Patio

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Readers voted to see this patio weeks ago, and it is long overdue. I know we’re almost completely past the outdoor living season, but that makes it a great time to shop for next year, since furniture, umbrellas and other patio furnishings will be marked down, sometimes drastically. The table and chairs set in this room was marked down more than $100. This helped me stay within budget while still creating a versatile space with dining space for 4 and a lounge area.

Having been born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands, I am very much a summertime type of girl. I love the warm weather, sunshine and opportunities to go swimming and wear flip flops every day. That said, moving to the states nearly 10 years ago made me appreciate the changing seasons. When you grow up in a place that’s 80 degrees all year round and no real seasons, watching the leaves change colors as fall approaches is a great experience. The other thing I love about the transition from summer to fall: sales on seasonal items.

When we are decorating our homes, it can be easy to forget about curb appeal. After all, you don’t see the outside of your home once you get inside and get comfortable and cozy. You also see your own house every day, so it isn’t uncommon for us to neglect little things that can make our homes look great from the outside — like chipping paint, an old door, or a dirty (or missing doormat).

I used to hate doormats. They are almost always ugly, and I just never liked the look of one in front of my door. That is, of course, until I realized that I’d much rather leave the remnants of everything I’ve walked on outside the front door instead of inside it.  So now that I appreciate them for function more than form, I prefer the bristly kind of doormat that acts as a sort of brush to get all the excess dirt off shoes. In that spirit, I really love this doormat.

I hit the mother lode in green summertime dining with this one! Not to mention I’ve come up with the perfect summer date with the hubby (our anniversary is coming up). I’ll say up front that while it doesn’t necessarily qualify as home decor, it could dress up your backyard in eco-chic style for an intimate afternoon or evening meal.

The Eco Picnic Basket is deserving of its name, unlike so many other products that wear the “eco” label dishonestly. Every item in the basket, and the basket itself, has green qualities, from recycled wine glasses to bamboo plates and flatware. No landfill-clogging disposable plates or napkins here.

I think summer makes everyone a little giddy. At least it does for me. It’s not just that the weather is great for going outside and visiting the local community pool, although those definitely help. It’s knowing that I get to play dress up with my patio and back yard. I know — I’m a design geek. I can’t help it.

One of my goals before I leave this Earth is to live in a home that is completely self-sufficient — a life off the grid. In fact, I want my home to produce so much alternative energy that some of it is fed back into the grid to provide power for other homes.  A lofty goal, I know. Unless I become a millionaire tomorrow (did you hear that, Universe?), that goal probably won’t be fulfilled for quite some time. Fortunately, due to the ingenuity of so many designers who are concerned about sustainability, we can take baby steps.

In the spirit of summertime living and making our outdoor spaces as beautiful and comfortable as indoors, I began hunting for an eco-friendly hammock. I also had a selfish reason for this, because I wanted to get my hubby a hammock for Father’s Day.  Being the woman I am, if I was going to buy one new, it had to be green.

I considered organic cotton, I thought about leaving it outdoors for an extended time and the moisture, elements and rain it would be susceptible to. Wet fabric leads to mold, so I had to scratch that off the list. Next up: hemp. I like hemp as much as the next guy, but it just wasn’t what I was looking for.

Now that summer is here, our outdoor living spaces are almost as important as our indoor spaces. And their decor should reflect that. I personally spend a lot of time outside, particularly in the evenings, and I hate turning on the patio lights because they use up electricity and attract lots of insects. These colorful solar-powered outdoor lamps from Brookstone will likely solve both problems.

Outdoor spaces can look as great as indoor spaces with a little effort and creativity. Thankfully Loll Designs has taken care of the effort part for us. Their collection of HDPE (recycled plastic) furniture has clean modern lines, with the bones of a traditional Adirondack chair. The club chair is one of the standouts of the collection. Available in black and white, it is a great fit for a patio or porch on a traditional or contemporary home. Its clean structural lines are enhanced by the fact that there are no visible fasteners. Pair it with a cushion covered in your favorite outdoor fabric (in organic or natural materials, of course) for instant style.