Dining Delight: June 2014

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Outdoor Summer Retreat

Though its been in place for a few years now, I haven't officially shared our outdoor summer retreat. With warmer temperatures upon us, I thought I'd do so now.

Please follow me into the backyard...

First stop is inside the "cabana" for a look at the dining area.

I change it often, but right now the table is set in red to coordinate with the cushions on the chairs out on the patio area.

It is fun to have another space to add décor to! You will also notice I like to move the furniture around a lot too!

Originally, the decking was only under the cabana-dining-area but 2 years ago, Mr. Delight extended it.

Here's how it looked before.

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Nice but small...

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We are glad we expanded the area.

Last summer, I found these chairs at Home Hardware. I liked that the footstools fit inside when not in use. Less of a tripping hazard!

(You can see I was still deciding whether to keep them in this pic by the tag on the side of the table and the wrapping around the legs)

The other seating I have are two of these great Adirondack chairs that my dad made for me. I found these brown cushions at Walmart last year. (Eventually, I'd like to paint the chairs a beige or tan colour as I find the white quite stark.)

Off to the side of the cabana/patio area, are two zero-gravity chairs which are perfect for relaxing. I love how easy they are to press backward and lounge in and they have a built-in adjustable pillow.

Another great addition to our backyard retreat has been this firebowl.

At night, it provides great ambiance and warmth.

Mr. Delight built a wooden cover for it to keep out the rain and also converts it into a table.

Here's how he hid the "mechanics" of it.

When the firebowl is in use, the wood topper is moved to the side table which is covering the propane tank.

We also like to have some "real" fires and for that, we have a chiminea. It opens on two sides, perfect for roasting wieners and marshmallows! This area is off to the side of the cabana area.

Back to the cabana deck area...

I'm still debating on getting some kind of outdoor rug here. We are not going to stain the wood as that gets to be high-maintenance, something we are trying to get away from. However, we get a lot of rain and I'm just not sure a rug is a good idea.

Here's a look at the space at night...

The white mini-lights and chandelier add a lot of ambiance to the space.

With our varying work schedules, it is wonderful that Mr. Delight and I can retreat to our backyard for a mini-vacation on a moment's notice.

Even a simple breakie of fruit & yogurt tastes better out here on summer mornings.

Click HERE to see another post about our cabana set for Canada Day.

Thanks for visiting!

I will be linking this post to these fantastic blog parties:

Say G'Day Saturday at Natasha in Oz

Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming

Metamorphis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Amaze Me Mondays at Dwellings

Show & Share at Coastal Charm

Tutorials & Tips Party at Home Stories A to Z

The Scoop at Stone Gable

Inspire Me Tuesdays at A Stroll Thru Life

Swing into Spring at DIY by Design

Wow us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Seasons

Time Travel Thursdays at The Brambleberry Cottage

Creative Ways Link Party at Posed Perfection

What's It Wednesdays at Ivy and Elephants

Fun in the Sun Link Party at At the Picket Fence

Inspiration Gallery at Craftberry Bush

Grace at Home at Imparting Grace

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show & Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Creating a Beach Centerpiece and Tablescape

Hi there! Today, I thought I'd share a few tips on creating a beach-inspired centerpiece and tablescape for any upcoming summer get-togethers you may be planning.
First off, let's take a look at how easy it is to put together a centerpiece that fits with this theme.

It's pretty self explanatory but here's a mini-tutorial in pictures.

I used these rectangular glass vases but clear cylinder vases would be nice too.

I have collected these items from various places over the years but similar items could all be purchased at Walmart or even some Dollar Stores.

To me, the item most people don't think about using is the beach type grass-greenery but it adds so much to the look.

Here is another variation...

By placing multiple vases in a row on the table, you will have created a very dramatic centerpiece.

Now, some tips on creating a tablescape that complements your centerpiece.

Choose dishes that are either beach-related in their colour or their shape.

Here, I used a silver charger, white dinner plate, blue salad plate and a clear shell-shaped plate under a blue soup bowl.

Placecards are set next to a shell which could be decorative or could be a little take-home-memento for guests.

If you have some type of woven material, burlap or as seen here, bamboo table runner, it will add the perfect rustic texture to your beach-y table.

Scattered shells and blue glass beads reflect a seashore vibe.

Shell tealight holders stick with the theme but also add some ambiance...

...as do other candleholders placed in between the vases.

Another tip for any type of tablescape - if the tablecloth you want to use doesn't fit your table, layer it over another one.

Above, you see my shorter aqua tablecloth is placed over a longer brown one. You will note, I used white placemats as well. I like a LOT of layers!

And there you have it!

So round up a few glass vases, some sand, shells, glass beads & grass-greenery and create your own version of a beach-inspired table for your next summer gathering be it indoors or out!