Nothing Like a Party!

There’s nothing like a party to get things done around your house and garden.  When I was planning my son’s 40th birthday party in early May, I got busy making sure our deck was party-ready.  Deferred maintenance becomes really obvious when you start envisioning things from a guest’s point of view.  Here are four essentials for turning your deck into an outdoor room. 

  1.  Clear the deck: If your deck is stone, concrete or composite, give it a good power wash to get rid of dirt and algae.  If it’s wood, it may need cleaning, sanding, and refinishing.  Here’s my deck as it looked “BEFORE,” when we first moved in:
  2. Define the space:  Put down an outdoor rug to add color and define the space as a room.
  3. Add furniture:  If space permits, add seating and dining furniture.  If you have a limited budget, check out resale shops and garage sales.  If your old furniture looks tired, give it a coat of spray paint (my bistro table and chairs, above, have gone through many color incarnations).  I love textiles, and my  citrus-bright cushions warm up our north-facing deck.  The Sunbrella indoor-outdoor fabrics from Robert Allen are still going strong after five years.
  4. Add accessories: Pots of flowers, herbs, and trees give life to your outdoor deck.  An umbrella is a must for shade relief.  A serving cart, decorative trays, and candles in hurricane lanterns add a festive touch.  This year I saw a tablecloth in a catalog that looked like it would work perfectly as a topper over my lemon-yellow round tablecloth, so I sent away for it.  When it arrived, I was delighted with the way it not only added citrus accents (literally), but included a mosaic tile-like border of blue-and-white.

 

Since I have a lot of blue-and-white dishes, this 54″ square linen tablecloth gave me a wide range of options for setting my outdoor dining table.

DETAIL: Blue-and-white dishes on tablecloth

There’s nothing like dining al fresco with your family on a warm summer evening, or having a few friends over for drinks on the terrace in fine weather.  I hope these ideas give you some inspiration for creating your own outdoor rooms.

 

 

There are 4 Comments to "Nothing Like a Party!"

  • Jerri-Jo Idarius says:

    It is so wonderful to see your amazing work and to review your past accomplishments as well. Somehow the three of us figured out what to do as entrepreneurs and have created a wonderfully creative lifestyle.

  • Judi Cleghorn says:

    I just love this space. I echo your endorsement of Sunbrella fabrics. They don’t fade, even in direct sun. They wear like iron but are soft enough to the touch. Last through rain. And come in gorgeous colors, textures and surprising sophisticated weaves. A real positive innovation in the world of outdoor fabrics! So worth a little extra money, because how long they last and look really good.

    Kathia, this sunny citrus based collection is just smashing. It’s so perky and inviting, summery and classic, but fresh and innovative. Thanks for being a constant inspiration to me, in so many ways!!!
    Love, Cuz (Judi)

  • Holly Stickley says:

    So bright and cheery with a sophisticated touch! Love it! Thanks Kathia!

  • Holly Stickley says:

    Wonderful! So bright and cheery with a sophisticated touch! Love it! Thanks Kathia!

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