Tag: summer

Outdoor living lagniappe hints and inside information helps to start the season with a clean slate.

Domaine

Two outdoor living features close together in postings support what most of us know to be the case when it comes to good subject content- too much of a good thing is a great thing when it comes to summertime outdoor living lagniappe.

[ lan-yap, lan-yap ]

Louisiana French, from Spanish la ñapa

:something given as a bonus or extra gift; by way of compliment or for good measure.

Luxe Interiors + Design – Photography by Lisa Romerein

Outdoor furniture, decor accents and the like attract dirt, dust, pollen, creepy crawlers, and garden variety grime over the course of winter and early spring.

It’s just an outdoor living lagniappe fact that outdoor spaces and places demand attention at the beginning of the fun in the sun season.

Lincoln Brooks

Outdoor Life is Dirty So Let’s Clean It Up

Give your outdoor oasis a look see through the lens of polish and refresh.

Clean what pieces will greatly benefit from a brush-sweep-soap session, and assess the situation of items not so worthy.

Clear the deck so to speak of debris, replace rotten/rotting/missing boards, secure loose ones, nail down pop ups, and sand down signs of splinter or potential problem areas (ouch!).

Good Housekeeping – Photography by Christopher Baker

Do you refresh or has the time come to replace outdoor furniture, umbrellas, pillows, and cushions?

When it comes to the decision to refresh or replace, weigh initial cost and difficulty in replacing item against budget friendly-ample retail availability.

Aluminum Market Patio Umbrella in Navy Blue Features UV Resistant

Outdoor Cushion Cleanser

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon dish detergent

¼ cup Borax

Directions

Add dish detergent and Borax to a bucket of water. Dip a soft bristle brush into the cleaning solution and proceed to scrub cushion in a circular motion cleaning the entire surface.

Allow at least five minutes for the cleaning solution to penetrate the cushion.

Using a garden hose, rinse the cushion thoroughly in order to remove residual cleanser.

You’ll want to use an old towel for the next step. Pat the cushion with the towel in order to absorb as much of water as possible. Prop the cushion(s) upright in a sunny spot and allow to air-dry until completely dry.

Luxe Interiors + Design – Photography by Jessica Glynn

In all things outdoor oasis summer spaces, keep it summer simple.

Mediterranean Herbs

Vegetable and herb gardens unite and produce- it’s your season to be in the  spotlight and on the patio dining table in seasonal cocktails, dishes, and salads.

Garden Sun Tea Recipe from Must Love Herbs

Garden Sun Tea

Ingredients

5  Black Tea Bags

Approximately 1 cup Fresh fruit

A Few Sprigs of Garden Herbs (Lemon balm, Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, Bee Balm, Sage, Mint, etc.)

Filtered water

Honey

Ice

Directions

Add tea bags, fruit, and herbs to your half gallon container. Cover contents and fill jar with filtered water.  Seal the jar tightly and set it out in the sun for 4-5 hours.  Once the tea is finished steeping add honey to taste while it’s still warm.  Strain and serve over ice.

Store any leftovers in the fridge.

Please note, make sure to make Sun Tea on a very warm day (85° plus is what I use). Also, make sure you’re using a good filtered water. You don’t want bacteria growing in your sun tea… yuck! You can swap out the honey for flavored simple syrups!

-Must Love Herbs

Better Homes & Gardens Tumblers

From full-on rows of growing goodness to a patio container garden, fresh is best.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Decorative outdoor planters give good outdoor living it up visual zest and appeal.

One Kings Lane

If your existing plants have beautifully weathered winter simply refresh by adding a fresh top layer of mulch.

House Beautiful – Photography by Harperley Hall

Saw this on social media and boy, does it apply.

 

 

 

 

Certain herbs and plants naturally repel mosquitoes while looking and smelling so summer good.

Photo by Markus Spiske

Here’s my favorites:

Lavender

Lemon Balm

Peppermint

Catnip

Mint

Marigolds

Make sure to empty standing water from planters and containers to eliminate attracting mosquitoes.

Photo by Yoris Yunanda 

Beat the summer heat and mosquitoes by setting up fans.

 Image by Freepik

There’s something so delicious about the combination of a warm evening and a cold summer salad.

Summer salad season exemplifies the crisp, the chill, and the complement of garden tomatoes topped with a dollop of mayonnaise, fresh asparagus spears spritzed with lemon and sea salt, and vinegar marinated cucumber slices.

Good lighting lights the outdoor livin’ it up night setting a relaxing, inviting, and aesthetically pleasing backyard bistro scene.

Photo by Vitor Monthay 

Deck out the deck, patio, and backyard spaces with chic outdoor living it up accent lighting.

2 Pack LED Vintage Lantern Battery Operated Flickering Flame Lanterns

Candle filled glass jars and holders hanging around, twinkle string lights wrapped tree trunks and branches, tabletop lamps or paper lanterns- all super ideas!

One Kings Lane

Large Table Top Studded Glass Oil Lamp 

Glass Tabletop Torch Clear – TIKI

Lit Coastal Objects

DALA Lounge Chair

Iron chandeliers purchased at auction have become outdoor candle chandeliers.

Votive candles with battery operated LED versions in flicker fabulous mode replaced standard votives, and the look and the ease of operation confirms its patio practicality.

Simple is always a welcome guest at any outdoor gathering. Nothing is more simple, and might I add simply elegant, as a glass container filled with string/fairy lights.

Photo by Abijith K on Unsplash

Regarding design and decorating, when I love and appreciate the look of a space I interpret the core design style influence and fashion to my own taste in the style of the original.

In the style of the French tradition, an apéro, short for apéritif, is the planned or spontaneous pre mealtime custom of cocktails and converse with the inclusion of savory bites.

Photo by Jez Timms on Unsplash

Summer evenings seem tailor-made for an in the style of apéro featuring light bites and tasty beverages to enhance the idea of relaxing and connecting.

Click on the link below photos for recipes.

Country Living- Photography by Becky Luigart-Stayner

Easy plan, prep, and presentation begins with super easy items picked up at your local grocery store in taste and flavor combinations light yet flavor packed.

May I suggest:

Hummus

Veggie Strips

Grapes

Cherries

Melons

Peaches

Plums

Berries

Cherry tomatoes

Fresh Pineapple Salsa with Sesame Tortilla Chips

Casa Wedge Salad Recipe

Creole Shrimp Caesar Salad with Cheesy Croutons Recipe

20-Minute Burrata Salad with Stone Fruit and Asparagus Recipe

Easy Shrimp Ceviche Recipe

BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe

Grilled Pizza

Tropical Fruit Salad

Ingredients

2 cans tropical fruit, drained

1 can pear halves, drained

1 pint fresh blueberries

juice of one(1) lemon

1 large ripe avocado, halved and cut into slices

1 small container plain Greek yogurt

2 Tablespoons honey

black pepper

Directions

In a mixing bowl, toss together canned fruit with juice of one lemon. Cover and chill 1 hour.  Add two Tablespoons of honey to a small container of Greek yogurt and you’ve got the dressing.

Garnish with avocado slices, yogurt dressing and a fine dusting of black pepper.

Lemon Ice Recipe

Pick up a luscious lemon layer cake and proceed to sweetly impress with the addition of fresh blueberries and lemon slices topping it all of with a generous tablespoon of lemon curd and/or whipped topping.

Sweet summer s’mores because who doesn’t crave s’more sweet moments.

Architectural Digest – Photography by Amy Neunsinger

Spending time outdoors is a big part of summer fun, making it easy to understand why outdoor living spaces have become extensions of the life lived within our home- a retreat of heart and home.

Consider this summertime outdoor living lagniappe hints and inside information a little something extra for your summertime let’s patio times.