Last week, I gave you the full tour of our summer cabin—every room, every nook, every colorful touch I added after spending last summer decorating and designing our happy place. And now that the inside feels like “us,” it’s time to turn our attention to the outdoors… and a few quirky outbuildings that are just waiting for their glow-up. This fun picture is just an idea of what we could do! Who knows?

So what’s on deck this summer at Camp Whimsy? Let’s just say I’ve got dirt under my nails, a paintbrush ready, and a whole lot of ideas swirling.

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🌿 Landscaping Plans: Let There Be (Deer-Resistant) Color!

When we bought the cabin, the two flower beds on the property were—how shall I say it?—a total disaster. Weeds, dead branches, and a few mystery plants later, I’m ready to clean them out and replant with perennials that are both deer- and rabbit-resistant (a must out here in the woods!). I’m dreaming of a low-maintenance, high-impact garden that will survive our bitterly cold winters and come back strong year after year.

We also need foundation shrubs to help soften the cabin and make it feel more grounded in the landscape—something that feels finished but still woodsy and charming.

And because I can’t resist adding a bit of me to it all… don’t be surprised if a colorful chair ends up tucked into one of the flower beds! It’s my slow (and subtle) way of introducing Chair Whimsy to the neighborhood. After all, nothing says “I live here now” like a playful, unexpected pop of personality in your garden, right?

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🌻 The Garden Project: Rustic Fencing + Zinnias & Sunflowers

This summer, I’m finally setting up my first-ever garden here. I’m thinking rustic fencing—something homemade and weathered—to keep the critters out and the beauty in. This year, it’ll be all about growing zinnias and sunflowers, two of my favorites. I love how happy they look in a cut bouquet on the table inside.

I’m thinking about cut branches used as fence posts with a garden gate…we’ll see.

Vegetables may be in the plan for next summer, so I’m building the bones of a garden space that can grow with us.

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🚗 Solving the Mud Problem: Gravel Driveway Coming Soon

One very practical (and much-needed!) project this summer is putting in a gravel driveway and parking area. Right now, we’re pretty much living in mud—especially after it rains—and it’s not exactly ideal for unloading groceries or hopping into the car in anything but boots.

A gravel driveway will not only make life easier and cleaner, but it’ll also help define the space and give the cabin a more intentional, put-together look. It’s one of those less glamorous projects, but one I’m really looking forward to finally checking off the list.

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🎨 The Shed Makeover: A Mural, a Painted Interior & a Whimsical Touch

If you remember, I had high hopes to paint our shed last summer… but time ran out. This year, it’s a priority. The outside needs a creative paint job or maybe even a mural—I’m open to ideas if you’ve got them. I’ll be teaming up with my friend and artist, Lori Seibert on this one, so it’s sure to come out great!

Inside, the shed is split in half: one side is mine (see below), and the other side is my husband’s. My half will serve as a mix of mini gym, garden tool storage, and chair project workspace. I want to paint the interior and maybe even hang some chandeliers powered by batteries for a touch of unexpected glam in the woods.

Honestly, I would love your input—what would YOU do with a creative shed space like this?

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🛶 The Mysterious Outhouse: A Storage Makeover in the Works

At the very end of last summer, we discovered that a strange little outhouse-style building on the edge of our property actually does belong to us! Once we broke into the lock (shhh… don’t tell), we found some odd treasures: old fishing gear, plastic chairs, and trash, but no toilet, thank goodness!

This summer, we plan to paint the outside, clean up the inside, and transform it into a storage space for our kayak and canoe gear.

There’s a little window in there that’s just begging for a cute curtain or window box. I think it could become one of the most charming little corners of our property with the right creative touches.

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🪑 Oh, and Yes… There Will Be Chairs!

Of course, it wouldn’t be a true Chair Whimsy summer without a few chair makeovers sprinkled in. I’ve got a couple of vintage beauties with me to the cabin that are just waiting for their colorful transformation.

I’ll be sharing the before-and-afters, the fabrics I chose, and all the juicy details behind each one as the summer goes on—so stay tuned if you’re a fellow fabric-and-color lover!

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Want to See It All Come to Life?

As these projects unfold, I’ll be sharing updates all summer long—from flower bed makeovers to shed murals to creative outhouse transformations. If you want a front-row seat to all the color, creativity, and fun, make sure to follow along on Instagram and YouTube!

And if you missed the full cabin tour, don’t worry—you can still catch it here along with a free download of my product sources and a full video walk-through.

What Do You Think?

Got any brilliant ideas for my shed mural or creative outhouse redo? Let me know—I’d love your input as I dream and design this next chapter of cabin life.