On my Fourth of July blog last week I posted pictures of a newly installed porch in a house that I designed in Nantucket. I have been so inspired by the idea of summer outdoor living that I decided to dedicate an entire blog to those special spaces.
We recently completed this outdoor area in South Hampton. One of things I strive to accomplish is to create ample living spaces with enough room for lots of friends and family to gather.
My years spent in Los Angeles, where outdoor spaces are usable year round, make me appreciate even more the time I have in the summer to live outside of my home in Connecticut. I like to think of outdoor spaces as an extension of the indoor rooms of a home, they should be comfortable, well designed and invite gathering for games, reading a book, a summer nap or a casual brunch or dinner party.
The abundance of beautiful outdoor fabrics allows for almost any piece to be brought outdoors. There is nothing more lovely than a poolside barbeque, sitting on a porch watching the sunset with a glass of rose or dining by candlelight surrounded by summer roses on a beautiful terrace. It does not have to be grand, even a simple café table surrounded by hurricanes in the garden can provide a perfect spot to enjoy the long and luxurious days of summer.
Here are a few of my go-to ideas for outdoor spaces:
Keep it simple with classic designs but make the details stand out with contrasting piping and buttons.
Wicker furniture is timeless. The good news is wicker patio furniture is offered in weather resistant materials that I love to use with patio installations. It works so well with patterned fabric including chintz and checks.
Carolyne Roehm, who has flawless style, uses blue Restoration Hardware hurricane lamps to pop an outdoor dinner table.
I love hanging vintage lamps with candles to create a romantic scene. Having cake plate jars is not only beautiful but helpful to keep things fresh.
Move the living room outdoors! I love white slipcovered sofas, blue and white Chinese jars and stools mixed in with vintage pillows. Different textures like linens ,rattan and ceramics give the space a true lived in feel. I love to bring a lamp outdoors as well.
Be spontaneous! I love to invite friends over with short notice to enjoy a beautiful night on my porch overlooking the water. Have a proven formula on how to throw a dinner party! It’s relatively easy when you know how to set up the table (that’s why I encourage clients to have collections of plates , vases, linens etc), organize the dinner with prepping as much ahead of when guests arrive and with a menu that is delicious. The results is everything looks effortless and everyone has a wonderful time.