and charm to your space. But it’s also important that aside from aesthetics, you’ll want something that can withstand the outdoor elements and is worry-free so you can actually enjoy your space!”
Get Inspired with Sunbrella
Sunbrella outdoor fabrics are tough enough to handle the elements and still comfortable enough to spend hours on your patio relaxing. Browse Sunbrella outdoor fabrics and get inspired with more project spotlights featuring Sunbrella fabrics.
