POOL PARTY!

CREATE THE CHIC WITHOUT CRUSHING YOUR CASH

Outdoor spaces are all about being comfortable. Throw in a little “chic” and create the perfect LBD to soak up some sun. A spot to cool off in the shade is also a necessity to keep us all looking good for years to come! With pool or without….get ready for summertime!

Memorial day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer season. It is the time when pools and backyards open, and we need to be ready for cook outs, picnics and bbq’s. Family gatherings and get togethers with friends occur more often this season. We’ve got big dreams! With the kick off to summer, everyone wants to be outside enjoying outdoor bars, patio dining and swimming pools. We all have a vision of what we want these extensions of our homes to look like and how we want them to function. Of course our outdoor “homes” all look like these and are ready to go.

Well, maybe not. The problem with creating outdoor spaces is they are hard to plan for. In most of the country we need them for the summer. Trying to do major renovations is tricky. Spring weather keeps us from getting started soon enough to finish when we want to be using the space. Trying to start a renovation after the season means when….September after the kids go back to school? But it might still be nice and we could be enjoying a few more weeks of fun. So we wait and then things get uncomfortably close to the holidays. After the holidays we are exhausted and looking at the credit card statements saying we will wait a bit more. Spring comes and the cycle starts all over again. See, there is not a good time to do projects to use in the summer – except summer! Since it’s already May, and short of buying a property where someone else has already resolved this dilemma…let’s look at ways to make the most of the spaces we have. Let’s create chic style and have it all arrive in a few days. Maybe work on a few small projects but keep your cocktail service open all summer. Those workers are going to be thirsty!

Create A Summer Season with Style

OUTDOOR LIGHTING

It’s fun, it’s “cheap” and it can make almost any decor more WOW. Think of these old fashioned car lot bulbs the Christmas Lights of the Summer.

See Lights at Wayfair Here

While both Laurel and I think a cooler and bar cart are great adds to any outdoor space, I personally like to add soft textiles to the decor. Save the terry cloth towels for the beach and try a Turkish Pestamel. They come in so many colors, dry so fast, can double as wraps to swimsuits. Roll them and have a basket full for all guests. Coordinate new outdoor pillows with the these towels and create new looks to existing furniture.

My contributions are always going to have how we will eat in mind! Outdoor dinnerware can make meals more fun, and safe. Agree, fill up the ice bucket to keep drinks chilled…but let’s use safe glasses for the beverages. A low, no stem style tumbler can work for almost any beverage…for kiddos and adults. Several plain colored plates/bowls can mix and match to all occasions. I prefer black/white service dishes so the food looks ready for a photo shoot even if it’s just dogs/burgers. Throw in those cute (or nasty) napkins and you can be an instant event planner! I chose a few different pillows, and basket to store the Turks in to show how many ways you can change up the concept.