This summer we asked you to participate in our second annual “Give Us Your Best Shot” contest. If you were building a project with our Outdoor Accents® line of decorative hardware, we wanted to see it. More than 40 customers sent in photos of pergolas, hammocks, arbors and other outdoor living projects. Of those projects we had the enjoyable challenge of selecting two winners, one for a large project and one for a smaller project.
After multiple rounds of discussion, a clear winner in the large-project category rose to the top. Blake Porter, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sent us a photo of his beautiful pergola, which he completed on his own over two months.
The self-described weekend warrior had a backyard pool that was being used only by ducks, plus a cracked patio in desperate need of repair. He thought a pergola would be a perfect addition to the yard, so he started designing and researching. He came across the Outdoor Accents line while researching post bases.
“As it was a custom build, I needed to find my own hardware solutions,” he wrote, “I really hadn’t thought much about it, and then I saw all the solutions Outdoor Accents was offering for this pergola. Perfect.”
Blake located the decorative hardware at Neu’s Hardware in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
Taking top prize in the small-projects category was Randy Irk of Auburn, Indiana. Randy submitted a photo of his pergola-inspired hammock.
As we said, it was a tough decision. Below you’ll find photos of some of the other entries into the contest. What do you think? Did we make the right choice? Are you inspired to enter next summer’s contest? Need ideas? Check out our DIY site for free project plans, and then take a look at everything in our Outdoor Accents line of stylish, corrosion-resistant connectors and fasteners.
