Garage Decorative Pergola Awning

Last Summer when I repainted the garage, the plan was to put up a decorative pergola awning over the door. Not only would it look nice, but it would also give the climbing rose something to grab onto when it outgrew the trellis.

Fast forward and we got busy with other things. And more things. And suddenly it's the day after we get back from Cape Cod at the end of the summer, and Mike is half in the mood to relax, half ready for a new project. And I notice that the rose is juuuuuust starting to outgrow the trellis on the side of the garage. 

Before I know it, specs are drawn, lumber is purchased and Mike is building away on the driveway. I took the boys to the pool with friends and by the time we got home it was more than half done. Mike finished building it before sunset. I was definitely impressed. 

My contribution was painting it. I did a coat Monday and a coat Tuesday. We hung it up on Friday of the holiday weekend. It's REALLY heavy. We were a little nervous we wouldn't be strong enough to hold it up long enough to get the bolts in with just the two of us. But with some adrenaline and determination we got it up.

We kept the design super simple on purpose - I didn't want any of the fancy ones with big braces and multiple heavy layers with lots of details. It wouldn't look right on our garage - doing that to a basic cinder block structure would be like wearing a diamond tiara with a flannel shirt, when we just needed a headband. But I think this is just the right amount of interest to dress up the front of the garage and give the rose something to grab.

I love the way it came out. It's one of those things that feels like it was always there, and that's my favorite feeling because then I know it was the right choice for us and the house. 

Now I just need to up my game and knock more out of my to-do list around here. Between the drainage project, the garden pathways and double composter, the greenhouse and the pergola awning - Mike is definitely winning this season.