We partnered with Lynn Armstrong, interior designer and lifestyle blogger, to help her turn her waterfront outdoor space into a stylish setting that she and her family can enjoy for years to come.

“Making the most of this space became really important to me. Vacations have become staycations and I wanted that vacation feeling right in my own backyard!”

A good before and after makeover is so satisfying. You get to watch along as a space gets transformed (and you don’t have to do any of the work) and you get design ideas for your own outdoor space at the same time.

Lynn gave her deck a makeover so let’s talk about the setting. The deck overlooks the ocean so salt spray, hot sun, humidity, and other environmental challenges had to be taken into consideration when choosing the right outdoor furniture to replace her existing set. She’s a busy mom of two small children and loves to entertain so this deck gets quite the workout. 

Originally, a wooden dining set sat upon the deck, and while natural wood is an intriguing idea, in reality, Lynn found it to be impractical. She had to sand and stain the set every couple of years — and with a young family, this proved to be just about impossible. The wood eventually faded beneath the San Francisco sun, parts broke from repeat use, and what clinched the deal was when she discovered that bees had made a home inside of one of the chair legs. 

“One day my husband and I kept noticing little tiny piles of dust on the decking… channeling my inner Nancy Drew I did some investigating and found some bees had eaten the inside of the chair legs and had made little homes for themselves!”

So Lynn perused POLYWOOD.com to see which outdoor furniture sets and pieces caught her attention. She ended up finding a couple of beautiful pieces that look just fabulous on her deck. 

Lynn chose the Vineyard 6-Piece Rustic Farmhouse Side Chair Dining Set with Bench in White to meet her entertainment needs. Its classic style really appealed to her, as did the realization that she never needed to paint or stain any of the pieces. Phew! She also liked the versatility of the long bench that came with the set because her kids can sit on it when they’re all eating dinner together.

“When I had to choose conversation patio sets I immediately LOVED the timeless design of the Vineyard rustic dining set — I spent many summers vacationing on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. I chose the White because it matches our house and makes the natural wood of the deck POP! When the sun is shining and reflecting off of the water it makes me feel like I’m on vacation.”

For the kiddos, Lynn picked the Kids Outdoor Picnic Table in White to match the dining set. It was just the right size for her adorable offspring. She was sold when she saw how easy it was to keep the table clean, and since our products are all made using ocean-bound and landfill-bound plastics she wouldn’t have to worry about her kids getting splinters. 

“I just love this rustic-looking mini picnic table, perfect for the kids to enjoy when eating their meals.”

To complete the look, Lynn chose plates and fresh flowers in bright tones to add pops of color. She then selected large, black wire lanterns that contrasted nicely with the white tabletop. Finally, Lynn hung outdoor string lights that made her space extra inviting when night fell. 

Do you love Lynn’s new look? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!