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Saturday, July 07, 2007
Scripps Howard News Service
This outdoor wicker, with seats covered in duck-cloth fabric, can stand up to most conditions and still look good.
Style at home
Turn your outdoor space into a special retreat
Mary Carol Garrity / Special to The Detroit News
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Q . We never use our back deck because it's boring and bare. How can I make the deck a place where we want to hang out?
A . Today our outdoor spaces can be every bit as beautiful, fun and functional as our most beloved indoor rooms.
During my annual spring open house, where I open my home for public tours, some guests remarked about my front patio, which was all dressed to show.
"I'll bet you just live out here in the summer," they said. As I nodded my head yes, it dawned on me that I don't spend nearly enough time relaxing on my front patio -- or anywhere else, for that matter. So that night I grabbed Dan and a glass of wine and headed for the porch. No sooner had I put my feet up and let out a long sigh of relief when a bird dropping landed on my leg.
That indiscreet bird illustrates the first golden rule of outdoor decorating: Don't use anything on your deck that can't stand up to heat, wind, rain, birds, bugs or anything else Mother Nature can dish out.
Before you dig in on your deck redo, do a little dreaming. How do you want to use the space? If your yard is tree-challenged, make your own shade with a playful market umbrella, a romantic gazebo or a vine-covered arbor.
Do you want to entertain dinner guests on your deck or spend lazy Sunday afternoons there reading a good book? Invest in outdoor furnishings that will help you meet your goals.
Dan and I like to lounge under the stars, so we decided to invest in a super-comfy grouping of outdoor wicker pieces, including a sofa, side chairs and ottoman. I'm crazy about all-season wicker because it combines the romance and beauty of the real thing with the durability of a synthetic.
Next, think about lighting. If you host dinner parties under the stars, you'll need something besides the porch spotlight to illuminate your events.
How about hanging a simple chandelier from your arbor, dotting the corners of your market umbrella with funky hanging votive cups or stringing festive party lights around your gazebo? Be sure to use battery-operated candles so you don't have to worry about the candles blowing out in the wind.
Now it's time to have some fun making over your new outdoor room. Once you dress your deck in comfort and style, you won't be able to keep your family inside.
Mary Carol Garrity is the proprietor of three successful home-furnishings stores in Atchison, Kan., and author of several best-selling books on home decorating. Write her at nellhills@mail.lvnworth (Related) .com.
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