French Inspired Courtyard, Bistro Dining Sets & Garden Finds

French Inspired Courtyard, Inexpensive Bistro Dining Sets & Garden Finds revisits where I was last summer. It will hopefully provide outdoor resource help as we turn our attention to gardens, patios, decks, and porches. I know I am now spending more time in our sweet little front entrance sanctuary. (This time last year, I was dreaming of adding French cafe chair charm, and I did!)

Farmhouse French Inspired Courtyard, Bistro Dining Sets & Garden Finds

I am tired, but a good tired. Working on the yard and courtyard this week made my muscles sore, my eyes droopy (allergy meds), and my arms inflamed with swollen bug bites.

I replaced plants that didn’t survive winter and weeded, but I’m nowhere near done and have no business posting pictures! Things are sooo unfinished in the courtyard. But I’m keepin it real and now shopping for a few needed pieces.

These images snapped earlier today reflect a little progress, and there are obvious gaps and areas in need of TLC! I need: pillows, a potting bench or rustic table, and a small bistro set.

Unfortunately, our towering burning bush (the only shrub we did not erase from the courtyard when we bought the place!) did not survive the heavy rains experienced this summer.

What a job to dig up decades of deeply rooted growth and haul it away a few days ago. I planted a new burning bush, and there is now space for a little dining set and/or potting bench area.

Let’s have a look.

Vintage galvanized buckets bring a rustic and tumbledown look, and I like the contrast with the fancy mirror.

The little metal gate was supposed to simply be a placeholder since we intend to build a custom gate from wood…yet we still have not addressed it!

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Vintage Galvanized Metal Watering Cans

A few vintage watering cans on display will likely move to a shelf or bench. Find new galvanized watering cans here.

Inexpensive Hand Me Down Painted Wood Benches & Chairs

The furniture are yard sale finds painted in a 50/50 combination of greyed-down whites (Farrow & Ball Cornforth White and Hardwick White).

I like how the paint has weathered and the pieces have an aged look after a few years here.

Rustic Unfussy Rose Corner

No fancy rose garden growing here – I have yet to commit to gardening so it’s just a few containers of kordanas for now and knockout roses on the other side of the wall.

Stoneware as Planters

My stoneware jars are from Target, and I didn’t see them online so they may be available only in store. They are similar to Farmhouse Pottery pieces which are high quality, handmade, and investment pieces.

Target has some great inexpensive stoneware pieces, and their Smith & Hawken pieces are fabulous!

Galvanized Metal Buckets, Tubs & Containers

Old vintage metal buckets have risen in price but new ones are reasonable. I have several of this exact one (below) which I use for open storage on shelves and for entertaining.

Tall Planters on Porch

Garden Accent Gate

You can find these little inexpensive garden accent gates everywhere now.

They sometimes come with fancy arbors…

Pea Gravel Colors

Here is a close-up of the gravel in the courtyard.

DIY French Poem Stenciled Mirror

Here’s the French stencil used to quickly create an etched look on an old beveled mirror. This attracts the birds, and contrary to what you may think, they don’t crash into it.

An Inspiring French Garden

Let’s welcome tranquility and tour a gorgeous formal garden that resembles my humble rustic patch of gravel NOT ONE BIT!

Potting Bench Idea

My eyes are peeled for a bench or table for the courtyard with a scale like this:

Bistro Set Under $50

I now have space for a little dining set so I am exploring my options.

Inexpensive Wood Patio or Courtyard Furniture

Bistro Set Around $100

Black & White Bistro Dining Set

Stackable Bistro Chairs in Grey

What did you think of that French garden tour (video above)? Go back to watch if you missed it, and find additional French inspired outdoor inspo HERE and HERE.

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

Shop for items you already intended to buy on Amazon RIGHT HERE (not just items in posts) or for home decor here keeps decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!

Hello Lovely is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.