It’s easy to create a vacation right in your own backyard

August 19, 2006 By

With the exception of the recent wave of unbearably hot temperatures, we are lucky that Bay Area summers provide us with many wonderfully balmy evenings. On warm nights, my husband and I enjoy sitting on our backyard patio, especially now that most of our landscaping projects have been completed. In fact, at this moment I am writing this column on my laptop in the backyard, admiring the pink flowers of our Crepe Myrtle that is in full bloom.

I’ve noticed that during our vacations, my husband and I spend a lot of time outdoors. We take walks and explore, we drink our morning coffee on the deck, and at restaurants we frequently ask to be seated outside. (Oh, how we loved the hot tub on our private deck at the spa resort we stayed in during our last getaway!) I admit that our hectic daily schedules keep us from spending as much time outside as we might like. But perhaps one of these ideas will inspire you to recreate that vacation feel in your own yard.

For your next dinner outside, set a beautiful table, using cloth napkins, placemats and real dishes, not paper plates. Serve beverages in elegant goblets, and arrange a casual centerpiece of fresh flowers. As the sun sets, light candles for ambiance. What a lovely setting for a romantic meal for two or a special family dinner.

For a more casual dinner event, how about having a picnic on the lawn? Young kids would love to spread a blanket and set out paper plates, cups and plastic utensils. Your meal could be something simple such as store-bought chicken and salad or deli sandwiches. What you eat for dinner is less important than the time the family spends together.

One of the things my family likes to do while on vacation is play board games. At home it seems like there is never enough time. A great way to make a regular weeknight feel like vacation is to play a game outside in the backyard. Instead of watching television after dinner, pop some popcorn, light some candles and play a game with your family. A lantern used for camping can also provide ample light.

Currently there are many products on the market specially designed for outdoor living. Upholstered furniture pieces are available in durable indoor/outdoor fabrics. These fabrics resist fading and moisture, and now come in a large variety of styles and colors. How about some throw pillows to make a bench or hammock even more comfortable? And wouldn’t it be nice to create an outdoor living room with a sofa and chairs? Have you seen the indoor/outdoor area rugs and plug-in lamps? With a lamp, a chair and ottoman, and a blanket in case it gets chilly, you can create a cozy reading corner in your yard. Don’t forget a side table for a cup of tea and dessert.

This article first appeared in Alameda Newspaper Group papers on Aug. 19, 2006.

Filed Under: Outdoor Decorating

Collecting art on travels can fill your home with treasures

July 8, 2006 By

My husband and I will soon be celebrating our 18-year wedding anniversary at a luxurious spa near San Luis Obispo. We are looking forward to a few days of rest and relaxation– a well-deserved reward for ourselves. With spa treatments scheduled and the ocean nearby, it should be a wonderful getaway.

One of the things my husband and I like to do on vacation is visit art galleries. In fact, this is a hobby I have enjoyed since I was young. Over the years we have purchased a few pieces of art that remind us of our travels. Many years ago we spent a delightful weekend in Mendocino. There we found a beautiful lithograph that still hangs in our living room. It is a unique contemporary representation of wine grapes and the ocean. Looking at it brings back fond memories. We also have art from Puerto Rico, where my family originates, as well as artwork from our honeymoon in Canada, my summer abroad in Mexico City, and a visit to Spain when I was a teenager.

Artwork is a wonderful souvenir to bring home from a trip. You can prolong the good feelings associated with vacations by hanging a piece of locally made art in your home. Art galleries are treasure troves of unique and special items. It is interesting to see how different artists capture the same scene in different ways, from the realism of photographs to impressionistic watercolors, to abstract collages. A person I know has a collection of drawings of the California missions she has visited, a real conversation piece in her home. Each one was drawn by a different artist, which makes it fun to make comparisons. And just to point out that art can take many forms, another friend has decorated his office with artistic photographs of all of the baseball stadiums he has visited across the United States. But don’t feel that you must start a collection– just one special piece can be enough.

Sometimes at art shows and galleries you can be fortunate enough to meet the artist. This makes the experience even more memorable– you will feel like the art was created just for you. There is something very special about purchasing original art, however, the cost can be prohibitive. Many artists offer prints of their works at very affordable prices.

As you are browsing, also take a look at outdoor art. On a vacation in Santa Fe, we enjoyed seeing gorgeous three-dimensional art for the garden. There were wall hangings made of copper, abstract sculptures and handcrafted wooden benches. A metal sculpture can turn a nondescript corner of your garden into an eye-catching focal point. And consider decorating a back fence with a collection of hanging flowerpots or one large copper sunburst.

Don’t worry about leaving enough room in your suitcase for all of this artwork. Most galleries will offer to ship your purchases home for you. You will have a nice surprise waiting for you when you arrive home.

This article first appeared in Alameda Newspaper Group papers on July 8, 2006.

Filed Under: Accessories, Art, Outdoor Decorating

Colorful and Comfortable Outdoor Living

July 15, 2005 By

With summer in full swing, it’s a great time to enhance and enjoy your outdoor living space. Think of your porch or patio as an extension of your home. To provide continuity, carry your color scheme outdoors. For example, in my kitchen I have a cobalt blue glass tile backsplash. I’ve brought the blue outside with large blue pots of flowers and a blue ceramic fountain. I’ve also repeated my kitchen color scheme outdoors with plastic dishware and table linens.

As you decorate your patio, arrange furniture as you would indoors. For instance, think of your large rectangular patio as if it were a living room/dining room combination. Arrange a sitting area on one side, with a dining area on the other side. Add cushions and pillows for comfort and color. Your sitting area could be an outdoor sofa and loveseat, or try a grouping of several chairs surrounding a fire pit.

You may also want to create a quiet reading area separate from the living area. Arrange a comfortable lounge chair and table, perfect for curling up with a glass of iced tea and a good novel.

Incorporate a storage area outdoors to make storing the cushions and pillows convenient. A large trunk can serve as storage and also as an additional serving table for parties. Or you can create space in a shed or in your garage.

Lighting can give this space a warm glow in the evening. Try a hanging light fixture or a “candelier” above the dining table. Or how about strings of tiny white Christmas lights? Now you can also find table and floor lamps specially designed for outdoor use.

Consider adding drapery treatments to your patio for warmth, color, softness and privacy. There are many attractive water- and fade-resistant fabrics now that are specially made to withstand the elements. These fabrics can also be used to make coordinating cushions, pillows or table linens.

For ambience, nothing beats a water feature. You can find tabletop fountains, wall-mounted fountains and freestanding fountains in a wide variety of styles and materials. Listening to the sound of trickling water will be instantly relaxing.

Art and accessories add a wonderful personal touch to your outdoor living space. A large exterior wall is a great spot for a painted mural or metal wall art. A sculpture or gazing ball can be a beautiful focal point in a prominent corner of your garden. A long stretch of fence can provide the perfect spot for a collection of birdhouses or colorful ceramic platters.

With some imagination, your patio may become the best room in the house.e.

This article appeared in The Tri-City Voice on July 15, 2005.

Filed Under: Outdoor Decorating, Seasonal Decorating Tagged With: ,