Design update: Pergola & garden makeover

There’s something very satisfying about seeing a project finally take shape—especially when it’s been sitting in your brain (and on the blog) for months. The pergola makeover was project number three on my list of 2025 plans and I’m happy to report: we’re well underway.

The idea was never to do a full rebuild, but to give this awkwardly country-ish structure a new identity. One that actually suits the garden and feels more us—modern, relaxed and a little bit unexpected.

That colour!

Let’s start with the most surprising decision: We’re (aka Mr M) staining the pergola in Resene Jacaranda—a rich, muted tone with a soft purple undertone. Not a typical pergola shade, I know, but that’s kind of the point. I didn’t want to default to another off-the-shelf grey, green or brown. I wanted something with character. It’ll sit beautifully against all the green and once the floaty curtains are up, I think it’ll be quietly fabulous.

Speaking of…

DIY curtains & sun filtering fabric

I’m recycling the old white curtains from the gym room makeover (waste not!) and repurposing them for the pergola. I’ll run them along the sides to add softness, movement and a bit of shade. I’m also making long strips of a lightweight patterned fabric that will run under the new roof—partly to diffuse the light and partly to hide the inevitable mess that will land on the clear perspex (leaves, bird activity, general gunk). Cheap fabric + a sewing machine = big impact.

Roof? Done.

We’ve added a clear perspex roof and I love it. It means we can finally sit out there even if it drizzles and the table is no longer constantly covered in soggy leaves. We had the country-house-style angled slats sawed off and the whole thing now feels a hundred times more modern.

Mr M is currently busy sanding everything down, ready for the Jacaranda stain. It’s all starting to look like a pergola we chose, not one we inherited.

Lighting things up

For the evenings, we’ll add festoon lights for that soft glow and I’m throwing in a few paper lanterns too for texture. Up until now, we’ve only used solar lights, which look pretty but aren’t reliable. Now that the space is covered, we can play around with real lighting without worrying about rain wrecking everything.

Over by the fireplace…

The little fire bowl seating area is taking shape too. All I had to do was order a couple of cute outdoor side tables—we already have more chairs than anyone needs (I do have a bit of a chair habit). This area won’t be covered—it’s meant for long evenings under the stars, ideally with a drink in hand.

Goodbye spa pool, hello garden shed

In less glamorous news: the spa pool is gone. It came with the house and we never really used it. It lived in a dark, awkward corner full of spiders, overhanging trees and general leaf mulch. I went in it twice. Mr M maybe three times.

We’ve finally let it go and in its place? A spot for a garden shed. Yes, a shed. Because storing all our tools, lawnmower and outdoor gear in the garage isn’t ideal. I know a lot of people would swap a shed for a jacuzzi, but apparently I’ve done the reverse and I regret nothing.

With summer on our doorstep, the timing couldn’t be better. This is a makeover that’s not too expensive and has a quick turnaround. The best kind, really. And the whole space—pergola, deck and garden—is finally starting to feel like it was designed to be used by us.