Design 101 - Crisp White Umbrellas

Domonique Vorillon

Crisp white patio umbrellas make outdoor spaces instantly look cool and serene.

Click to read more ...

Armchair Traveler - Luxury Hotel Umbrellas

Perhaps it's the visual impact of a solid row of umbrella on a hotel pool deck or perhaps its because hotel pick such unusual umbrella shapes and colors for their outdoor spaces but there is something special about luxury hotel patio umbrellas. All this week we will be taking a closer look at patio umbrellas.

Click to read more ...

Design 101 - The Cape Cod Stripe

Architectural Digest

From bold solid uniform size two color stripes to muted multi-color and multi-size stripe fabric, Cape Cod outdoor spaces always have a stripe included in the design.  Sunbrella outdoor fabric has an impressive selection of striped outdoor fabrics.

Click to read more ...

Exceptional Spaces - Cape Cod Outdoor Living

Last fall I moved into a house in a cute post war Cape Cod style neighborhood.  This winter I've been spending my time studying Cape Cod style outdoor spaces as I dream up a design for my outdoor space come this spring.  Here are some exceptional spaces in the Cape Cod style through the eyes of two designers.

Click to read more ...

Armchair Traveler - The Dolder Grand, Switzerland

The Dolder Grand - Zürich, Switzerland

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have friends who discovered that traveling abroad over the Thanksgiving holiday is the way to go.  All of us state side scrambling to travel between coasts leaves planes to Europe with plenty of available seats. Plus the holiday isn't celebrated abroad so no worries about inconvenient closings, holiday hours, etc.  This year my friends are headed to Zürich and that inspired my armchair traveling for this holiday post.

Click to read more ...

Get The Look - Dock Living

Photo Inspiration Unknown

This Get The Look addresses the impermanence design challange that I talked about earlier in the week as well as embraces several of the design elements of a dock living design theme that I talked about in yesterday's post.  With this Get The Look all you need is the dock!

Click to read more ...

Get The Look - Luxury Hotel Daybeds

Photo Inspiration - Mirage Hotel and Casino

I am particularly fond of the look of pairing square ottomans and side tables with daybeds.  The ottomans provide extra seating around the daybed and if you add a tray to the ottoman it becomes an additional side table.  Same concept holds true with the side tables.  If the frame is sturdy enough, the side table could stand-in as additional seating around the daybed.  Square side tables and ottomans are the perfect accent to a daybed because they don't overwhelm the daybed or your floor space.  The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas created a nice example of this type of daybed grouping and I sourced the product you will need to Get The Look.

Click to read more ...

Discover - What's New Under the Shade

Hampton Cottages and Gardens Idea House 2008

Be it rooftop, balcony, patio or lawn the desire to utilize every inch of outdoor living space has resulted in a rush of innovative shading options of every size and shape to fill the need.

Click to read more ...

Get The Look - Layers of Shade

Single pole market umbrellas are effective in only one place and one time per day - 12 noon.  If you want to shade your outdoor spaces all day long, you need to layer shade across your outdoor space or move your shade with the sun and needs.  Designers who create commercial shade solutions understand the need to shade large areas all day long. We've found some wildly creative commercial shade solutions that illustrate this concept well and sourced products to help you Get The Look.

Click to read more ...

Design 101 - Creating Shade in Your Outdoor Space

Steve Martino Landscape Architect - Las Palmas

With the many creative and decorative shapes and sizes of umbrellas, pavilions and shade sails now available we have been surprised that most residential outdoor spaces still feature only a table umbrella.

Click to read more ...