It's time to order everything you need for your outdoor entertaining!

Tuesday Tablescapes: Sunflowers for Friends

When the weather is nice, and I am planning a lunch for friends, I would much rather dine al fresco than at a restaurant!

After inviting three friends over for a casual lunch, I picked up a big bunch of sunflowers at the market and set a simple table beside the pool, where we could enjoy the calming sound of the fountains. A large red wooden popcorn bowl from Crate and Barrel was the perfect container for these bright yellow stunners!

Woven square place mats framed each setting of simple white plates on a crisp and clean white cloth. While a formal silver set would have been too much for this table setting, the elegant, wooden swirl handles of my favorite flatware suited it to perfection. To pull the look together, sunflower print napkins trimmed in red from Porthault, were carefully placed on each plate. The green glasses with blue rim were souvenirs from a trip my parents took to Mexico!

Sending these simple yet lovely reminders out to my friends added such a wonderful personal touch!

Our lunch in the garden was perfection, and I will continue to make "reservations" at home when I get the chance to enjoy an afternoon with friends! 

Trends in Outdoor Living

Now is the time to invest in your homes out door spaces! Spending quality time out side enjoying a great book or visiting with friends is like nothing else. It is truly an investment in yourself and, of course, will increase the value of your home. This year I have seen a few new trends in outdoor living spaces and I wanted to share some of the ideas with you!

-Lighting....I am so excited to get home from our trip because Justin has arranged to have a vintage chandelier that he found at a sale installed from a tree branch that

crosses over the center of our outdoor table. This simple and inexpensive trick will give our table even more charm and make it feel like a room of it's own. Here is a photo! You could look for fixtures at locals sales or shops like Smith and Hawken or even IKEA.

-Upscale Kitchens....Go the extra step to build in your grill. You won't believe how easy and affordable it is to build a countertop and surround for your grill and convert it to an upscale outdoor kitchen. You could install it yourself or ask a contractor. Check out the one that Justin put into our back yard using Tejas Textured Stone.

-Drapery....If you have a covered area or cabana your should warm up the space by adding some outdoor drapery. I like the simple and affordable ones offered by Ballard Designs. They will truly frame off the room and also add a coziness factor! It really gives your outdoor room that polished look.