Zooey Deschanel Has a Magical Backyard Playground

Zooey Deschanel Has a Magical Backyard Playground

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When Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott were discussing their dream home, they found a mutual love for old houses. They closed on a “magical” Georgian-style home in Los Angeles in June 2020, and moved in during February 2022 after almost two years of pandemic delays (celebrities, they’re just like us.)

One of the things that drew them to the home, Scott revealed, was the extensive green spaces. As they pulled up, everyone including the kids, — Deschanel is a mom to two kids, Elsie Otter and Charlie Wolf, from her previous relationship with Jacob Pechenik — fell in love with the property.

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“It sat on a little over an acre, and with its lush lawn and massive California sycamores, it looked like a park. Which is why when we first brought the kids by the property, they dubbed it the Park House,” Scott explained in the summer 2022 issue of Drew & Jonathan Reveal. And you know what happens when you name something, whether it’s a mangy stray dog or a beautiful home of your dreams? You keep it.”

Deschanel and Scott have spent a lot of time renovating their forever home, which needed quite a bit of work. After finally completing the project, they revealed the stunning design to fans.

Outdoors, the couple and their friends can enjoy an outdoor kitchen with a large grill, bar, and seating. Decorated with stunning blue, white and yellow Alesso Deco Marla Matte Porcelain Tiles, the space is fit for many a celebration. A large crystal clear pool completes the patio area, which is the perfect way for all of the family to cool off throughout the long Californian summers.

To help the home live up to its nickname of Park House, the outdoor space also features a giant playground that certainly gives actual parks a run for their money.

Posting a humorous Reel to Instagram, “New Girl” star Deschanel gives a nod to her love for ballet flats — her shoe of choice, certainly in her Jess Day era.

However, it wasn’t the actress’ shoe dilemma that gained viewer’s attention. The playground behind her is the envy of many, with fans commenting on how it is the perfect playground that’s sure to entice kids to spend a bunch of time outside. From the clip, it looks as though there’s several slides, climbing frames, and a tree house area that will let the youngers’ imaginations run wild.

“I’m not even worried about my shoe collection…I need to know about the fort in your back yard and how do I get one,” wrote one follower.

“Dude, your playground in the backyard is totally 🔥” commented another.

A third said: “Ima [sic] need a walk through of the playground 😂”

Although the exact playground they have is unknown until Deschanel gives fans a much-anticipated walk-through, there are several just-as-fun play forts you can call your own. They are an investment, but should give your kids a good few years of play.

B&A: A $200 DIY Redo Turns a Gloomy Patio into a Dreamy Outdoor Dining Spot

B&A: A $200 DIY Redo Turns a Gloomy Patio into a Dreamy Outdoor Dining Spot

If you’re stuck in the middle of dreary winter right now (hello, Northern Hemisphere), you might be focusing on projects that you can do inside your home to make it warm and cozy. But if you’re daydreaming about outdoor projects that you’ll be able to enjoy come warmer weather, count this welcoming patio redo from Ndandu Khavhadi, the blogger behind Just a Mom With a Drill, among your inspirations.

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In South Africa, where Ndandu and her family live, it’s customary to come together for a regular family feast called a braai — essentially a big barbecue dinner. But Ndandu was less than satisfied with her outdoor hosting space.

“This space was dull and the floor and the windows were badly damaged,” says Ndandu. Plus, the dining table was an old pine farmhouse table from the 1990s that was on its last legs. “It would force us to make the food and eat inside in the dining room,” says Ndandu, noting this was less than ideal, since the summer in South Africa is the best time to spend late afternoons and evenings outside as a family.

So Ndandu set out to make the backyard area the perfect gathering place, one step at a time. First up: the floor. “I was quoted thousands for material to re-coat the floor,” says Ndandu. “It’s money we were not willing to spend, so I went back to the drawing board and developed my own method.”

To start, Ndandu fixed cracks and holes with a cement and sand mixture, then used the same mixture to close the tiles grout lines. Once that was dry, she gave the whole place a thorough clean, applied two coats of the DIY mix, and sealed it all.

Next, Ndandu tackled the windows. She fixed up the pieces that were “almost falling apart,” as she puts it, then sanded, primed, and painted with a black enamel paint. The bold color pops against the walls, which Ndandu re-painted in a creamy neutral tone.

Finally, it was time to focus on the area’s most important piece: the dining table. Rather than replace the old one entirely, Ndandu cut off the bevelled edges of the tabletop to give it a more modern look. Then, to mask the old legs, she added corner pieces using scrap wood, which gives the look of hefty beams. (This is a great trick to borrow if you want to change up a table but aren’t sold on permanent alterations.) Finally, Ndandu painted the whole piece with chalky finish paint in black. New benches made from reclaimed wood offer lots of room for gathering, and cost almost nothing to create.

Final touches include pendant lights Ndandu DIYed using jute twine molded around balloons, and wall art she made with Masonite and acrylic paint. The total cost of this redo came to about $200 USD.

It wasn’t an easy project, but it was a true labor of love — and a process Ndandu wholly embraced. “With every step of this project, there was some kind of setback, but finding a solution or a way out gave me such joy,” she says.

“You should see how this place looks in the evening when the lights are on,” says Ndandu. “It feels like a totally different space. It feels like part of the house now. I’m definitely looking forward to the memories we create here.”

How’s that for some new year inspiration?