5 Outdoor Entertaining Tips to Amp Up Your Summer Parties

Prep for summer fun with these outdoor entertaining tips. Image: Apex Pools

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‘Tis the season to start moving your gatherings outdoors. As temperatures warm and the daylight hours lengthen, it becomes easier – and more fun – to host parties in your yard. Easier doesn’t necessarily mean easy, though. Hosting your friends al fresco comes with its fair share of challenges.

The good news is that with a little preparation, an outdoor party can be extremely low-maintenance. Getting everyone together outside lends a relaxed air. Expectations are lower, the natural beauty of your yard does most of the decorating work and if things get really messy, a hose handles cleanup. Are you ready to take advantage of the summer season and move your next party into the fresh air? Here are five outdoor entertaining tips that will help you get started.

Outdoor storage for dishes makes hosting a breeze. Image: LevEco Architects

1. Create an outdoor kitchen

Even if you already have a kitchen set up outside, you may benefit from making things easier to access during your party. Start by bringing a cabinet, a trunk or another storage piece outside. If you plan to host throughout the season but don’t want your furniture to get damaged by the elements, consider flipping it over and adding some casters.

Once your outdoor storage is ready, fill it with everything you’ll need. Plastic dishware and cloth napkins are a great start. Think through your previous parties. What did you find yourself often grabbing for? (A bottle opener, perhaps?) Having these necessities easily accessible outside will give you more time to enjoy your event.

Capitalize on the relaxed feel of an outdoor gathering by mixing decor. Image: IDF Studio

2. Celebrate variety

The relaxed air of an outdoor party encourages playfulness in your decor. Say, for example, you’re hosting more people than you can seat with your outdoor chairs. Bring your indoor chairs outside and intermix them. The variety looks fun and inviting.

What other indoor items could be useful? Pull throws off your couch and drape them over chairs outside for guests to use if they get chilly. Choose decor from your coffee table and mix it with fresh-cut flowers for an interesting centerpiece. Don’t be afraid to play with items you already own. The beauty of an outdoor party is in the way otherwise-stressful details become unimportant.

Make sure you’re ready if the breeze picks up. Image: Anthony Wilder

3. Be prepared for wind

Summer nights can get breezy. Getting ready for wind is one of the best outdoor entertaining tips we can offer, because it can prevent something out of your control – the weather – from ruining the whole night. The week before your party, make a mental list of anything that could blow away. Solutions are generally simple: like, for example, buying or making tablecloth weights that clip to the corners of a tablecloth. You should have no trouble finding a product or DIY project that matches the decor of your party.

Too pressed for time? Skip the tablecloth altogether!

If you’re going to be lighting candles, make sure you protect them from the wind. Hurricanes and tea light holders are an affordable way to maintain your lighting on a breezy evening.

Candles add ambiance and keep bugs away. Image: Susie Watson Designs

4. Keep pests away

Candles can serve a dual purpose, beyond adding ambiance: They can also help fend off mosquitos. You don’t have to choose citronella varieties, either; pests also hate eucalyptus. If you’re feeling crafty, you can even make your own bug-deterring candles. This DIY uses both citronella and eucalyptus to banish mosquitos.

If you’re going to be serving food outdoors buffet-style, have a plan in place to cover it when people aren’t actively serving themselves. In a pinch, an overturned mesh colander can serve as a protective shield.

It’s grill season. Get ready to cook outdoors all summer long. Image: FireMagic Grills

5. Prep your grill

Don’t wait until the day before your party to grab propane and scrub your grill grate. You can even season your grill grate the way you would a cast iron pan to avoid rust.

As you get your grill ready, make it safe. Move it at least 10 feet away from your home, outdoor structures and any trees or bushes. If you own a gas grill, perform a quick and easy test with soapy water to identify any leaks. Taking the time to get your grill ready before you fire it up gives you a summer of stress-free outdoor cooking.

If you want more inspiration to get your yard ready for summer parties, check out our outdoor articles. We’re always working to keep you in-the-know about the latest outdoor decor trends and hottest summer yard designs. From outdoor entertaining tips to highlights on fun yard additions, we’ve got you covered.

Did we miss any outdoor entertaining tips? Let us know your best tips and tricks in the comments below.

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How to Save Money on Your Electricity and Water Bills

While you want to be comfortable in your home, it’s possible to achieve this goal while also saving money. Making small adjustments that you will barely notice can result in significant savings. Keep reading to discover ways to save money on your electricity and water bills.

Avalon Interiors

Stop using your toilet as a wastebasket. “Every time you flush a facial tissue or other small bits of trash, five to seven gallons of water is wasted,” according to Doyle James, president of Mr. Rooter Plumbing.

James also recommends that you refrain from using your garbage disposal so frequently. “In-sink ‘garburators’ require lots of water to operate properly,” he explains. “Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing food waste.”

If you wash your dishes by hand, stop leaving the water running when you’re rinsing them. “If you have a double-basin, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water,” James says. “If you have a single-basin sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a spray device or a pan full of hot water.”

Studio 511

Your water heater accounts for 12% of your electric bill. If you have an older system, James says flushing sediments out of it will improve energy efficiency. However, if the water heater is 15-20 years old, he tells Freshome that replacing it will generate substantial savings. “Tankless ‘on-demand’ systems don’t store water, offering savings up to 30 percent; however, the latest hybrid heat pump systems offer even greater savings – reducing water heating costs up to a whopping 60 percent,” James explains.

 

Winn Whitman

Your ceiling fan can lower your energy costs during the summer. According to Richard Ciresi, owner of the Aire Serv of Louisville, KY, ceiling fans create a wind chill effect, allowing you to adjust thermostat settings by 4-7 degrees F (up to 30% savings!) and still remain comfortable. However, make sure that the fan is going in a counterclockwise motion during the summer, and turn it off when you leave the room, because fans cool people, not rooms.

DDB Design Development and Building

Ciresi also recommends upgrading your lighting. “Lighting accounts for up to 12% of your energy budget, and those old school incandescents give off 90% of their energy as heat, taking a toll on your air conditioner.” He recommends replacing your lightbulbs with CFLs (use 75% less energy and last 10x longer) or LEDs (use 80% less and last 25x longer).

 

European Ceramics

Leave your thermostat alone. You don’t need to cool an empty house. “This practice can actually increase your utility bills,” Ciresi warns. “We recommend, particularly during hot weather, that you set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature and leave it be.” Also, he says the constant temperature change isn’t beneficial to your art, musical instruments, or furnishings.

Observe your humidity levels. If they’re above 50%, Ciresi says you’ll feel warmer than the air temperature. “In most cases lower humidity allows you to be comfortable at slightly higher temperatures, often as much as 78 degrees,” he says. And if you can be comfortable at higher temps, you can save a lot in energy costs. “If your humidity is too high, check for a source like a leaking basement, roof, or plumbing fixture – you may need to a call an air conditioning professional to determine the cause and provide a solution.”

Miele GB

Changing the time you use large appliances can also help you save money. “Operate dishwashers, washers, and dryers only when full, preferable at night or when temperatures are cooler,” recommends Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance. “Also, remember that refrigerators/freezers use less energy when full and make sure to pack them accordingly.

Small appliances – microwaves, toasters, TVs, DVDs – are energy vampires that consume small amounts of energy even when they’re not in use. “Don’t let them drain your budget,” Rogers says. “Plug them into power strips so you can turn them off when you’re not using them.”

A Fresh Touch Interiors

If your windows are properly sealed, this can account for 20% of your home’s energy loss, according to Larry Patterson, franchisee of Glass Doctor in Dallas, TX. If your home was built before 2001, he says the most cost-efficient approach is to keep the window frame material and replace the existing clear glass insulated units with new low-emissivity (low-e) glass insulated units. “This can help save up to 35% on utility bills, while also leading to increased comfort near windows, reduced fading, and less noise.”

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3 Tips for Sprucing Up Your Laundry Room

A laundry room can be just as inviting as any other room in your home. Image: Jodi Fleming Design

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The laundry room: At best, it’s an efficient space to complete your weekly chores. At worst, it’s cramped, ugly and disorganized. You may dread going to your laundry room, but with the right colors, materials and tools, you can make it organized and stylish. After you brighten it up, you might actually enjoy doing laundry. Take a look at these tips for sprucing up your laundry room with minimal effort.

1. Add shelving and storage

“For a laundry room to function well, users need easy access to everyday items such as detergents,” says Carla Phillips, a Melbourne-based interior designer. “I recommend open shelving next to the washing machine to keep your detergents handy for everyday use.” She also recommends using large storage drawers to keep laundry off of the floor and out of sight.

For Nicola Croughan, an interior stylist at Blinds Direct, organization doesn’t have to be boring. She says that you can “use storage to separate items into color groups, since organizing by color is a big trend this season.”

While having a lot of storage space is ideal, it’s also important to keep in mind the limitations of your space. If possible, plan out in advance which items you need to store, so you don’t end up with storage space you don’t use. “Laundry rooms are notorious for being cramped,” says Jonathan Self, a real estate broker for Center Coast Realty in Chicago. “You want to keep it as airy and spacious as possible, while also providing plenty of designated shelving spaces to put detergent, linen and towels.”

Croughan advises caution and forethought with the items you store, as well. “Don’t forget to keep laundry detergent up high, so small children can’t reach it.”

Don’t let a small space stop you from creating a fabulous laundry room. This laundry space is hidden behind custom-built shaker-style cupboards. Image: Burlanes Interiors

Shelves dedicated to specific items decreases clutter. Image: Midori Yoshikawa Design Group

Slotted shelves make it possible to store and hang clothes at the same time. Image: Maple Leaf Custom Homes

2. Install spaces to hang items

The laundry room isn’t just a place to store items; it should also be conducive to post-laundry chores. Croughan recommends adding a hanging rail for drying laundry or hanging up items straight from the dryer for minimum ironing.

Katy Brut, Interior Design Consultant at NY Furniture Outlets, agrees. She adds: “Think about creating a place for folding or hanging things, especially underwear or clothes.” By giving yourself dedicated space in the laundry room for these tasks, you avoid the mountains of clean clothes that can pile up in the bedroom.

Consider adding a long rod for hang-drying clothes. Image: Abruzzo Kitchen and Bath

Even a small bar allows you to hang up freshly ironed shirts. Image: Designstorms, LLC

3. Choose simple, stylish designs

As for the overall design of the laundry room, usability and style should work hand-in-hand. “The first step is the choice of finish materials,” Brut tells Freshome. “Choose a moisture-resistant finish like ceramic tiles or plastic panels.” Lamps Plus Lighting Expert Jeff Emmerson adds that laundry spaces need a simple, efficient overhead light like a flush mount or semi-flush mount. “Don’t forget under-cabinet lighting when you have workspaces in a laundry room.”

Brut recommends painting the walls and ceiling white (or another light color), especially if the laundry room is a small space. This will make the room feel larger and brighter and less like the closet you may consider it.

Finally, don’t neglect fun design choices. Just because it’s a laundry room doesn’t mean it can’t have personality. One way to do this, says Self, is to display your detergent and powders in large apothecary jars. This fun way to store everyday items gives your laundry room character. A little creativity goes a long way in livening up the space.

Patterned backsplashes add character to a dull laundry room. Image: Brooks & Falotico

Light colors, like this blue, open up an otherwise-dark space. Image: Rabaut Design Associates

It doesn’t take a full renovation to spruce up your laundry room. Implementing any of these tips should give you a great place to start. For more inspiration, check out our 10 laundry room ideas for adding value to your space.

Does your laundry room need a little TLC? Will you be using any of these suggestions? Let us know in the comments!

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Studio Ulanowski Designs a Penthouse Apartment for a Jewelry Designer in Hong Kong

Located in London’s Covent Garden is a playful penthouse apartment designed by Studio Ulanowski, who gutted the interior for a fresh start. The homeowner, a jewelry designer based in Hong Kong, wanted a more open space and for the design to work for her family’s evolving needs.

The layout was redesigned while new windows and doorways brought about new views and a light-filled interior.

The custom kitchen cabinets continue down the long wall in the living room to form a storage cabinet with the same bright blue color, which helps ground the room. Additional cabinets in white create a sophisticated juxtaposition.

A perforated staircase was made by Joseph Waller Fabrications and it leads to the upstairs master bedroom.

Underneath the stairs is a piece of neon art designed as a collaboration between Jochen Holz and Malgorzata Bany.

The master bathroom is outfitted with cedar wood walls and slatted screens used for privacy. Handmade Moroccan tiles behind the sink vanity pop against the surrounding wood.

The bathroom vanity can disappear behind sliding panels when not in use.

Photography by Michelle Young.

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Stitched in the desert: Iota’s Products Are Made by Bedouin Women in the Negev

A home interiors and accessories company is providing jobs for Bedouin women who aren’t allowed to hold employment outside of their home. Tal Zur, CEO of Iota Hand Stitched, speaks to Design Milk about why they think “soft furniture” is the next home design frontier, how they found themselves in the Negev, and where their designs are going this summer!

Tal Zur, CEO of Iota Studio. Photo by Or Kaplan.

Design Milk’s Keshia Badalge at Iota Hand Stitched in Tel Aviv, Israel.

“If you want a product that is straight, where all the sides are equal, the color is all the same, then that’s not us. Our products are alive,” Zur tells us as we sit in her studio in Tel Aviv. And sure enough, her studio emulates that same liveliness, with hanging swings, chunky-knit rugs and pillows and shelves full of colorful yarn, specifically put together by a colorist on their team.

Inside Iota Hand Stitched in Tel Aviv, Israel. Photo by Or Kaplan.

These home accessories are not only delight to look at and plop down onto, they also tell a small but proud story of Bedouin women empowerment. Bedouin women are traditionally not allowed to hold jobs outside of their home. They spend most of their time on domestic chores and taking care of their children.

Zur first learned about a group of Bedouin women working with a designer in Jaffa in Tel Aviv. Through him, she was able to slowly get introduced to the women and gain their trust.

Now, Zur and her team go to Hura, a Bedouin township in the Negev desert, to teach Bedouin women how to crochet and make Iota’s home products. Not only have they created a home-based industry in the Negev where women can work, for most of these women, it is their first opportunity to earn an income.

Bedouin women making products for Iota Hand Stitched.

Zur says, “When they finally have some money that is their own, it makes them confident, it makes them feel important. They can make certain decisions at home, like picking clothes for their children. It sounds so simple to us but to them, it is a big change.”

TouristIsrael and TouristJordan bring people to visit some of the more accessible Bedouin communities in Israel and Jordan. “I don’t think it is good or bad to live as a Bedouin woman,” Zur says, “but it is important for these things to happen, for people to see, for communities to understand each other’s culture better.”

In 2017, Iota was tapped by the car company Peugeot to make a special line of car mats for their concept car. Peugeot had asked for grey mats, but Zur remarked, “What we do is colors!” So, in trademark Iota style, the team tagged their samples of grey with their signature, colorful yarns. Peugeot did not miss the gesture, and responded by asking Iota to mix pops of color into their yarn.

“You know how people started talking about everything slow…slow food, slow fashion,” Zur said, “We think that the next generation will be soft. Soft furniture. Soft living.”

Grey Pouf. Photo by Or Kaplan.

Design Milk’s Keshia Badalge at Iota Studio. Photo by Or Kaplan.

Zur also told us that they just got an update this week that the Black Forest swing is hanging in Tom Dixon’s new office.

Iota Hand Stitched’s Black Swing. Photo by Noam Preisman.

Photo by Or Kaplan.

This summer, Iota will be hosting knitting parties in London and New York to launch their DIY bag kits. The philosophy behind this, Zur says, is “to make your own things, to do something slowly. It is social as well, in that we believe making things that you own and use is good for you.”

DIY Bag Kits. Photo by Noam Preisman.

DIY Bucket Bag. Photo by Noam Preisman.

Crochet tote bags. Photo by Noam Preisman.

To make one of your own, sign up on this list to be informed when an Iota knitting party comes to your city!

This studio visit was made possible by Vibe Israel, a non-profit organization that organized this year’s Vibe Design Tour.

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