St. Louis Home Design Blog » outdoor living

Relish This: Outdoor Entertaining

Katie — Tue, 25 May 2010 23:07:56 +0000

During the summer months, there’s nothing better than a patio get-together or a relaxing party by the pool. To enhance your home’s outdoor ambience while entertaining, set a stylish backyard scene this season with fabulous outdoor furniture and colorful items for a fashionable tablescape. Here are a few of our picks for hosting warm-weather gatherings in the coming months.

This Windham Metro Classic cast aluminum dining set, available at Seasonal Concepts, will add style to your outdoor setting. For more information, visit the St. Louis location at 14121 Manchester Rd. or go to www.seasonalconceptsonline.com.

Chilewich Color Block Print placemats, available at The Gifted Gardener, will infuse bright, sunny color into your summertime tablescape. Stop by The Gifted Gardener, located at 8935 Manchester Rd., or visit them online at www.thegiftedgardener.com.

Vibrant, mix-and-match Bianca Melamine dinner plates and Everyday flatware set are pool- and patio-friendly. Crate and Barrel is located at 1 The Boulevard. Visit www.crateandbarrel.com.

Relax in (Eco-Friendly) Style

Katie — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:43:04 +0000

As springtime in St. Louis brings warm weather and plenty of opportunities for outdoor living, its time to begin sprucing up your deck, patio, poolside or lakeside space – especially as the summer months draw near. This year, consider incorpoating colorful, summer-chic furnishings into your outdoor décor, such as these charming, oversized adirondack chairs from Seasonal Concepts.

Photography courtesy of Seasonal Concepts

These Old Forge Adirondack chairs by New River are handcrafted from Brazilian Cherry and available in two eco-friendly finishes: Reve and ClearCare. The Reve finish is a water-based factory finish that moves with the natural expansion and contraction of the wood, which also prevents fading, checking, cracking, splitting, rot and pests. ClearCare is a water-based factory finish that allows the wood's natural grain to show through while providing adequate protection.

Visit www.seasonalconceptsonline.com for more information or to place an order, or stop by the St. Louis location, 14121 Manchester Rd., 636-227-4044.

A Common Thread

Vicki — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:01:26 +0000

In my home, our covered patio is a favorite space for relaxing with a cup of coffee and a stack of magazines on breezy summer days. My husband took this quick photo when my daughters’ puppies hopped in my lap.

I’ve met the most fascinating people over the past couple of years as editor of SLHL and have gratefully accepted generous invitations to see many of the city’s truly spectacular homes. And through meetings and interviews with dozens of interesting, gracious homeowners, I’ve discovered a common thread that ties all of us together, no matter the shape or size of our homes. Stated simply, it is the desire for a personal space – one that encourages each of us to refresh, to dream, and for some, to create. It’s not an understatement to say that these spaces – from the coziest studios, niches and nooks to the perfect outdoor spots that connect one to nature – provide the place for our spirits to rejuvenate.

In this issue, our featured urban home is a unique residence with personalized spaces for the couple. With a small art studio for Jeanne Marie and a separate workspace for Joe, the home, even with its concise space planning, meets the homeowners’ needs splendidly.

In our suburban home, a handsome library – a serene art- and book-filled space – provides the homeowners with a quiet area for study and relaxation, and it extends to a cozy, private outdoor terrace that looks out toward the beautiful Missouri river valley of St. Albans.

And with summer in swing, our My Space and Outdoor Living features highlight spaces for gathering, relaxing and “getting away from it all.” These idyllic spaces are perfect for taking a few minutes to unwind – or to gather and share the grand outdoors – in customized spaces created with family members in mind.

At SLHL, we are happy to provide inspiration and point you toward design professionals you’ll need to “stitch together” the template for your own space. Whether you expand, remodel or create a new haven, I hope that it is a wonderful process and the outcome is all that you imagined it would be.

I’m headed to my patio with a cup of coffee and my favorite magazine.

Happy planning,
Vicki Pickle