7 minute read
Jackie Glass: Bringing Summer Into Your Home
For many of us, the first signs of warmer weather send us into a frenzy of cleaning up our gardens, hosing down outdoor furniture, and heading out to garden nurseries to find plants and flowers for our patios and decks.
Weekend migrations to cottage country also begin, as those spaces need to be opened up in readiness for a busy summer season of family and friends.
The heralding of a new season never fails to get my creative design juices going. What colour will I use for my outdoor table entertaining this year? Do I need new cushions, pillows, or slipcovers? Does the deck need another coat of paint or a fresh new colour?
I always do an existing inventory list of all my outdoor furniture to see what I need to add in terms of seating.
Early in the season, I head out to different stores (Real Canadian Superstore and Canadian Tire) to see what the new outdoor colour palettes will be, and have no end of fun adding to my staple pieces with these new additions.
Often it is just some new table napkins or a set of coloured stemware that can brighten up a tablescape for the new summer season ahead.
So whether you are cottage-bound this summer or just want some summer sunshine in your city home, here are some of my favourite ways to refresh your living space.
TABLESCAPE INSPO
Because all of us love to eat outside every chance we get in the summer, I usually try to find pretty ways to dress up my exterior dining table first.
Starting with the basics, I love natural placemats in materials that are woven. These provide a neutral base for any coloured dinnerware and are easy to care for. You can get faux woven placemats or tablecloths too. And they look pretty good!
Depending on your colour scheme, white dishes always work whether porcelain or resin, but I do love the ease of resin dishware for outdoor use. The styles and textures have come a long way. My current set looks like spun pottery and will never chip!
One of my favourite tips for changing up seasonal tableware is that you do not have to commit to an entire set. I often augment my existing dishes with bowls, platters, or salad plates.
This is an easy way to add a different colour or pattern. Another favourite is new stemware. There are so many styles available and they look so realistic plus they are great for poolside entertaining.
While I love candles on my dinner table, we have all experienced windy evenings and no candlelight, not to mention the blown wax on the table.
Battery-operated candles are a great solution and I do use them, but I am loving the chargeable lamps right now. They come in many styles and are suitable for the outdoors. I recently purchased a very simple but modern white style and am looking forward to my next dinner party to try them out!
Lining a walkway with torches is very inviting especially when you are entertaining, but they can blow out if there is wind so consider solar torches. They last throughout the year and look so realistic!
Always a fan of foraging, I tend to raid my garden for some fresh flowers or greens for a natural look.
I always tie everything together with napkins – I use cloth but also love the oversized paper napkins. These come in jumbo size and usually last me all season. They also provide me with a fun colour palette that extends to the seating area of my patio.
SEATING INSPO
Many of us use the same outdoor patio set year after year which makes sense. But nothing refreshes a set more than a few new toss cushions. These pops of colour add freshness. I also coordinate my umbrella colour with the cushion colours which are easy to order online in multiple colours and patterns.
Slipcovers are another way to update worn seat pads. Always look for outdoor fabrics. There are many colours and patterns available. I am very excited to use an outdoor velvet fabric this year. I love the look and feel of a velvet indoors so I was delighted to see this texture appear for outdoor living spaces.
Don’t forget to add small seating like ottomans. These are great to pull up when needed.
I have always encouraged clients to have more than one seating area if possible in their home.
In addition to a sectional or grouping of couches and chairs, I like to position chairs in a “lounge-like” formation. I automatically look at a room to see if this can happen.
This area is perfect for more intimate entertaining, reading, pre-dinner drinks, dessert – it has multiple uses and it also works perfectly for an exterior space too!
Whether it be classic Adirondacks or chairs matched to the rest of your outdoor set, it is a nice way to group people when you are outside.
Consider a coffee table or a fire pit – whatever works for your space. The result is a wonderful place to roast marshmallows, study the stars and enjoy our beautiful Canadian summer!
An outdoor bar cart is also a necessity ― it is always good to have on hand for beverages and desserts. Plus it is mobile so it can be rolled around your patio area.
Invest in some outdoor area rugs. If your theme is natural, sisal rugs are perfect but there are many synthetic patterned rugs to choose from as well. Outdoor area rugs are perfect for defining different zones like dining and seating and can be hosed down and stored when not in use.
Nothing creates more ambiance than a fire, so let’s not overlook adding a fire pit to your patio. There are many options out there and suitable for so many types of outdoor living spaces. The added benefit is that it adds warmth, which is great on those chilly summer nights.
For fun, I also invest in some cozy throws and blankets and like to drape them over chairs or layered in baskets. I have even put out baskets of socks as the season winds down. And yes, they are colour-coordinated!
Canadian summers are short and much anticipated so it is nice to make the most of it for as long as we can! Happy summer!
My Five Essentials for Summer Living
Always have a great drink to whip up for those impromptu evening dinners – I love a good sangria.
Book your social calendar sooner rather than later. Summer flies by!
Always have a fallback plan if you intend to have dinner under the stars. Canadian summers are unpredictable so make sure you are not rained out!
A good cocktail, a barbecue, and a big salad make for an amazing meal! Keeping things simple always works!
Take the time to create a great playlist ― nothing sets a mood better than that!
