Outdoor living - terrace colors

As I've said, there is still so much to be done inside the house, but the weather has been spectacular since we moved in...and with a pool and perfect terrace for al fresco meals and entertaining, I decided to jump right into making this outdoor space comfortable and inviting.

Generally, I am not a big fan of "outdoor rooms" unless they are attached to the house, like a patio off the family room, or a dining pergola off the kitchen. For me, being outdoors should not feel like being indoors. I see exterior spaces in decorating magazines that have everything from a living room atmosphere around a grand hearth to gourmet kitchen to outdoor movie screen, and I think "what ever happened to just enjoying the good old out-of-doors for what it is?" My kind of outdoor comfort includes chairs and tables that were clearly designed to be in the garden - not plush, weatherproof versions of fancy interior furniture. I prefer to keep the atmospheres separate. It makes each more special by celebrating their differences.

There is so much joy in owning a pool, although we never thought we'd have one, and would never have built one. Luckily for us, this perfect house just happened to include a pool, so we are the lucky beneficiaries. When I say the weather has been great, I should also mention

H-O-T!! The pool has been an absolute blessing and is responsible for keeping tempers at bay when the heat and humidity threaten them. Just look at this color - so cool and calming!

I know pools are a lot of work - maintaining the proper pH levels, etc., but this one seems to be worth every moment of time devoted to it - which I have to say isn't much, so far!

Before we moved, we picked out all the furniture we'd need to relax on our new backyard terrace. Bistro chairs and tables were a must, considering how much of our happiness revolves around food and wine. Then, we needed comfy spring-rocking chairs for chatting and reading, and finally chaises longues for sun bathing. I did not buy cushions ahead of time, as I wanted to use designer fabrics and make my own. I had a scheme in my mind's eye, which included a glorious floral outdoor fabric from Missoni, a company I simply adore! (MissoniHome fabrics are available to the trade, through Stark.) But after we got here, I looked at the color of the water, as well as the terrace tiles, and realized turquoise and terra cotta would be so much more in keeping with our hardscape.

As luck would have it, Home Depot had striped cushions in exactly the right color combination, so I bought those for the reading chairs. Home Depot had no cushions for the bistro chairs, and only wildly different patterned ones for the chaises longues. However, I bought those anyway, planning to cover them.

Jo-Ann Fabrics now carries an extensive collection of indoor/outdoor textiles, and there, I found a very similar turquoise in a fine printed strie, along with a terra cotta which I got to make cording. When I went to another Home Depot, I lucked out with throw pillows in a Japanese cherry branch pattern on turquoise, with accents of rust. These were obviously made to coordinate with the stripe I had purchased.

I covered the crazy chaise cushions in turquoise with matching ties and punctuated them with terra cotta piping, in order to give them a little zing, both close-up and from a distance. I love the way the rust color outlines the blue. I often make my own cording/piping, as it is truly easy, and adds a custom touch to whatever is being made.

Then, I made matching round cushions for the bistro chairs. I decided to skip making the ties for these cushions, as I felt they would look too fussy, on such small chairs.

At yet a third Home Depot, we were able to find more of the matching striped cushions, which we bought and I cut up and pieced together to make "box striped" throw pillows.

These are a fun way to add a different pattern, using the same fabric. Simply cut right triangles of the striped fabric, and piece together to form a square.

A beautiful pottery bowl by Clay Calderwood of Clayton's Clay Works, right here in Brewster, completes the scene. Clay happens to be my sister-in-law's brother, and I have actually had this bowl for many years - a gift from Jack. I am thrilled with the way it echoes the pool color.

Another piece I've had for a long time, which just goes so well on the terrace, is my antique ceramic elephant table. Originally purchased for our sunroom in Hingham, I have also used it in a showhouse bedroom, and most recently in my younger son's room.

Look at how versatile this piece is - below is a guest room I did for the Newport Showhouse Guild a couple of years ago. I have to say, though, I think this elephant has found his supreme spot on our terrace.

(Photo: Michael J. Lee)

Here's an overview of the finished cushions in various seating areas. I like that some chairs are in the sun, and some in the shade.

The bistro table in the foreground has an umbrella, and is a favorite spot for lunch, as it is just outside our kitchen door.

Finally, around the corner, and accessed by another door from the kitchen, is a charming antique set of table and chairs, which we inherited from the previous owner here. The carrera marble top long ago lost its sheen, and it has the patina of a piece of stone that has withstood the elements for generations. Four more seat cushions in the turquoise, piped in rust, complete the wrap-around color scheme of the continuous terrace.

The colors of our Italian pottery, some of which we have purchased in Italy and some of it imported by Abbiamo Tutto, go well with the terrace colors and have inspired the color choices for our future kitchen. I envision the kitchen color palette flowing out and connecting seamlessly with that of the terrace. These bright yet earthy colors are so easy to live with, an attractive presentation for food, and just plain cheerful.

The best part of indoor/outdoor fabric is that it can stay out all season. It doesn't fade, dries out quickly after rain showers, and is stain resistant and easy to wash. Besides all the fabulous choices available through designers, there are so many options these days, for consumers, including Calico Corners, whose all-weather fabrics I find very pretty. While I am sad not to have used my Missoni idea, I'll just have to file that one away for some future project!

Or better yet, these gorgeous Missoni beach towels are ONLY $297 each. I need a whole set of these (in my dreams!)

Delightful Meals with Family & Friends

One of my favorite things in life is a protracted meal enjoyed with family and friends. I especially love this on a warm summer evening under the stars. Sunday afternoon meals are also great, as they can go on for hours. Interesting food, easy-drinking wine, multiple generations and an international component amongst the assembled company tend to increase the probability of good conversation, and the more the wine flows, the more the laughter grows as the hours progress. At our home in Massachusetts, two such meals - one Saturday evening barbeque and one Sunday lunch that stretched into dinner - stand out in my memory as being pretty much as good as it gets.

The Sunday lunch was several years ago with our now dear friends, Ayca and Scott, when we were just getting newly acquainted with each other. Ayca (with her heavy Turkish accent and buoyant attitude) and I had gotten to know each other slightly, but I'm not sure the guys had ever met. Our lunch was a long affair with their son, Orhan, and our kids, Madeleine and Drake. As we sat and ate in the sunroom at our old French farmhouse table, it became clear that we were meant to be friends. We had so much in common, so many of the same passions, and we all talked with such easy camaraderie, that the day passed by unnoticed.

The kids had long since tired of sitting at the table and had moved to the backyard where they were running through the hose, as it was a steamy day. Their laughter was matched by the excitement with which Jack, Scott, Ayca and I talked of many subjects all at once. Languid from several bottles of wine, and yet lively at the same time, we couldn't get over how close we felt - as if we had known each other for years.

So much time passed that eventually, we all decided it was time to eat again and prepared a dinner together since cooking was one of the passions we had just discovered we shared. Finally, darkness was complete and we were dining again, but now by candlelight. By the time our friends left, they had been at our house for nearly ten hours! And what an all-encompassing warmth was felt by all!

One impomptu barbeque began last summer when our oldest son, Giles, his wife Mia, and their daughter Taylor, visited us for the weekend and brought with them their new meat smoker.

Mia and Taylor

Never being shy when it comes to varieties and quantities of food, Giles bought several kinds of meat to smoke and began inviting friends to join us later in the day. We also invited some of our best friends who we know are always game for a last-minute invitation.

The preparation began around Noon, as smoking the various meats can take several hours. Naturally, once we all begin creating a good meal, we tend to start thinking of more and more items we'd like to prepare, either new experiments or tried and true favorites. Add to that the fact that most everyone in our family likes to cook, and you can imagine the pervasive air of pandemonium in the kitchen. However, in situations like this, we all agree that "the more the merrier" so on this day, as usual, the mood was festive.

We have a lovely spot in our upper garden, with a table, umbrella, lots of comfortable chairs, and a charming antique gazebo which serves these days as the site for our buffet spreads. The old garden also has a fountain gurgling into a small fish pool. The sound of the water splashing on the rocks in the pool is so soothing and always makes us feel miles away from civilization, since it drowns out any noise from the street on the other side of our house. What used to be a formal parterre has been turned into Jack's organic vegetable garden, so the whole little enclosed area has a kind of European feel to it.

Jack planned to grill his famous chicken with herbs, garlicky Italian sausage and corn on the cob. Salads and marinated olives, cheeses and desserts were concocted and carried to the upper garden.

Jack with his homemade charette de pique-nique

Throughout the afternoon, Giles smoked baby back ribs and big beef ribs with hickory chips. The pungent, smoky aroma was a mouth watering harbinger of delights in store for dinner. And we were not disappointed. When the meat was done, it literally melted in your mouth, juicy and falling off the bone, with incredible flavor - not overwhelming in smokiness, and really meaty.

Giles's smoked baby back ribs and beef ribs

Wines and beers were set in the fountain to chill. Friends started arriving around 5:30 and soon our backyard as well as our kitchen were humming with activity and happy chatter.

(Incidentally, the humming did not include many mosquitos, since Jack had mixed a strong solution of garlic tea and sprayed it around the garden earlier in the day. This is a terrific and chemical free way to keep pesky bugs away.)

Brett and Giles

Our ages ranged from 7 months old (our little granddaughter, Taylor) to 66 years old. I am a big believer in mixing all age groups. It brings so many more perspectives to the table than just one general age group can share. Our daughter, Madeleine, arrived with several old high school friends. Our son, Drake, was there with several friends who, frankly, consider our gazebo their home away from home.

Drake with Taylor

Several nationalities were represented, which is always more fun than not. Giles's friend, Brett, brought two adorable girls he had recently met in Tokyo, one of whom, Liz, from Brazil, took most of the photos seen here. I had a really terrific conversation about art with Shantell, an illustrator from London, who creates large-scale experiential multi-media presentations.

Liz and Shantell

There is a spontaneity that seems to make these kinds of gatherings come alive and this evening was no exception. I can't remember who first brought out a guitar, but eventually, Jack was playing his flamenco guitar, and Giles had brought out his own guitar (or maybe Drake's buddy, Austin, had his with him).

Jack and me

Drake, Jack and Giles

Eventually, both instruments were being passed around and informal jamming was a backdrop to our conversations. Jack, Giles and Drake played along with Austin and Brett.

Things really got lively when Renato, our Italian pal, decided that we should be dancing flamenco to Jack's accompaniment.

Renato and Dolores

Renato and his wife Dolores are superb dancers who fell in love with the tango in Argentina, and now have joined a group who dances the tango on a footbridge over the Charles River in Cambridge, whenever there is a full moon! In any case, Renato was not shy about trying the flamenco in our backyard. Soon, everyone was clapping and cheering.

Brett and Jack playing flamenco (as Renato tries to teach me some dance moves)

Candlelight

One of my favorite parts of evenings like this one is that as the clock advances into the wee hours, what was a rowdy party tends to mellow slowly, and there is much reflection along with sighs of contentment.

Austin and Giles

Lisa and Dan

Our friend Lisa will invariably state "We love you guys!" and by the time people are leaving to get home and crawl into their beds, a soft aura surrounds us all.