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This white and red backyard shares the South Beach hip vibes. This is the outdoor space of a couple with young children.
The magnificent backyard of Doris and Anthony Lapico was featured in Canadian House and Home last summer.
The couple divided their huge backyard in activity zones. From the draped cabanas to the open air bar in the pool house to the ceiling fans over the dining tables, every detail contributes at making this stylish outdoor a paradise.
7 Design Tips for the Ultimate Outdoor Entertaining Space
If you are planning to redo your backyard, remember the 7 design tips for an ultimate outdoor entertaining space:
- Every wonderful backyard starts with great space planning. Think about the function, the circulation path and the flow when you design the areas.
- Instead of one huge dining table, Doris opted to line up 3 dining tables. When needed, you can split the tables between the kids and the adults.
- Provide the ultimate comfort by installing an awning plus a couple of wall-mounted ceiling fans over the dining area. You get more design options and can cover a larger surface if you opt for a non-retractable awning.
- Placing the bar inside a pool house with a full window wall extends the bar usage to rainy days or cold nights. It is also simpler and cheaper to install a bar fridge, an ice maker and a sink if your bar is inside.
- Do not be afraid to add glamour to your décor. Play with contrasts to surprise your guests. Here the chandelier and the ornate mirror add sophistication to modern furniture.
- Your backyard should look and feel amazing at daytime and nighttime. You want to fully enjoy every corner all day long. The activity that you do may change during the course of a day but all the space must stay usable.
- Backlighting is an amazing technique to add drama. Softly illuminate the areas where you wish to promote intimate conversations.
Categories:
OUTDOOR living
TRENDS
HOME + GARDEN
posted @ Wednesday, July 23, 2008 10:29 PM | Feedback (0)
The high-quality cookware makes a difference when cooking. They last longer but more importantly they will cook better because they distribute heat more efficiently.
A set provides the basic pots and pans that you need on a daily basis. You will add specialized pots as you need them.
Although a superior cookware set can cost a lot, it is money well spent. Cookware in large retail chains go on sale at 50% off a few times a year. So check the store flyers to spot your favorite cookware.
Finishes and base compositions
Copper pots and pans work incredibly well. I like their charming look. But they require too much work to keep their beautiful shine. This is why, stainless steel rules on my house. The only exception is my enameled cast iron Dutch oven by Le Creuset.
My basic cookware set has a copper inlay base. Some higher-end sets have a copper core with a stainless steel finishes. This is the case of the Copper-Core collection by All-Clad. I just added to my wish list.
Categories:
COOKING tools
ALL occasions
DINING
GIFT IDEAS
posted @ Saturday, May 17, 2008 5:56 PM | Feedback (1)
Instead of talking style I will talk about function. Whenever you are designing an outdoor space for entertaining, you must fulfill the function before the styling can begin. My 5 tips are to design a backyard for grownups.
Plan well defined areas
Staying at the exact spot for the entire party during is quite boring. The best party designers know that time seems to pass faster if you move your guests around from one area to the next.
To make the best use of this trick from the trades I suggest you plan a barbecue / food preparation area, a lounge area and a dining room. Place the lounge area as far as you can from the dining room.
Do not put too close either the barbecue from the dining room because of the heat and the smells. Plan to get a few sitting places close by the barbecue. A simple bench works fine. This way, a small number of guests can hang around comfortably with the cook.
Categories:
OUTDOOR living
HOME + GARDEN
posted @ Friday, July 20, 2007 10:07 PM | Feedback (5)