FRESH IDEAS FOR AN OUTDOOR LIVING ROOM

Summer entertaining should be first and foremost easy. When the weather is warm, move your entertaining outside. Keep it fun and light with bright melamine plates, paper napkins and plastic handled flatware. From the beach to the garden, these items bring style by the mile.

Photo Courtesy of The House and Garden Book if Interior Decoration



The best beach and garden umbrellas I have seen are from Le Dauphin their patterns are unlike anything else out there and the quality impeccable.


CHINESE CHIPPENDALE

RED RED RED!! These gorgeous red metal painted pieces from O'brien Ironworks will look great with the green in the garden, Obrien Ironworks


Perfect pieces like this can go in a garden room or outside




The more the better! Why not upholster cushions in Chaya Gata, from China Seas and Alan Campbell through Quadrille ?

A perfect piece for a small garden would be the this Heirloom Tomato Loveseat with all the right curves from Anthropologie



A PEEK AT SOME TEAK




A teak option from Design Workshop. This has a nice small scale and clean Regency lines.


DINE WITH HIGH DESIGN


Plastic plates never looked so good. One of the best designers doing melamine in great patterns is Jill Fenichell and her company is Bongenre. Coral is here to stay, looking fresh in turquoise, from Bongenre

Natural motifs, as on these artichoke plates, are great to give as summer house gifts From CaspariCoral and floral are everywhere this season, from Caspari

Brighton Pavillion adds a bit of brit to your table


A fresh take on traditional natural bamboo, this green resin flatware pattern is easy to wash and holds up to wear and tear! For purchase through Carolyne Roehm


Set up an outdoor bar on this divine plastic Spisani tray from one of my favorite companies, Home, James!. Available from Home, James!

Eat lobster by candlelight with these chinoiserie lanterns from Pier 1 @ Pier 1



Keep the iced tea on ice in this giant pineapple dispenser from Two's Company

Now, for the food. Dust off the old copies of Loaves and Fishes and Siver Palate Cookbooks, and make some chicken salad and poached salmon for a yummy summer lunch.