Over the past few years, I’ve been pouring my heart into transforming our 65-acre homestead into a true forever home. It’s been a journey filled with patience, learning and one project at a time — and it’s been so rewarding to see this come to life.
One of the most beautiful spots on our property is a quiet hillside that overlooks rolling hills. Last year, I built a covered daybed swing using Simpson Strong-Tie® Outdoor Accents® decorative hardware, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite places to unwind and take in the view.
Just a short walk from there is another area I’ve always dreamed of turning into something special. I love hosting and dining alfresco in the summer, and I wanted a dedicated space to gather with family and friends, share meals and soak up the slower moments of the season.
This summer, we created just such a space — with a little help from Simpson Strong-Tie once again. I’ve worked with their products on several projects across our property, including our porch build (using their concealed connectors), a custom garden fence (using their Fence Planner Software™), and even my chicken coop shed to house our chickens. So, when it came time to build a DIY pergola, I knew exactly who to partner with.
We chose the Sage System™ pergola builder — and it was the perfect solution. My family and I built a 10′ x 10′ double-bay pergola using 6×6 posts, and we completed the whole project in under half a day! It was truly one of the most straightforward and satisfying builds we’ve done together.
If you’ve got a back patio or yard space and want to spruce it up, I can’t recommend this system enough. The Sage System is designed for easy assembly and offers flexible options for both 4×4 and 6×6 posts in 8′ x 8′ or 10′ x 10′, single- or double-bay configurations.
We added the Sage System sunshade (sold separately), which looks beautiful and provides the perfect amount of cover. You can easily swap the shade for rafters if that suits your style better. To finish off the space, we planted wisteria at all four corners, and I can already picture it climbing the posts and spilling over the top — it’s going to be absolutely stunning once it matures.
This pergola has truly transformed our backyard into a shaded, welcoming space that we’ll enjoy all season long for many years to come. Whether it’s family dinners, early morning journaling sessions with coffee, or a quiet place to rest, this space has already become a favorite.
Want to see the entire assembly process for our new Sage System pergola? Check out my YouTube video to watch the full pergola build — and don’t forget to check out the full line of Outdoor Accents hardware and the Sage™ Pergola System at the Simpson Strong-Tie website!
