French Country Patio
In the south of France, cheery alfresco terraces are as commonplace as the sunflowers that dot the landscape. But you don’t have to hop the pond to create an American version of Provence here at home. Take this shady spot, which homeowner Kim Rawlins, owner of Phoenix’s Sweet Salvage monthly market, put together for an impromptu party in her backyard. Weathered white bistro chairs and a welcoming round table provide a charming backdrop for colorful accessories. Read on for more ways to feel like you’re under the Provencal sun.
Drink Dispenser
Serve up the beverage of your choice from this sophisticated holding tank inspired by antique apothecary jars.
About $30; Cost Plus World Market
Watering Can
Comb flea markets for galvanized classics or invest in a sturdy tool, such as this handsome hoop-handle model.
About $35; Barebones
Double Duty: A roomy galvanized watering can does more than hydrate your herbs—as one TOH segment demonstrated, you can also stash all your hand tools inside when you’re done gardening, keeping your patio tidy and your essentials in one spot.
Pro Tip: Position your watering can under a rain barrel’s spigot or downspout diverter to collect free rainwater for your patio plants. As shown on a TOH project, “You wanna try putting a water can under it and get some water out…fill that up and you get all your watering done.” Just remember to drain everything and disconnect the feed before winter to prevent freeze damage.
Colorful Rug
Add personality and softness to a poured-concrete patio with this round patterned rug made of durable polyester for outdoor use.
6-foot-diameter rug, About $300; Pier 1 Imports
Woven Basket
A lidded jute hamper brimming with fruit brings a farmers’ market feel to your backyard.
About $17; HomeGoods for stores
Bottle rack
Once used to dry bottles in French wineries, herisson bouteilles—or “bottle hedgehogs,” so called for their prickly form—make a prime perch for freshly washed glassware.
About $15; Cost Plus World Market.
Glasses, about 89 cents each; IKEA
Metal Table
Pick up a well-worn table at a yard sale or opt for this wrought-iron one, with its elegant curves and hand-distressed finish.
About $239; Oriental Furniture
Pro Tip: If you’re furnishing a small patio, consider a round table over a rectangular one. As one TOH design advisor explained: “They’re much more flexible. You can put 4, 6, 8, even 10, if it’s big enough, all at the same table. You can’t do that with a rectangular or a square table.” Extra chairs can be tucked against a wall or elsewhere when not in use.
1950s-Style Linens
Soft, colorful cotton makes any tabletop summery; this red-and-yellow design jibes with the homeowner’s version.
About $44; AntiqueKitchen.com
DIY Patina
The homeowner’s vintage seats were fashioned after 19th-century Parisian bistro originals. We whitewashed a bargain acacia-wood folding chair, then distressed it with sandpaper and a few jabs with the point of a screwdriver. Age the steel legs and frame by painting them with a rust antiquing kit from Sophisticated Finishes.
Chair, about $15; IKEA.
Rust antiquing kit, about $13; Dick Blick Art Materials
Whitewash How-To: To create a whitewash finish like the one on this chair, mix one part water with one part white water-based paint. Brush the mixture onto the wood, wait about a minute for it to soak in—but not so long that the paint starts to dry or feel tacky—then wipe away the excess with a cloth, wiping lightly to let the wood grain shine through.
Faux-Rust Technique: For a convincing aged look on metal, TOH TV scenic artists use oil-based paints applied with a roller to create realistic rust texture. As scenic artist Mallary Pomponio demonstrated on the show, “You can create texture with a roller… and when it dries, it flattens out,” producing a finish that “looks like it’s been laying on its side in the back shed for 100 years.”
Pro Tip: When spot-treating real rust on outdoor metal furniture before refinishing, TOH painting expert Mauro Henrique advises targeting only the heavily rusted areas rather than priming the entire piece. Sand the worst rust spots first, then spot-prime just those areas—it saves time and material while ensuring the finish holds up.
Marmalade-Jar Storage
The citrus spread was developed by the Keiller family in the 1700s, in Dundee, Scotland, and you can still spot their stoneware jars at antiques shops.
We found our decades-old beauties on eBay for about $16 (left) and about $13 (right).
Glass Container
An oversize glass jar makes a sturdy vase for top-heavy blooms.
About $6.99; HomeGoods for stores
Stylish Tableware
Flour-sack stripe dish towels and fleur-de-lis-rimmed ceramic plates—what’s more iconically French?
Towels, from about $3.99 per set; plate set, about $9.99; HomeGoods for stores
Washtub Planter
An authentic 1940s European laundry tub makes a charming container for a backyard herb garden—especially when set on a modern metal stand.
About $280 for tub and stand; Williams-Sonoma
Drainage Matters: When repurposing a vintage washtub as a planter, line the bottom with lightweight drainage rock so water can flow through freely rather than pooling around roots. If the tub lacks drain holes, drill a few in the base before adding your growing medium—herbs like basil, sage, and oregano need well-drained soil to thrive.
Cherry-Red Pillows
Add a pop of color—and comfort—to your seating with a pair of indoor/outdoor polyester pillows.
About $20; Pier 1 Imports
