Maren Grady

DIY Patio Furniture Enthusiast & Restoration Guide

I'm Maren, and I've spent the last decade transforming my backyard from a neglected space into an outdoor living room—mostly out of necessity and a stubborn refusal to drop $3,000 on a new patio set. What started as salvaging a wobbly chair from a curb sale turned into a deep dive into restringing, reupholstering, and building outdoor furniture from scratch. Now I spend weekends in my garage with a heat gun and fabric scraps, figuring out what works. I share what I learn because I believe good patio furniture shouldn't have an expiration date, and neither should your budget. I keep a pair of rescue dogs who've tested every cushion and outdoor fabric known to humankind.