Waiting for Summer

It's been raining for what feels like weeks here in the Pacific Northwest. I suppose I should expect it, it's only April 1st, after all, but I'm so tired of all the dreariness! Since summer seems so far away, and since we'll probably not see temperatures in the 80's until July, I'm dreaming of sitting on a patio, sipping an ice-cold lemonade. Preferably while a Jake Gyllenhaal-lookalike fans me, but it's more likely that Scott will be mowing the lawn or playing with the dogs, so my patio had better be pretty calming!

Nothing's more relaxing than a day at the beach, so I'm pulling inspiration from shades of blue and natural wood tones and textures like wicker. And since our patio at the new house looks like this currently, it needs all the help it can get!

Notice the wall on the right side? Completely useless. You can move it back and forth and the roof stays in place. That window? Not from the house, it's just something that someone found somewhere else. The barbecue is rusted (not such a loss, since we bought one last summer), and the corrugated plastic roof is green with algae. Just something else I'd love to tear down!
This is what I'm thinking of for a patio:






I think the pendant lamp fixture is gorgeous, although I'm not sure how something like that would really work outside if I took off the roof. A huge rounded loveseat to sink into when Jake brings my lemonades would be amazing, and it's big enough for the dogs to lay on, too. The corrugated metal drink station would be great for a pitcher of water or sangria during a party. Plant stands at different heights add visual interest (preferably topped with hearty plants since I don't have a green thumb), and I love the all-weather rug with a geometric pattern, since it will do a great job of hiding dirt! Maybe over time our beige concrete patio will transform into something more relaxing--I can only hope!