The Rural Voice, 2005-08, Page 40Home Decorating
Summer living in the great outdoors
Patti
Robertson
operates
Classic
Interiors in
Wingham.
By Patti Robertson
Summertime...and the livin' is easy,
summertime...and the cotton is high!...
Oh! Hi! You'll have to excuse me,
this season is my very favorite and it
really stimulates all my creative senses.
All my gardens are in the height of
bloom and beauty, the house has had its
exterior cleaned and the paint touched
up. the patios, decks and porches are
pristine and I'm all geared up to
entertain friends and family who drop
by to share the wonderful weather.
I thoroughly enjoy gathering those
together who have so generously
entertained Ward and I throughout the
year for summer brunches, luncheons
or dinner parties at our home. We
utilize our outdoor dining rooms at
every opportunity as in the summertime
our entire home really shines.
Over the years Ward and I have
continuously worked away at the
various areas of our yard creating
individual "rooms" using arbors,
fencing and strategic plantings so as to
afford a variety of backgrounds in
which one can sun or sit in the cool
shade to read, watch nature, dine or
even snooze.
So, with this year's list of guests in
mind and dates for engagements filling'
up, I've given the outdoor dining area a
little makeover. The tricks I use can
easily be utilized by anyone and I'm so
pleased to be sharing them with you. I
enjoy putting a formal spin on outdoor
dining. I drape my table in a floor
length white circular poly -cotton
tablecloth and top it off with an overlay
of a smaller dark green tablecloth for a
layered look. Next I add the flatware,
china dishes to suit the occasion, real
wineglasses, water glasses etc and linen
serviettes to match. I finish off the table
with candles and always a fresh garden
bouquet, just as if it's indoors.
And most importantly there must be
the appropriate music! Music always
enriches the atmosphere and soothes or
even stimulates the soul...putting one
at ease. It adds to the conversation
(providing it isn't too loud) and adds
the final touch to all your preparations.
This can be as simple as bringing your
portable stereo out of doors via an
extension cord. (hide it behind a pot of
flowers), or position your interior
speakers in a strategic window.
On the underside of my patio
umbrellas 1 drop, with a length of
chain, a series of three glass lanterns
that hold tea lites and 1 gather round
any planted containers to embellish and
till out the setting so the area in which
we are entertaining is as showy as
possible for my guest's enjoyment.
Possibly one of the most humorous
and yet cleverest tricks I was
introduced to was from my design
mentor Jon Austin, who would fill out
areas in his planters where flowers had
either failed to grow or had died off
with artificial vines or florals tucked in
amongst the real ones. No one ever
suspected!
Paramount is the colour scheme: co-
ordinate, co-ordinate, co-ordinate! For
the utmost in overall effect pick
furnishings and outdoor accessories
that will either blend with or accentuate
your home's colour scheme.
Being faithful to one's selected
colourations and working very tightly
with them will look like you hired a
designer! One colour should be
dominant, that is to say approximately
80 per cent of the overall scheme. Now
you add 15 per cent of an accent hue
and a final five per cent of an accent to
the accentuate hue. This formula will
always work!
I find it is always advisable to give
my guests a heads -up to the fact we'll
be dining outdoors, how long we plan
to be outside and allow them the chance
to dress accordingly.
There have been so many marvelous
new additions to the outdoor living
market that will enhance one's settings.
Beautiful outdoor carpeting with
patterns and border designs much like
we'd see and feel for indoors but totally
mildew proof. A new look in "Mel
Mac" dishware works if you are
concerned about your china. Poly -resin
wicker chairs and lounges and pads that
feel like fine linens and cottons. not
plastics! And my personal favourite.
floor lamps and table lamps especially
fitted and conditioned for outdoor
living.
The guests Ward and I invite into
our lives to share our cherished time
and settings. are appreciated for their
warmth. charm and love of life.
Together we share a life-force energy.
and a true love of conversation.
Discussing what's new. the current
issue of the day, and possibly solving it.
or empathizing with it can be a very
moving experience.
The setting is the background in
which we can all feel safe. secure. and
nurtured for a brief respite. Because of
that 1 feel it's surely worth my attention
in creating a space to remember.
Having these guests excited about
returning to a setting that we've created
from a labour of love is certainly a
honourable reward...WOW!
1 trust your summer will he filled
with fun times. great friends and
cherished settings!O
PATTI ROBERTSON'S
Unique Residential and
Commercial Interiors
135 Victoria St., WINGHAM
357-2872
• Custom-made Window
Fashions, Bedspreads
& Accessories
• Fine Domestic &
Imported Fabrics
• Select Wallcoverings
• Furnishings, Lighting
& Artwork to suit
any interior...
AUGUST 2005 37