I already shared that we are going to give this backyard at the rental a makeover on a budget. We love being outside and love lots of different areas to hang. This backyard isn’t functional AT ALL. We love vegetable gardens, fire pits, barbecue areas, etc. And since we will be here all summer, it HAS to happen.
When we first moved in, Deb was trimming the weeds in the backyard and discovered some old limestone slabs buried in the ground from the First State Bank here in our town. I swear I remember it when I was young. I have no clue when, how, or who brought them to this house, but they were here.
We have no shed or garage here at the rental as I previously told you, so we bought a very inexpensive shed to store our mower and our lawn tools. We brought in a load of 11F packing stone as a base for the shed. I shared all of that in a post with lots of before photos, so check that out. I am not counting the cost of the shed in this makeover because we will sell it or take it with us when we leave.
There is a small step out the back door that stepped right down into grass… aka mud. Deb had layers of cardboard down in front of her grill because she would stand in mud. (Janky.. I know.) So we decided that we would also add packing stone in front of that step to solve that problem and take that packing stone to the grill area.
Do you remember the large concrete pieces at our last house? We repurposed them into paths and used them as steps. Well, I got the idea to make a larger landing area out the back door here at the rental using those limestone slabs from the First State Bank. So we dug them up and moved them the same way we moved the huge concrete pieces at the last house.
I’ve been asked that questions so many times over on Instagram. You guys would die laughing if you saw us. We feel like we are experts at this point. ???? All you need is a shovel, a large pinch point pry bar, and two PVC pipes. Usually I lift the one side with the shovel, and then Deb shoves a pipe under that side. We do the same with the other side. It’s fairly easy to roll or slide the concrete on those pipes into place. I have no idea how we came up with that but we did. ???? We leveled them all out with that packing stone using a long level.
These slabs are so old. The lettering is obviously all hand chiseled because they are all different depths and different widths. And some of them are broken, but I think they are just the coolest things ever.
We bought a load of stone for $16 earlier in the week and leveled the shed area but needed more. So we bought $13 more to level the First State Bank limestone slabs and make a pad for our grill. So we have $29 in this backyard makeover project so far. I haven’t told Deb that I want this makeover to be under $50… Because she would say it can’t be done, but I think it can. ???? Stay tuned.
Next up….. our fire pit. ???? What do you think?
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You girls are genius and are such an inspiration to me…..Wondering if you are going to make a shaded area and have plants to make it look more inviting.? I’m anxiously waiting to see your progress…Great Job !
Powerful women for sure !
Thank you so much! We will for sure have ferns because we buy them every summer whatever house we are in… and if we can find some perennials from friends, we will probably plants some. But we won’t buy any.
Looks awesome so far but that’s no surprise! Can’t wait to see what’s next!
Thank you…. I’m excited.
What an awesome find, that just set the back of that house off. Great Job looking forward to the next reveal.
Thanks… we were so glad we found them.
Looks incredible . Would love to have something historic like that in my yard . Can’t wait for what comes next .
Only you two can take a janky outside area and make it beautiful!!
Wow! That is a one in a million find. I love how you used them.
Talked my husband into an 11F walkway out to our fire pit. Thanks for taking us along. Love what you’re doing on a budget! Now to get him to agree to a pergola!
I’m loving this budget backyard makeover! I’m excited to see what’s next! Big fan!
Your landlord is the luckiest person on earth! Great find and great way to use the bank slabs! Cannot wait to see the finished product.
Everything you guys do is magazine worthy !!!
AMAZING !!!
I applaud you guys! How do ever stay so humble when you can turn straw into gold??!!
haha awww… thank you!
That looks GREAT! What a cool find, definitely one of a kind. I love how you make something look wonderful for minimal dollars. I’ve been reading your blog for a month or so now and I’m glad that I started reading. I love how you’re using common items (other than the first state bank limestone… not common at all) and making your home look fantastic and inviting.
Awww..thanks so much for following along.
It looks really great Deb& Danelle!
It looks really great Deb& Danelle!
Thanks so much!
I agree with a previous comment, your projects are all magazine worthy!
Awww. thank you!
You both are such fun folks with such GREAT ideas – an inspiration to us all during these trying times. Hopefully, and maybe you can talk the landlord into letting you take the concrete bank stones with you when you leave. Too bad he/she won’t kick in a couple of $$ and let you have at in and improve that outdoor space! Happy Easter!!
hahahaha I wish we could take them. I highly doubt it though.
Looks great! If you were closer, I would give you some hostas and Siberian irises .
Oh geez.. that would be great.
Really cool use of the pieces off the old bank! Love it!
Great idea!
Thanks… I’m so glad they were here.
Is there anyway I could private email or text you to ask a question
yes…. debanddanelle@gmail.com
Coolest thing ever!!! I’d hate to leave them when y’all move…..
Thanks… I will hate to leave them too.
[…] for awhile. We brought in a little shed that we will sell when we leave. And we uncovered some limestones from an old bank here in our town. Which are now incorporated into our sidewalk. And we added a […]
[…] projects, I shared some before pictures when we brought in our shed, and then when we uncovered the large limestone pieces and incorporated them into a […]
So where do you get 11F packing stone?
Your transformations are so beautiful!
This is nothing short of amazing! Good job ladies!! Those limestone slabs are priceless. Love the history there.
Thank you! I wish we could take them with us.
[…] budget because we will for sure be here all summer. We gave our fire pit a makeover and made a sidewalk from lime stones out the back door. And, even have our vegetable garden all ready to plant. Come on, Indiana […]
[…] talked about our shed and our plans for this backyard a few weeks ago. So far, we uncovered some limestone pieces and used them as a landing spot outside the back door and gave the fire pit a makeover. And, I […]