Life s a Beach A Shore Theme in Your Outdoor Space

•Ship Ahoy The Nautical Touch in Your Outdoor Living Space
 by: Debbie Rodgers Would you rather be sailing or are you strictly a shore bird? Whether you're land-locked or seaside, you can create a nautical look in your outdoor living space by following a few easy principles. You'll find that even landlubbers can answer the siren song of the sea. Although any outside space can be adapted to this motif, wooden decks are particularly suitable. And if you can manage to install a water feature so that the deck overhangs it, you'll increase the on-board...

•Luau Decorating with a Hawaiian Theme
 by: Debbie Rodgers Hawaii is a first choice travel destination with millions of people - and for good reason. Bring a little of that island feeling into your home, either indoors or in your outdoor living space. You can apply this theme to an elegant dinner party, a fun and funky luau, or anything in between. 1. First, look at the space itself, including floors, walls, roof or ceiling. Texture Think natural materials. Try bamboo matting on the floor. It's fairly inexpensive, very...

•How to Decorate your Outdoor Space without Breaking the Bank
 by: Debbie Rodgers Noted English clergyman Sydney Smith (1771-1845) is quoted as saying, Economy in the estimation of common minds means the absence of all taste and comfort. But finding thrifty ways to decorate your outdoor living space doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice either of those things. Here are some ideas to help you: Forget trying to find that perfectly matched 9-piece patio set at the first garage sale you stop at. If a matched set is what your heart truly desires then by...

•Cozy Nooks Creating a Secret Outdoor Place
 by: Debbie Rodgers Everyone seems to love a secret -- and when the secret is a nook in your outdoor space, all the better. A nook is defined as a private or secluded quiet inner place. Any outside space, from a balcony to an acre estate can benefit from including a nook. Here are points to consider: Purpose It doesn't make any sense to set up a secluded garden reading bench if you never have the time to pick up a book. But maybe you'd like to spend 15 minutes in the morning over coffee...

•Escape to Sunny Mexico at Home
 by: Debbie Rodgers Can't get away for a southern vacation this year? Don't despair -- plan a sunny Mexican style refresher for your patio décor and enjoy the festive atmosphere of a hacienda at home this summer. As with every other decorating style, Mexican décor has its own basic elements. Color The predominant color in the sunny Mexican look is yellow -- bright, cheery and warm. If you're lucky enough to be working with an outdoor space that abuts a stucco house exterior,...

•Warm Up the Night Patio Heaters and Fire Pits
 by: Debbie Rodgers In some areas right now, the weather is ideal for sitting outside in the evening -- the bugs have gone and the sky is clear -- but the nights are chilly. Don't let the cool evenings send you inside -- extend your outdoor living season by heating your deck or patio. Different heaters are available for different needs and circumstances. A heater will be powered by propane, natural gas, alcohol-gel, electricity, wood, or wood substitutes such as charcoal or artificial...

•Light Up the Night Quick Facts about Outdoor Lighting
 by: Debbie Rodgers When the days start to get shorter, the darkness may drive us inside from our porches, patios or decks. Don’t despair – outdoor lighting can lengthen the day and dramatically extend the potential of our outdoor living spaces. The first step, as with any project, is to plan. How do you want to use this space after dark, and what lighting will you need? Lighting can be summarized in four categories: Security lighting is needed in highly vulnerable areas of your...

•Fall for Outdoor Entertaining This Autumn
 by: Debbie Rodgers Aaaah, autumn! It's the perfect time to entertain outdoors -- most of the bugs are gone, the sun isn't scorching even though it's warm enough to enjoy an afternoon or evening al fresco, and there's a bounty of good things to serve for an outdoor meal. Because the days are shorter in the autumn, outdoor entertaining in the fall calls for special attention to lighting and temperature. Lighting The earlier sunset will afford you an ideal opportunity to bathe your...

•Come With Me To The Casbah
 by: Debbie Rodgers A ripe persimmon is a thing of beauty – sweet, succulent and an amazing shade of orange-red. Orange and red continue to be popular colors in decorating this year but 2004’s shades are softer and more vibrant, like ripe persimmons and pomegranates. Don’t limit these jewel-tones to the inside of your house. They can be incorporated into a beautiful outdoor theme by using the rich and exotic influences of Morocco. In countries such as Morocco, which line the balmy...

•Fountains of Refreshment
 by: Debbie Rodgers When hot, sticky days hit, try to use all your senses to keep cool. Sight and sound have amazing psychological effects, even when the thermometer soars. One of the most cooling and relaxing sounds I know is that of a trickling spring. It relaxes my mind and helps my body unwind. In the city, it can drown out the sounds of the daily hustle and bustle of life, calming and refreshing the spirit. I also love the glinting, reflective surface of water. You can have the...