The Polka Dot Chair logo

Home » If you build it…

Published: · Last Updated: · This post may contain affiliate links

If you build it…

This summer we have undertaken a very large project in our back yard. We added a pergola to our deck!  I mentioned before that we put in a pool.  While we had someone come and install the pool & fence (much beyond our capabilities), we have been landscaping ourselves.

Making numerous trips to home improvement stores for plants, researching what will grow best in our area, what will give us privacy but still look nice, and what we can afford on what little budget we have left after building the pool.

This GIANT creative project as I call it has taken over most of our summer. For the most part I have loved it. Picking out plants is like picking out fabric, you want to think about texture, contrast, color & scale.  It has taken our back yard from a place we never went out to, to a place we spend all our time in. Even when it’s 90 degrees and above 75% humidity…

The backyard “redo” really started last fall.  There was a deck attached to the house when we moved in.   It didn’t have stairs to the back yard and it took me 2 years to decide if I wanted them or not (security issues).
before
The deck faces west and was impossibly sunny and hot in the afternoons, when we moved in we threw some chairs out there and that was it. It was waaay to HOT to do anything else.
before
Then last fall we had a pergola built over the deck.  My husband had built decks and pergolas before and I begged and begged him to build this one, but it was much higher off the ground than our previous decks and he just wasn’t’ comfortable doing it.
Our friends got us in touch with an Amish family that do amazing carpentry work.  They came and built this!! While they were here building I just kept watching them out the windows and giggling… I don’t know why, but me and the kids all just sat and spied on them out the window while they were here.  They did a FABULOUS job.
I can not tell you the difference it has made on our deck. We actually go out there now!  Plus I decided to add the stairs which turned out to be a good decision (another post you’ll see why).
Here are a few of the after shots. I still have SO much work to do out there, it needs flowers, a outdoor rug, (and to be stained and sealed), but I am happy with the progress we have made so far.  We just keep chipping away at the project a little bit at a time.
In the photo above you can see we added outdoor blinds ($15 at Lowes, a steal!!), we can roll them down and block out the sun in the afternoon.
There is a bench on one side which I love, but every time a little kid would go out there, they would stand on the bench and peer over the side… just a bit nerve racking!! So we added this planter to help the little ones avoid that temptation.  My plan is to fill it with all different sizes and colors of pots and put flowers in them. (probably next year).
I found a mosaic coffee table on clearance & got a few pillows for that corner, I need to make cushions for the benches.
our welcome/go away sign.
Clock & candle holders above the grill.
You can’t see it because it’s daytime, but we hung big fat christmas lights around the perimeter, so they pergola just “glows” at night it’s so pretty. My favorite thing we have done so far is hang these paper lanterns for the top, like we did for the Alice in Wonderland party this year.
So that is just ONE TINY part of what has kept me busy this summer. When and IF I ever get SOD in my back yard again I will take some photos and post about the landscaping that my husband and I have done in the back yard this summer…. Plus I re did the patio under the deck & have a few fun outdoor creative projects to share!!
add a pergola to a deck
Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Friendly

Don't Miss these Projects

About Author

Connect with me on Instagram

  • Who’s up for a Summer Quilt Along? After a couple of delays (can you say Typhoon?) we are ready to launch the #LetsStayHomeQuilt Along! It will run for 8 weeks this summer and at the end you’ll have a finished quilt! I’ll be popping into my IG stories along the way to help you out and we even have a series of video tutorials to share! So if you’re brand new to quilting you can totally do this 👊🏻! All the details are in the link in my bio. Just click the link to the home page. . . . #summerquilt #rileyblakedesigns #foxfarmfabric #quiltalong #melissamortenson #polkadotchair #quiltersofinstagram #quiltsofinstagram
  • I want to invite you guys to join me in a class at the Garden of Quilts festival this September. 🧵 ✂️ It’s taking place at Thanksgiving Point in Utah and I could not be more excited to be teaching. I’ll be teaching two classes. . ONE: My Santa’s Hat Shop Quilt. I’ll show you how to foundation paper piece the blocks - it’s so easy you can do it even if you new to FPP (these cute blocks were made by @the_tattooed_quilter ). . . TWO: I’ll show you how to make these fun storage bins (swipe for the photo) They are made with foam and are so useful! I have several in my house and they are great for storing everything from sewing projects to makeup. . . I’ve added a link in my bio for all of the details about the classes. I’ll also add swipe up links to my stories today. I hope I see some of you there! ❤️ Patterns are tagged in the photos -
  • Yesterday was my daughters high school graduation. Her twin brother (who is younger than her) graduated 2 weeks ago (confused yet? Cause sometimes keeping track of all of it confuses me 😂). All 3 of our kids have now graduated and sometime in the next few months we will be empty nesters. . No more car pools, choir concerts, early morning seminary or late night sports practices. There are some things I won’t miss (like planning our life around the school schedule) and some things I will miss tremendously! I know that this parenting thing never ends and we are only transitioning to a different type of “parenting stress” but I’m looking forward to what it brings. . However I have to admit that part of me is terrified about this next phase. It seems a bit lonely - but more time to sew I guess 🤷🏼‍♀️😂.?
  • Spent yesterday evening at a home show at @nortoncommonsky . I shared some of my favorite details on stories. Like this gorgeous window vignette by @gretchenblack . Each home had so many AMAZING details and the “creative” part of my brain was so happy. Also for everyone that asked- we are not moving 😂. My kids graduated high school this year / I think moving on top of that would cause me to have a nervous breakdown. Too many changes at once! 😂😂
  • Block 3 in the #justforfunquilt just posted! You can click the link in my bio to find it. I’m calling this block Sunshine and Stars ☀️ 🌟 since it reminds me of a beach umbrella. 🏖 If you’re new- the Just for Fun Quilt is a block of the month that is running on my blog during 2019. It’s free and I’d love to have you participate! I’m going to try to do a Insta Story Q&A later today if you have questions about the Quilt Along. . . #quiltingtutorial #quiltsofinstagram #quiltblock #rileyblake #rileyblakedesigns #blossomfabric
  • Was anyone else absolutely smitten with Gilbert Blythe growing up? I think at one point I convinced myself I was going to marry him 😂😂😂. Riley Blake has a new Anne of Green Gables fabric line (by @zippyboro ) and I jumped at the chance to make something with it! I LOVED those books and the tv show so much growing up. I decided to update my Reading Pillow pattern (I posted the first one waaay back in 2011) - a lot of you guys have asked for a basic pattern over the years (no piping or zippers) and I’m happy to oblige. I also added a second size option too! Hop on over to the blog for more info - you can also now buy a printable pattern (with 5 different pillow patterns in TVs shop). Just click the link in my bio. . . #rileyblake #rileyblakedesigns #readingpillow #readingpillows #kindredspiritsfabric #sewistsofinstagram #quiltsofinstagram #sewingtutorial

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Tauni says

    July 19, 2010 at 4:29 PM

    Wow. Wow. Wow! What a gorgeous deck and it looks like you have an incredible view as well. Can’t wait to see the cushions and everything…

    Reply

  6. Rachel says

    July 19, 2010 at 4:51 PM

    Oh your deck is amazing!!! I only wish I had a deck oh and a family room while I’m at it!

    Ps. Those paper lanterns are FABULOUS!!!! Where ever did you find them? 🙂

    Reply

  10. amy smart says

    July 19, 2010 at 7:02 PM

    This is so beautiful! I love the pergola. Our new back door/deck face full west as well. Pretty much the only thing I miss from our old (weird) house is that the patio was on the east side of the house and shady in the evening. I guess I need to find some amish workers here in Utah County. They did a gorgeous job!

    Reply

  11. Crafty Batches says

    July 19, 2010 at 7:41 PM

    A-MAZING! I’m so jealous of the view from your backyard, simply beautiful. You guys did such a great job! ~Sam

    Reply

  13. Terri says

    July 19, 2010 at 9:32 PM

    This is my first visit to your blog but I just had to say… WOW what a beautiful deck!! Awesome job!

    Reply

  15. Cheryl says

    July 19, 2010 at 11:50 PM

    It looks like a totally different back yard! I love it. I especially love the gorgeous pergola and the potted plant area above the bench. It will look amazing with flowers on the side. I think I’d be enjoying every meal outside if I had that to use, even if it was crazy hot (which it has been lately!) Great work!!

    Reply

  16. gnee says

    July 20, 2010 at 4:56 AM

    It looks amazing and I’m so glad you are enjoying it…still love that AIW Party! One of my favorites…

    Reply

  21. Rachel Dartt says

    July 21, 2010 at 5:12 PM

    That’s gorgeous Melissa!!! I love the Amish craftsmanship- there is just something about the traditional American detailing and simplicity about it that is so beautiful!

    Reply

  23. boggsie says

    July 22, 2010 at 10:58 PM

    Thank you so much for sharing. I wondered if you could elaborate just a bit on the dimensions of the lumber used in the pergola?

    Thank you,
    -boggsie

    Reply

  24. Princess Martha says

    July 23, 2010 at 10:29 AM

    Wow, the deck looks amazing. I am new to your blog. If you build it…they will come. I thought you were going to reference the movie with that line in it, “Field of Dreams” with Kevin Costner, haha. Love that movie 😉

    Reply

  26. Sew Much Ado says

    July 27, 2010 at 12:15 AM

    Oh my goodness, what an amazing deck! I would be spending ALL of my time out there, that’s for sure! And I love the paper lanterns too, they look so whimsical and fun.

    Reply

  28. Therese says

    January 6, 2014 at 10:45 PM

    Hi. I dropped in from sewcanshe to see your tie project and found your pergola! Where did you find the pot shelves. Love them. Now, to look around a bit more. Thanks for your site.

    Reply

  29. Margaret King says

    October 9, 2017 at 4:44 PM

    My husband and I plan to build a pergola on our upper deck- how will you maintain the pergola-it will have to be stained every 3-5 years. I am worried that it will be labor intensive -and can you imagine paying someone to do it
    for you. Let me know your thoughts on this because I have to make s decision . Thanks M. King

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

shares