Dress up the patio for summer
Dressing up the patio with summertime finery makes the great outdoors a stylish getaway
Open your door and head out to your second living room or dining room — the one outdoors. We’re paying so much attention to our outdoor spaces these days that they’re really an extension of our homes. Patios and pavilions have cushy furniture, and beautiful accessories help us look cool even on summer’s hottest days. Here are great goods to make
spending time in your backyard even more fun.
On your table: Dining al fresco calls for special dishes that contribute to the festivities. What’s more fun than a pink flamingo? A pink flamingo on your sturdy Melamine dishes. Set of four dinner plates $19.99, set of 4 salad plates $14.99; jcpenney.com
Cool feet: Summer’s harsh sun makes walking barefoot on your deck nearly impossible. Sherwin-Williams newest deck stains — SuperDeck Solid Color Stain — come with Cool Feel technology that reduces the surface temperature by up to 20 degrees. It’s easy to apply, scuff resistant and comes in 20 colors. $54.49 per gallon (covers 200-400 square feet); Sherwin-Williams stores Dine outdoors: The look of European country antiques fits right in with today’s farmhousechic look. RH’s Provence Collection includes a Belgian trestle table in concrete and teak with bucket-style wicker armchairs. $2,640 and up for the table, $521
and up for chair frame, $99 and up for cushions; RH.com or RH Houston, The Gallery at Highland Village
Roll out: Take the party outdoors with Anthropologie’s breezy rattan indoor-outdoor bar cart, complete with storage for bottles, glasses and other cocktail essentials. $748; anthropologie.com Indestructible rugs: You’ll never believe that Chilewich’s woven textile outdoor rugs are made of stain-resistant Plynyl, a proprietary vinyl. Bonded with commercial-grade polyurethane
backing, these nonporous rugs can handle any sundrenched space. The Market Fringe collection comes in Pacific (denim blue), Sangria (washed burgundy) and Quartz (gray/white). $300-$655; Kuhl-Linscomb, 2424 W. Alabama Midmod planter:
Jonathan Adler brings a little midcentury glamour to your patio with his Okura stoneware planter in blue, yellow or orange. $895; jonathanadler.com
Rosé season: If you can find a Vinglacé in stock, buy it! This madein-Houston wine chiller will keep your summer rosé cool without a sweaty ice bucket. $92$98, prices vary by color;
Kuhl Linscomb, 2424 W. Alabama
Just for kids: Fermob may have created the first bistro table in France in 1889, but in 2018 we’re loving its Children’s Picnic Hut, a place where your kids can eat meals, handle art projects or sit with friends. Surely, it’s any parent’s — or grandparent’s — smartest purchase of the year. $1,787; Kuhl-Linscomb, 2424 W. Alabama Fill ’er up: There will be no worries about spills when you take a pitcher of margaritas outdoors in this acrylic Isabella pitcher by Juliska. And it’s so clear that your guests will swear it’s glass. $42; KuhlLinscomb, 2424 W. Alabama Ode to old times:
Take a trip back to 1962, when Andy Warhol created his famous Campbell’s Soup Can and Brillo Soap Pad art, with a candle or two from Ligne Blanche’s collection with Amara. The multicolored candles will look artful on any patio table. $65; amara.com Light your fire:
HearthCabinet’s custom ventless fireplace design is limited only by your imagination. These fireplaces require no chimney, flue, gas or electricity, so they can be built in any shape or color, freestanding or retrofitted into your existing mantel. Those flames? They’re fueled by clean-burning cartridges, so that stack of logs is merely decorative. Custom design, so call for
pricing; 212-257-0259 or hearthcabinet.com Rush grass end table:
Earthy and ecologically sustainable, this rush grass end table is just the right height to hold your sunscreen, cocktail or light summer reading. $215; JCPenney stores and jcpenney.com
Towel set: The pretty lattice detail in this towel set will make you feel like you’re in a tropical cabana, even if you’re in your own backyard. $60; JCPenney stores and jcpenney.com Light the way: Nothing feels more outdoorsy than bamboo, and its retro look is oh-so-rightnow. This foot-tall lantern by Outdoor Oasis will do some heavy lifting for patio or poolside lighting.
$50; JCPenney stores and jcpenney.com
Paloma chaise: Relax in high style in the Paloma chaise by Spanish designer Mario Ruiz, part of RH’s newest collection of modern outdoor furniture. This highly architectural seating pairs aluminum with performance textured linen fabric that will stand up to Houston’s heat. $2,095 for frame, $880 and up for cushions; RH.com or RH Houston, The Gallery at Highland Village Havana sectional:
RH’s new Havana wicker sectional is not your grandma’s wicker. This sleek and functional allweather wicker and Sunbrella twill fabric pair for a very modern place to relax with friends. Add a
fire pit, and you’re ready for year-round entertaining. Components $1,196 and up; RH.com or RH Houston, The Gallery at Highland Village
Great gardens: Since your outdoor spaces are about so much more than furniture and accessories, pay attention to the green space around you. Need ideas? Michelle Slatalla’s “Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Stylish Outdoor Spaces” offers loads of ideas in its 409 pages. $40; Kuhl-Linscomb and amazon.com.