Spring is in the Air

It is getting to be that time of year that everyone in the northern part of the country hates everyone in the south. Last weekend in Los Angeles was sunny and in the low 80's perfect outdoor entertaining weather. So, at the risk of upsetting you northerners I am going to write about my search for the perfect outdoor chair. 

This is the year, I am finally going to get my garden into shape, my outdoor dining room complete and start using the garden again after a year or so of looking at bare earth. I saw a chair on sale at Smith and Hawken at the end of last year, but was too slow and they were all sold out, so now I am searching for a chair, well 10 chairs actually. The table I have in mind will be  a fairly rustic wood one, so I want a chair to contrast that.....here are some that I found, what do you think?

I Like this one from the Sundance Catalog and at $225, it's a great deal

This one from Mecox Gardens I really like, in person it may be a little heavy, so I would have to swing by and take a look, also, I am really hoping to bring in some strong color too, so the Grey may not be a good choice. At $795 it's also a bit expensive.

I was surprised to find these at Kmart of all places. Part of the Martha Stewart Collection, I think they might be the winner. Already I am in love with the red. I am a bit concerned that these are last years stock, so finding 10 might be a challenge.

The most modern of all is to be found at the MOMA Store. I will be in NYC in a week or so, so I am going to check it out and see what it's like in person, it could also be a great choice. But at almost $500 a chair I had better fall totally in love.

Outdoor Fireplaces

With summer quickly becoming a memory, for many people trying to get those last few days and nights of outdoor entertaining it's getting down to the wire. One thing that will help to extend the season is an outdoor fire. The image above is a house that I did at the beach, which has a tendency to get a little cool, even on some nights in the summer. So, a big roaring fire is the perfect solution, but there are other ways to get this, if you aren't so lucky as to have space or budget for a full fireplace, here are some thoughts:

• Many of the big retailers, like Smith and Hawken still have some portable firepits still available (it's a seasonal item and now is not the season).
• If using a firepit, be sure to use it on a hard surface and have lots of comfortable chairs. As the nights get cooler, your friends are going to want to sit closer and closer.
• Another idea, if you are having a special party is dig a firepit in the ground, this will let you build an even bigger blaze, perhaps its not even too late to try this at the beach, now that the summer crowds have gone.
• When building these fires, don't forget that adding some scented woods, such as apple or pear can make it even more festive.
  

Outdoor Summer Living

It has been about a week since I posted last, I have been on vacation. A week in Hawaii as a summer get away is not too bad. I thought I would be diligent to continue posting every day, but alas, that was not the case. But I am back now, refreshed and ready to get going on my regular postings again.

Having just returned, I am now preaching the word about taking some time to yourself and getting away. I realise that for a lot of people a big trip is out of the question for a variety of reasons, but wouldn't it be nice if you could create a place in your own house where it felt like a vacation every day? This is not out of the realm of possibility, it might just take a little imagination, here are some thoughts about how to make your own vacation at home.

• Try creating an area under a shady tree, maybe its a hammock, find a small table that can go along side, and maybe add a small light in the tree so that you can take advantage of summer evenings.
• On a porch you can use some inexpensive sheer drapes to create and "island" kind of feel, add some natural fiber rugs and a few pillows and you are ready to start making mai tais.
• If you want to be a bit more adventurous, you can drag some of your furniture out to the yard, it takes more work but for a weekend get together it can make for a great scenario. Try getting some colorful fabrics, maybe some Indian prints to lay over your pieces and it will give your gathering an exotic feel.
• Above all, make the most of the summer, it is one of my favorite times of year, whether its a hammock in the corner of the yard or an elaborate party set up, take some time and enjoy your great outdoors, it will be winter again soon enough.

Thursday is Resource Day

I was out shopping for a client the other day and I went to one of my favorite stores and was reminded again what I liked so much about it. Often, people equate cost to quality or taste, I beg to differ. Today's resource could not be more the opposite of that idea. It is Cost Plus World Market. I love these stores, they are a treasure trove of well priced ideas. I have included a few images of some of the things I especially liked.

The first one is this great dinner set. It is sold by the piece, and while I am not convinced that a whole set is for me, I am using one or two pieces as bathroom accessories for a major celebrity client right now. I think that the pattern has such great coloration that it goes so well in a bathroom, and is a welcome relief from crystal or plain ceramic, that you see so much of. They would also make a great addition to a desk as well. The key is to find what you like, then ask the question "what else could this be?".



The next thing is this stunning folding screen. It has a woven rope pattern attached to the face, that gives it a cool hip look, but I think that for someone on a budget it would make a terrific headboard. If you want something with a bit more drama, take it all the way across the bed wall, and place your bedside tables in front. It will give your room a very chic, modern primitive feel.



Lastly, I am thrilled to announce the death of the Tiki Torch as the default backyard light. These fabulous little string lights are festive without making your garden look like a year round Cinco de Mayo party. String a bunch together and loop them back and forth over the area you want to light and sit back, and listen to the praise of your friends.



So I hope you enjoy this resource, remember the question to keep asking yourself is "what else can I use this for"?

Outdoor Rooms

With Summer right around the corner it is time to start preparing for outdoor entertaining and living. I am not sure if it is a Southern California thing, or an Australian heritage thing, but come summer, I barely see the inside of my house. I read outside, cook outside, eat outside, and generally live in the outdoors. A lot of that is because of great outdoor rooms, that cater to that kind of lifestyle. That is what I wanted to talk about today; how to go about transforming an ordinary outdoor space into a real room that you will use and cherish, here are some ideas:

• First of all identify how you live, do you spend time at a table, playing cards or games, or are you more of a lounger, it is crucial that you honestly look at what your needs are before you tackle any seating plan.




• Now that you know what your needs are, zone out the space that you have, create areas so that each member of the family has there particular needs met, for me this means a shady spot and a big floor cushion for my two dogs.




• Now, how to furnish this? If this was a regular room would you ever buy a whole suite where the chairs, sofa, and tables were all from the same series? Probably not. So don't do the same thing with outdoor furniture, mix it up a little, you will be amazed how much warmer and cozier it feels when you use different styles and patterns, just like a regular room




• Now don't forget the floor, there are a lot of exterior rugs on the market from vinyl to teak, that can really warm up a space, all of the major furniture companies sell them from Crate and Barrel to Ikea.




• Another idea is outdoor drapery, it will transform your porch into a full fledged room, in a matter of minutes. There are a lot of company's now that sell well priced exterior fabrics that you can easily have made into drapes.




• Also you may want to try some color. In the South often times you will see blue used on the ceilings of porches, apparently to keep away wasps, but it also adds a nice warmth to the space, colored ceilings are a personal favorite, and it will help this outdoor room feel more special and inviting.

Anyway, Good Luck with your adventures