MEMORIAL DAY EXTERIOR DESIGN TIPS

Florida Edition by Robin Lechner Designs

Since most entertaining is during evening hours, sufficient lighting is important. With limited exterior electrical sockets, I rely on candlelight. Lanterns are placed on tables, the floor, and hung from the ceiling,.

Celebrate the beginning of the summer season by incorporating decorative extras to your exterior space. They’ll become a welcoming extension of your home.

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Memorial Day holiday marks the official transition of entertaining’s venue from indoors to out. That being said, our outside living spaces should be as thoughtfully designed as our interiors. Comfortable seating, dining areas, creature comforts, and the right accessories can take any space from drab to FAB!

Guests and I spend the weekend on my 25th floor 400 sq ft terrace where I’ve created a seamless transition from inside to out so that my entertainment area is seen as an extension of the living room, giving an illusion of a much larger space. Window treatments are fully retractable, so when they’re open, all that’s visible are floor to ceiling glass doors. Travertine flooring covers both areas, making it difficult to determine where the inside ends and the outside begins.

Orchids grace inside rooms, including the baths, while flowering plants and evergreens soften the balcony’s glass and stone structure. A water feature offers soothing background sounds, and adds a cooling effect.

Pillows and ottomans in a variety of sizes and colors, along with illuminated furniture provide ambience and functionality. For the holiday, I swap usual accessories and pillows for a red-white-blue theme.

Playful umbrellas deliver shade during daylight hours and protection during a passing shower.

An outdoor area rug defines and anchors dining and/or seating areas. They add extra color, texture, pattern, and glam.