Lately, Iāve Been Obsessing Over My Sad, Empty Patio
I donāt know why it took me this long to realize my backyard is basically a wasteland. We moved into this Wall, NJ, house two years ago, and somehow, the patio has remained a barren slab of concrete with two plastic chairs and a sad little grill. Not exactly the cozy outdoor retreat I imagined when we bought the place.
The problem? I haveĀ no ideaĀ where to start. Do I go full Pinterest-perfect with string lights and a fire pit? Or should I keep it simple with some pavers and built-in seating? Iāve been down so many internet rabbit holes that my phone now shows me nothing but patio inspo ads.
Then, while doomscrolling, I stumbled on Woodbine ContractingāsĀ gallery pageĀ (hereās the link), and suddenly, I hadĀ realĀ local examples to drool over. Like, actual projects inĀ myĀ areaānot just some influencerās California dreamscape. One photo in particular caught my eye: a raised stone patio with a built-in fireplace, surrounded by these gorgeous planters. It lookedĀ lived-in, not staged. And it got me thinkingāmaybe I donāt need to go full HGTV. Maybe just a little structure, some texture, and a place to actuallyĀ sitĀ without folding chairs.
Iām still not sure if Iām ready to commit to a full renovation (RIP, my wallet), but seeing whatās possible in Wall homes has me sketching ideas on napkins. Maybe this summer, my sad concrete slab will finally get the glow-up it deserves.
