Five Tips for a Fabulous Outdoor Party

It is the season we have been waiting for – time to get outdoors and enjoy warm breezes, lush plants and dining al fresco. Bring restaurant patio dining home and enjoy it with no curfew. Even with the smallest of outdoor spaces, you can present a fresh feast just like the Europeans. Dining outside has long been favored by those in the Mediterranean climate. Why not transform your own yard into a little slice of the Costa del Sol.


Whether you are freshening up an existing landscape or starting from scratch, my showcase has some tips to get you started. First, Sketch out a Floor Plan so that you know how your guests will use and flow throughout the space. Create a few seating areas along the perimeter where guest can gather and mingle. For decades, patio Furniture didn’t change much. This year’s designs are so stylish that your indoor furniture will be jealous. Your patio set may be just as unique as you are. Modern furniture designers tend to clean lines. The fashion is natural materials like wood, glass and metal in their purist form. Outdoor patio furniture is no longer restricted to a dining set. A relaxing lounge set is very on trend and oh so comfy.

Have you ever had a summer barbeque on your patio but you spent the majority of the time inside preparing the rest of the food? Now you finally have the opportunity to enjoy your guest. A free standing Cook Center and counter will allow for just that. You will be able to prepare and serve everything outside without missing a beat.

Extend the time that you spend in your new entertainment space by including a fire feature. Fire pits, walls and Fireplace help carry you through the cooler fall months and even on into winter. Your patio is no longer limited to a few short months. Be sure to use Metal Chargers to rest your dining plates when entertaining in fall. The metal chargers will conduct heat and allow for your food to stay warmer for a longer period.

Now for the biggest question, who are you going to invite to your fabulous party?

Focused Design Elements

Most focal points start with your front door. Did you know that secondary focal points can be just as important? These can include anything from water or fire features to an ornamental tree. Secondary focal points visually pull you, the viewer, through a space. If your space does not have an architectural element like a water feature or fire pit, group furniture in an area to create a prime focus. Another option would be to implement custom “quilting” with a area rug brick inlay.

Entry ways should offer a sampling of the colors and styles that the viewer will find throughout the space. Continuity and composition then become tertiary focal points. Tertiary focal points creates physical movement and flow.

Proper scale and proportion set the stage for your focal points. Consider keeping shrubs below window sills and seat walls at comfortable heights. Your furniture also plays a roll in the scale of your space. They are used as a visual reference to the architectural and cultural character of a place.

Focal points are more than visual aspects. The aesthetics of water features reach far beyond what is seen. The sound of water and the coolness associated with it are apart of our emotional response. Fire features also create a sense of excitement, warmth and even danger.

Lets start with your front door and focus on where you want to travel from there.

'Reduce,Reuse and Renew' your deciduous Trees and Shrubs NOW!

I know that we are all trying to get on the GREEN band wagon but did you know that you can work on applying those concepts to your yard right now.  The three key words of sustainability are reduce, reuse and renew.  Don't think that just because temperatures are still hovering around freezing in the Midwest, that you can't get out into your yard.  You can get out there and take initiative in 'renewing' your deciduous trees and shrubs.  The best way to do that, Dormant Pruning.  The best time to prune woody trees and shrubs is in the winter, during dormancy.  Dormant pruning may seem to be a heavy undertaking at first glance.  You will be 'reducing' the plant material by 1/3, therefore it turns out to be a smaller task.  Right?  Remove any dead, damaged or diseased branches.  This will help your plant material to rejuvenate itself each spring.  You will find more buds and a lusher canopy come June.  You should be thinking about a three year dormant pruning plan.  1/3 every year.  In a sense, you will be 'reusing' your same trees and shrubs for years to come because of the sustainable dormant pruning practices that you have implemented.  Protect your investment and more importantly protect our environment.  Now get out there and get GREEN!!