I turned my yard into a naked oasis, trolls say it looks like a ‘Shein car crash’
VANESSA POWELL, 55, CALLS HER HUSBAND AND TWO DAUGHTERS FOR A FAMILY SEARCH. She pulls a delicious chicken out of the oven and sets it on the table.
Then she adds grilled vegetables, corn on the cob and salad.
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While her family gathers, Vanessa serves freshly mixed strawberry mocktails in ice-cold glasses.
The only difference between Vanessa and millions of other cooking-mad Brits is that she cooked the ENTIRE meal out… and on a budget too.
Because during the 2020 lockdown, administrative assistant Vanessa and her 49-year-old architect husband Stacey decided to renovate the entire 70-foot garden, including the asbestos-laden garage, of their three-bedroom semi-detached house in Coulsdon, Surrey.
Now it has a pergola, an outdoor kitchen and bar, solar lighting and a roof covered in vine leaves and flowers, a hot tub, a TV, a dining table, an L-shaped sofa (which is more expensive than the sofa inside), a stone floor and bar stools.
Read more about transformations
Many of the products came from Aldi, Shein and Temu, and in total she transformed it into a Love Island paradise for just £2k.
You can cook and garden naked and get a nice tan at the same time.
Vanessa Powell
Online trolls are calling it ‘tasteless’ and saying it looks like ‘Shein bumped into it’… but she doesn’t care.
Vanessa likes it so much that she sometimes sunbathes naked outside.
And she is the one who has the last laugh this week, especially on Tuesday, when the mercury rises to 32 degrees.
But her garden wasn’t always this lush. Originally, the garage contained asbestos.
The conversion of the dining/relaxation area only took place in the last six months, when Stacey realised he could knock out a wall of the shed and transform it into the ideal place to prepare food.
“We found a wooden board for the bar and painted it ourselves,” she says. “We all helped paint the new ‘garden kitchen’.
“Stacy installed a freezer and refrigerator, a beverage preparation area and a grill. He ran electrical wiring from the old garage to the shed.
“We have a barbecue that I can use to grill and roast meat, and we also have a microwave and an air fryer.
“I bake cakes, pastries, pizzas and even a roast meal outside.
“We found some great bar signs and decor on Shein. But the biggest bargain was the L-shaped sofa.”
The outdoor sofa converts into a double bed so I called and got another £69 discount.
Vanessa Powell
Vanessa saw it on Very and was able to buy it for just £200 as it was only scratched and stained when it arrived.
“I love a bargain,” she says. “The outdoor sofa converts into a double bed, so I rang up and got another £69 off.
“We found outdoor cushions on Shein. When the meal is over, we turn on the big TV that is also in the outdoor kitchen. We can all sit on the huge outdoor sofa and enjoy the movie.”
This year Vanessa invested in a hot tub which is located next to the dining area under the pergola.
Cheap Gardening Tips
- Keep weeds away with straw
According to gardeners and plant experts, all-natural straw is one of the most effective tools you can use in your garden.
You don’t have to buy a whole bale, you can usually buy smaller bundles from your local farm shop, for upwards of £1.50.
Some shops even sell ready-made bags specifically for gardens, often costing around £10, but can be found on the shelves or online. - Call your local garden center
If you are unsure about how to care for your plants, call or search online at your local garden center instead of using the Internet.
Nursery staff have up-to-date knowledge of the conditions in your region and can provide you with tips for caring for your plants that are specific to your climate and soil.
You can call them with a question or just drop by. They also want your plants to grow well. - Wood to keep snails out
Use a piece of wood to keep snails out of your garden.
According to experts, they crawl under it for shade.
Then you can collect them and throw them away. - Save your toilet paper rolls.
According to a tip from Family handyman.
Save the tubes and cut them into two-inch pieces before placing them in a watertight container.
Then simply fill the tubes with potting soil and start planting your seeds.
According to the website, if you want to put them in the garden, you can plant them directly in the tubes. Because they are cardboard, they will decompose organically.
“It was £250 in the sale, down from £550,” she says. “It was a bargain. Every night before dinner we enjoy the hot tub and cook dinner without going inside.
“Our outdoor sofa cost us more than our indoor sofa. The area is great for sunbathing, parties and family time. I also enjoy nude sunbathing and gardening when no one else is around.
“It feels so much like a living room that you forget it’s outside.
I know some people will call it tacky. Others will say it’s an Aldi and Shein car crash.
Vanessa Powell
“You can cook and garden naked and get a great tan. That’s the added bonus of our outdoor kitchen and dining area.
“I know some people will call it tacky. Others will say it’s an Aldi and Shein car crash. We think it’s great.
“Our friends come over and are amazed at what we’ve done.
“They can’t believe we didn’t hire any experts and it cost so little money. It’s like a 5-star hotel.”
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