Ideas for this bit please

Here are some pics of the area that a couple of weekends ago was my temporary barbecue kitchen area, prior to that was just a 'storage' area for junk, and post then has become a temporary storage area for the broken bricks of my recently demolished pointless wall.

While attempting to rebuild an arbour I was given over a year ago, which I've since discovered is too rotten to rebuild, I was inspired by the sectioned off look. The bit of ground between the wood fence and the nearest of the two trellis is going to be made into the morning patio/barbie kitchen. Its ideally positioned for both roles, being away from the houses, catching the best of the morning sun, and being just outside of the area where where I've built the lad his play area so the idea is we'll be able to sit there and chill while he plays.

I'm posting these pics partly as a 'before' so as to motivate myself to get on with it, but also because I'm hoping for inspiration from you good folks.

 

I'll have to come back to you on that one Dave.

 

I know, I know, that end is a tip. The half behind the camera is coming along nicely though.

 

Sorry, overreaction

 

No, not at all. It is a tip. I'm determined to make it nice though. And if you look at the very back in pic 2, you'll see that tatties are busily breaking up the knackered soil to make it nice for next year (as well as hopefully producing a half decent crop in a month or so).

 

So indeed they are. Doing a lot better than my plot this year. Putting my bit down to bedding plants now, in a efffort to flog the place.

 

What about a nice pergola? Maybe with a Wisteria, choice Passiflora perhaps or whatever else takes your fancy.............

Could be useful for growing borderline hardy plants too come the winter.

 

Because you want it to be dual purpose and it is a relatively small space, I'd be tempted to invest in a Barmouth Party Arbour I was very tempted myself but Mr Mum wouldn't have it and neither of us are DIY'ers. The best price I found was at B&Q (which I've linked to) and the reviews are quite good.

You'd get the best of both worlds: a lovely retreat to catch the morning sun, plus a place to BBQ and entertain.

 

PS You might want to put a whirligig washing line in for Mrs clueless if you can find a space

 

Lay some slabs so even if it's a bit mucky you can use it. Where is the bbq going? Get a bench or a couple of chairs and some pots of herbs to use while you're cooking. If you need a bit of cover from th sun you could put one of these up.......
http://www.primrose.co.uk/shade-sails-c-85.html

 

Ooh, if it's to be more of a permanent BBQ and seating area, how about an outdoor kitchen/diner? Breezblock walls, rendered and painted, and either side of the barbie breeze block square planters? A nice bit of slab floor with a table and chairs too.............

 

first get a skip. then have a brick&timber party- invite your friends give them a can and ask them to throw some timber or bricks into the skip. this done take another photo and we can have another chuckle at your 'progress'

 

Er... quite

 

But if I throw away all my junk, I'll have to pay to have it taken away then I'll have to pay again for someone to bring similar junk back so that I can build something.

 

I probably should have mentioned at the start, I have at my disposal a collection of junk stacked away in another corner somewhere you can't see in the pic.

I have a collection of:
* Big lumps of sandstone
* Big lumps of some nearly black stone that I think is granite
* Loads of broken paving slabs of assorted shapes and sizes
* Quite a few old building bricks
* Plenty of busted bricks that I can use as hardcore for a foundation.