A Vintage Mini-Oasis Backyard Makeover

Here at Glitter Guide, we love all things vintage, so featuring Autumn Hachey and her story just seemed so appropriate. Her love of vintage goods quickly led to the start of her business, Make Moves, as she realized that one person’s “trash” can be another person’s treasure, and that something old can be made into something new (and perfect) with some TLC (and oftentimes some paint!). Her eye for design and style is evident in the beautiful pieces in her shop, as well as the spaces she has helped design, including the backyard oasis featured in this post. Just wait until you see the incredible transformation. From the colors to the décor, this space is warm, cozy and perfect for entertaining. This dreamy outdoor sanctuary has us totally swooning, so step outside and enjoy!

Wow! You really reinvented this area. What was your vision for the space?

As soon as I laid eyes on the backyard space, I knew it could be transformed into a mini oasis. With the fenced in area, it already felt private and had some really lovely overgrown ivy that made it feel like a secret garden. I wanted to play off of the overgrown foliage and make the space feel lighter, inviting and cozy. Katherine and her husband Roz wanted to use the backyard for lounging, spending time with friends, dinner al fresco and hanging out with their daughter Roxy—so I made sure to include several different “areas” within the design to complement their lifestyle. The jumping off point for the entire backyard was a vintage 1970’s rattan sofa I had in my shop. It was the perfect size for the upper deck and the design really started with that. We added lots of light woods, natural elements like rattan and jute and introduced of some more feminine colors like peaches and pinks (my favorite), and of course, some whimsical touches like string lights and a fire pit to make it feel like a cozy retreat.

before + after

What were some of the first steps you took in the redesign process?

Painting all the things! It’s miraculous how far a couple cans of paint can go in recreating a space and making it feel fresh. We started by sanding down both the top and bottom decks (with a belt sander I might add—we felt pretty boss). We painted the bottom deck with a dark charcoal gray deck and patio paint, in a tone that complemented the already existing fence that we had to decorate around. This is a good tip, by the way. As much as we’d like to have started with a completely clean slate, sometimes when you’re designing, there are pre-existing obstacles to work around. For us, it was a large metal divider that was installed on the deck years ago. Picking a shade of gray in the same color story ensured the floor worked with this element vs. against it. We really loved the idea of integrating tiles into the space, inspired by Bri Emery’s patio. Since tiling really wasn’t an option for us, we instead hand-painted a checkerboard on the top deck ourselves to give the top deck more interest (with a nod to the tile inspiration we loved). We also painted the surrounding fence in the same light gray hue we used on the top deck to marry the two spaces. It already looked like a brand-new patio after a few coats of paint!

What was the hardest part about remodeling the area?

It wasn’t necessarily difficult, but more so a lot of sweat equity went into redoing this space. We didn’t have a contractor team—me and the homeowner Kitty tackled the space on our own. It took several hours (days) to sand down two decks and the fence, and then repaint them all. Hand-painting the checkerboard on the top deck was an ambitious addition to the space that took a full day to complete on its own.

before + after

How would you describe the new style of the patio?

I would describe the patio as eclectic, vintage and feminine, with a dash of bohemian.

You’re a master vintage-hunter, but you also restore a lot of pieces. Can you tell us how you got into that?

Well, the story of Make Moves is a cool one, so I’d love to share it. In January 2017, I purchased a message board for my kitchen. You know the ones: felt board, cute white letters, perfect for those Instagrammable moments. The first phrase I crafted: Make Moves. It’s a sentiment that had been on my mind for awhile, but I couldn’t put my finger on the exact definition. The plan was to change the message every week, but for some reason, I couldn’t let it go. Later that year, I quit my cushy corporate day job, cut my hair, got a tattoo, moved into my dream apartment downtown and opened up my own vintage shop.

The shop really started because when I moved into my new apartment, I was constantly thrifting to try to furnish it. I was finding a ton of awesome things, but didn’t have room for them all in my place. That’s when someone suggested I sell the things I find, and Make Moves was born. Restoring furniture is something I have just gotten into recently. It all started with a free sofa I found online and wanted to recover. I found a reupholstery gal online to help me make it happen and from there, we’re partnered up many times to help transform pieces I find. Although I started to sell vintage items this year, I’ve been collecting (ahem…hoarding) vintage pieces for years, just waiting for the right moment to add them into a design.

Where are your favorite places to shop for non-vintage décor and furniture?

We don’t have Anthropologie Home in Canada, but it is by far one of my favorite places to browse online. I also love CB2 for its retro-inspired design. HomeSense is also great. There’s a few vintage shops in the states I love like Adaptations and Coming Soon.

What’s next for Makes Moves Vintage?

Earlier this year, we designed our first custom piece: a blush pink shell headboard. It was actually featured here first on Glitter Guide in Alyssa’s home tour! We’re working on refining our existing design and are brainstorming additional designs. We’re also planning to add a few non-vintage items into the shop that are always in stock (think brass legs and round velvet pillows!). Also, more pop-ups, international shipping and a few apparel items like Make Moves sweaters and totes—the world is our oyster!