Many homeowners are constantly flipping through home and garden publications, reading outdoor living blogs, and wishing they had access to an outdoor pergola that fit their unique design needs.   Many homeowners fear that a custom pergola would be far too costly for their limited budgets.  But, this isn’t always the case.

Some of the most common situations requiring a custom pergola are covering a unique sized porch or patio, wanting to cover large spaces with angles as well as simply looking for a structure that will stand out from the crowd.

Unique Sized Porch or Patio:  Many custom pergolas are created to cover a porch or patio that does not conform to standard sizing.  Whether yours is long and narrow or short and wide, taking advantage of custom pergola options will help you create a covered outdoor living space that fits.

Angles and Spaces: Especially on large poolside properties, pergolas are required to cover a large span with custom angles.  Using an “L” shaped pergola creates more usable covered space that can hug the pool or other focal point.  It’s important to get the size and shape that nestled into your outdoor living space perfectly, so a custom pergola is incredibly helpful.  You will also want to ensure that all of your patio furniture and outdoor furniture has enough space to spread out beneath the beams.

Wanting to Stand Out in the Crowd:  Many homeowners just have that inimitable taste and can’t find their design personality in most standard pergolas.  Small touches like custom base trim or custom columns can turn any space into a designer space.  If it’s you, and not your space constraints, demanding a custom pergola… never shy away from getting what you want.  Outdoor living spaces deserve to be escapes from the everyday.

As February comes to a close, and the beautiful spring season comes upon us, it very may be time for a custom pergola.  Create a vacation get-away in your backyard this year, and enjoy every evening as if you were at a resort.

Many homeowners are constantly flipping through home and garden publications, reading outdoor living blogs, and wishing they had access to an outdoor pergola that fit their unique design needs.   Many homeowners fear that a custom pergola would be far too costly for their limited budgets.  But, this isn’t always the case.

Some of the most common situations requiring a custom pergola are covering a unique sized porch or patio, wanting to cover large spaces with angles as well as simply looking for a structure that will stand out from the crowd.

Unique Sized Porch or Patio:  Many custom pergolas are created to cover a porch or patio that does not conform to standard sizing.  Whether yours is long and narrow or short and wide, taking advantage of custom pergola options will help you create a covered outdoor living space that fits.

Angles and Spaces: Especially on large poolside properties, pergolas are required to cover a large span with custom angles.  Using an “L” shaped pergola creates more usable covered space that can hug the pool or other focal point.  It’s important to get the size and shape that nestled into your outdoor living space perfectly, so a custom pergola is incredibly helpful.  You will also want to ensure that all of your patio furniture and outdoor furniture has enough space to spread out beneath the beams.

Wanting to Stand Out in the Crowd:  Many homeowners just have that inimitable taste and can’t find their design personality in most standard pergolas.  Small touches like custom base trim or custom columns can turn any space into a designer space.  If it’s you, and not your space constraints, demanding a custom pergola… never shy away from getting what you want.  Outdoor living spaces deserve to be escapes from the everyday.

As February comes to a close, and the beautiful spring season comes upon us, it very well  may be time for a custom pergola.  Create a vacation get-away in your backyard this year, and enjoy every evening as if you were at a resort.

In this modern 21^st century, the words “honor” and “appreciation” can sometimes be seen as old-fashioned values. When loved ones receive an invitation to spend time at your home, it is their initial impression that sets the stage. With the help of an arbor or trellis – that may double as a comfortable bench or flourishing planter – family and friends feel special with the arched entryway that gently leads them in.

An Invitation to Admire:  A trellis is known as an architectural structure typically made from different pieces of wood, bamboo, or metal to guide the growth of a climbing plant. An arbor is similar to a pergola – except they tend to be smaller and act as a outdoor archway instead of a shielding patio roof. By adding either of these structures to your outdoor area, a yard becomes a curated space that etches itself into the memory of all visitors.

Lattice and Benches and Gates, Oh My! To take it a step further, outfit your cedar arbor with lattice and attached benches, or make it an arbor with gates, to add lateral personality to the design. Like a exterior foyer, arbors with benches or a fence section of the space. Guests can sit and take in the elements or converse about the hard work that has been put into design your personal landscape.

Flourishing Plant life:  While many different kinds of plants can be trained to grow up a trellis, some of the most popular flower choices for arbors and trellises are snapdragon, trumpet vine, wisteria, morning glory, kiwi vine, and canary creeper. Although metal trellises are beautiful and ornate, they should be avoided with more tender plants – such as sweet peas, beans and morning glory – since they heat up with the sun and can actually stunt plant growth.

Nothing says magical and creative like an outdoor archway with budding vines or trellis blooming in spring. Create an exquisite invitation to your home that leaves a lasting impression by including any variation of an arbor or trellis to your outdoor space.

The origin of the word “pergola” comes from the late Latin word pergula, which refers to a projecting eave. Although the architectural word we use today in English is borrowed from the derivative of the original Latin word, the term dates back to before 1645 when an Englishman used it to describe what was built in Rome at the Trinitá dei Monti cloisters.

Modern Patio Pergolas:  When we think of the meaning of a patio pergola, nothing about cloisters or life back in 1645 comes to mind. In fact, we typically think of eating alfresco with outdoor furniture, covering a repose in the hot tub during inclement weather, and perhaps – if you’re well-educated in the outdoor living arena – the ShadeFX canopies that have recently boomed as an outdoor solution to gaps between backyard pergola rafters.

Al Fresco Dining and Hot Tub Coverage:  If eating alfresco or putting a cover over your hot tub brings the family outdoors on a more regular basis, the patio pergola or hot tub pergola is already worth considering. Not walled, like a gazebo or garden shed, a pergola shades you from the beating sun and protects from rain and snow. A cedar pergola can create the perfect scene for a Mediterranean dinner experience while a vinyl pergola’s versatility takes on a much more modern approach to covered spa or dinner party time.

Retractable ShadeFX Canopies:  If modularity is important, the retractable ShadeFX pergola is the best for opening up and closing when need be. The canopy can be automatically pulled close in case of rain or harsh sunshine but reopened quickly and easily – almost disappearing into its frame – when the skies above are desired.  Even if the weather isn’t fit for outdoor dining, using a ShadeFX canopy can protect your patio furniture as well.

A backyard pergola fills the spaces between structures fluidly while covering exposed patios and jacuzzis. Taking it all into account, pergolas keep outdoor dining and entertaining experiences just about unphased by the subtle shifts in Mother Nature.

We’re quickly approaching the darkest time of the season.  After all, the Winter Solstice, or the darkest day of the year, is only two months away. Coming home to a dark landscape or waking up to a gloomy porch can be disheartening.  But, adding outdoor lamps can brighten up the area outside your home.

The options for outdoor lighting don’t need to be concentrated in fancy outdoor chandeliers and porch lamps.  Using post cap lights and other landscape lighting will laminate walkways, as well as your senses.  Outdoor lighting can be inserted into the ground along a walk way, installed along a garden bridge, or along the railings of your porch, gazebo, or pergola.  Outdoor lighting that attaches to the side of the house is also available. Not requiring posts or walkways, it allows anyone to illuminate the outside of their home.

A lot of outdoor lighting is also solar-powered.  Doing your part for the environment and your wallet, you can add cheerful lighting without using any electricity.  Many of these options also turn on automatically once it gets dark, so you won’t need to worry about setting it.

Not only does outdoor lighting make your mornings and evenings a little less dreary, it also adds valuable curb appeal.  Especially if you’re planning to open your front door to trick or treaters, having outdoor lighting to help guide them will keep little ones safer and the whole evening more fun!

Autumn is the perfect time to consider outdoor lighting for your home.  Whether it is for your own views, the joys of passersby, or the ghosts and goblins trotting up your walkway, outdoor lighting is an affordable way to add cheerful curb appeal to your home and garden.

Have Fun!

Hazel

Besides the tablecloth, you’ll also have to choose placemats and napkins for your outdoor dining table; and these, too, are available in huge varieties of colors, patterns, and fabrics.  Moreover, when selecting them, you may have to consider how well they will coordinate with your outdoor furniture cushions, throw pillows, and rugs.

Certainly, this is more of a concern in smaller spaces, where all of the outdoor furniture is close together.  If you have a place that’s large enough for the patio chairs and the outdoor dining set, or picnic table, to be situated well apart from each other, it may not be much of a worry.  Then, again, if your dining area is separated by a pergola or a trellis, or if you’re going to be eating in your gazebo, you may not have to think about it at all.

Whatever the case, you have several options, including using a tablecloth that has designs on it, with solid-colored placemats and napkins, or vice versa.  You can also come up with some interesting combinations in textures, by using various fabrics for the tablecloth, placemats, and napkins; or use something completely different, such as bamboo, for the placemats.

Naturally, for the napery, and even the tableware, for that matter, you can always go the paper route; and it’s not news to anyone that some of it is quite attractive.  However, even though paper can work well for casual get-togethers, if you’re hosting a nice dinner party, it’s best to scrap the idea, and go for a more elegant setting.  Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have to use the good china (unless it’s a really formal affair).  For outdoor dinner parties, the everyday stuff is fine; in fact, on your beautifully decorated table, it will look smashing – uh, perhaps I should make that, gorgeous.

Another alternative is to use plastic; but not the kind that’s on par with paper plates.  These days, you can get thick, sturdy, high-quality plastic tableware that looks just like glass.  Actually, this can be a wonderful choice, because clear, colored glass, not only adds to the resplendence of the table, but heightens the opulence of the occasion as well.  Choose rich, autumn hues, such as red, amber, gold, or burgundy; and make sure that there are plenty of candles on the table, to give the whole setting an enchanting glow.

Undoubtedly, real glass is the ultimate; and you can get colored glass plates, goblets, glasses, vases, salt-and-pepper shakers, candleholders, and serving bowls, at a very low cost, in retail, outlet, and even antique stores.  Although certain antique glass items are very expensive, you’ll find hundreds of them that sell for only a few dollars.

The best part is that they don’t have to match; as a matter of fact, mixing pieces from various sets will add to the charm of your outdoor dining table setting.  If you don’t want to buy a lot of antiques, pick out a few, interesting objects to combine with your other dishes and glasses.  Of course, if you don’t have real glass tableware, the authentic-looking, plastic kind will look just fine, especially in the glimmer of the candlelight.

Indeed, any jewel-toned accents that you can find will lend a warm, luxurious ambiance to your gathering.  For example, you can get some vintage jewelry, or go through your old jewelry boxes and pick out some bracelets and necklaces with broken clasps, and mismatched, clip-on earrings.  You can use the earrings to hold place cards, and the necklaces and bracelets to make sparkly napkin rings, or decorations for wineglass stems, candles, and candleholders.

Aside from making your table shine, this is also a great way to give new purpose to some of your favorite old pieces of jewelry that have been stashed away for years.  Hmm.  I sure hope I’m not the only one who hangs onto things way longer than I should.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Certainly, you’ll want to create the perfect atmosphere for your outdoor dinner party, as well as the ultimate experience for those attending it; and the food, the outdoor décor, and the company will be integral to your achieving that goal.  In fact, there are times when putting together just the right combination of these ingredients can almost guarantee success.  However, when you’re planning an outdoor affair, especially at this volatile time of the year, there’s another force that can undo all of your efforts at the drop of a hat; er, rather, let’s make that several drops – of rain.

Indeed, sometimes, Mother Nature can get mighty testy when she is not included on the guest list; and if she decides to crash your party, there’s not a thing that you can do about it.  Moreover, in some cases, rain may be the least of your worries, because she does not simply have the element of surprise – she has many of them; and if she’s really angry, she may show no quarter.

Therefore, your first consideration should be keeping your guests out of her path, as well as her wrath.  Luckily, there are steps that you can take that will prevent everyone from being entirely at the mercy of Mother Nature’s capricious nature.  These precautions can also help to preserve the food, the tableware, and the decorations.

Of course, the ideal situation would be to have a gazebo or a pavilion that’s large enough for all of the guests, the picnic tables, and the patio furniture.  In the absence of either of these garden structures, a patio that’s covered by a roof, awning, or even a pergola, will afford some level of protection.

Even if you have a small gazebo that won’t accommodate the entire party, you may want to, at least, keep the food in it, on an outdoor buffet.  Then, make sure that whatever picnic tables, outdoor dining tables, or bistro tables that you will be using are equipped with patio umbrellas.  You can get them in beautiful fall colors, such as burgundy, bronze, plum, red, orange, gold, and russet.  Another option is to put a large market umbrella over the outdoor serving table and the outdoor bar.  Naturally, if you have any other kind of outdoor structure, such as a garage, pool house, cabana, sunroom, or shed, or even an enclosed porch, you should use it to house the food.

Otherwise, it might be wise to rent a tent or two; but if you don’t, just be certain that you have some kind of backup plan, in case things get nasty, and the party has to move indoors.  Wherever you intend to take refuge, you must provide adequate seating for everyone; so, if you don’t have enough outdoor furniture, get some extra folding chairs.  If there’s not adequate room to fit a picnic table inside, you can use a folding table, some outdoor accent tables, or even bring in just the picnic table benches.

The key is to make arrangements for dealing with unfavorable circumstances, and have everything set up in advance.  That way, you, your guests, and your party, can continue the revelry, unscathed.

On the other hand, there is always the chance that your foresight will irritate a certain, spiteful entity, who may feel cheated that she didn’t get to have her revenge; so, just be careful, as she may be waiting to launch another assault the minute you step back outside.

After all, it’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Well, autumn is here, and the publications and retailers are all touting all the outdoor decorating you can do with wreaths, pumpkins, and winter squash.  After all, autumn is one of the most colorful seasons of the year, so it is only appropriate to accent your garden or porch with punches of orange, red, and evergreen.

However, there is another way to add some lively color to your patio.  Birdhouses and Birdfeeders make perfect outdoor décor for fall for more reasons than one.  First of all, the air is getting cooler and a lot of birds are losing their food sources.  Hanging a few birdfeeders is a fantastic way to help out your local bird life by providing supplemental food!  While many birds migrate south for the winter, many others stick around and forage for sustenance throughout the seasons.

Those same birds that brave the winter will also benefit from birdhouses.  Providing a safe and sheltered area for a bird to create a nest will not only help out your winged pals, it might also benefit you in the spring.  Many birds will lay eggs that will hatch into nestlings this spring.  While having baby-bird neighbors can sometimes be noisy, there is no match for the excitement of watching them grow and eventually learn to fly.  Especially if you have children in the house, this fascinating experience is truly wonderful!

But, besides your humanitarian efforts, birdhouses and birdfeeders will help dress up your garden shed, pergola, or patio.  They’re available in nearly any imaginable design.  Last Christmas I bought a lighthouse birdfeeder for my grandfather, as he has always loved to read and tour old lighthouses.  The birds don’t care what their house looks like, they’re more concerned that it’s sturdy and protected.  So, go ahead and indulge yourself with a fun and funky birdhouse or birdfeeder that will pick up your spirits as the days get shorter.

Even if you decide to go with a simple and neutral toned birdfeeder or birdhouse, you’ll still be adding plenty of color to your garden or outdoor living space.  The birds, males especially, will dazzle you with their brightly colored and eye-catching feathers.  Buy a book or find a website on bird identification, and enjoy the sights while learning to spot which birds are which by their colors and other features.

So, while adding pumpkins, mums, and tri-color corn will add significant pizzazz to your gazebo or porch, don’t be afraid to take the idea of living color to another level.  Flowers and vegetables or nice, but birds will fly, change, and continuously amuse you.

Have fun!

Hazel.

With the advent of outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, and even electric outdoor heaters, the outdoor living season is lasting longer than ever.  Of course, if you’re lucky enough to be from warmer climates that never had an issue with outdoor living season ending… well lucky you! We’re just happy to be able to join you!

However, sitting outside at my picnic table last night, I realized that it was getting darker earlier than usual.  It’s no surprise, after all the days will continue getting shorter every day until the winter solstice is upon us! But, it is no longer July and if September and October get-togethers are to last as long as May and June’s, outdoor lighting is essential.

Overhead Lighting: Overhead outdoor lighting works best to illuminate a whole area under a pergola, in a gazebo, or on a porch.  With options for outdoor pendant lights, outdoor chandeliers, and outdoor ceiling fans… you have a lot of different options.  Installing outdoor overhead lighting does lend the entire outdoor living spaces to a bit of elegance, so it will probably look best with patio furniture that can keep up stylishly!

Floor Lighting: For those without a lot of room on their outdoor dining tables, all-weather floor lamps will provide ample light.  With the ability to relocate an outdoor floor lamp to be near whichever group of patio furniture you’re using at the time makes it incredibly versatile.  Plus, if you’re planning to use your patio tables for board games and playing cards, this will leave table tops clear for family fun!

Table Lighting: Perfect for open air outdoor living areas under pergolas and on uncovered decks, outdoor table lights are the most portable.  Plug in and place on the table top when working on a project or game, then simply carry back in with you if you’re worried about inclement weather.  While these usually operate best on outdoor accent tables or patio coffee tables, they will sit in the middle or in the corner of a picnic table well too.

If the moon light isn’t providing enough of a night light in the late evening, that’s no reason to give up on enjoying your outdoor living space!  Whether you need to light up a neighborhood party, a simple family get-together, or a late-night escape with your favorite book… it’s important to choose the right kind of outdoor lighting to suit your style of patio furniture.

Have Fun!

Hazel.

It’s safe to say that pergolas are among the most popular garden structures in existence; and, actually, it has been safe to say that for quite awhile.  I mean, a really, really long while.  How long?  Well, a serf in the Middle Ages could have said it with confidence.  Even a landscape designer in Rome, during the time of Caesar, could have made a similar declaration.  And a writer for the ‘Home & Garden’ section of a newspaper in ancient Egypt?  Ditto.

Pergola (PUHR-guh-luh) is an Italian word that is derived from the Latin, pergula, which means “projecting roof.”  While pergolas, with their universal appeal, have held their favored status for centuries, they have, naturally, taken many forms over the years.  For example, beginning in late medieval times, and through the early Renaissance period, it was common for gardens to have green tunnels.  The idea was to have passageways that would remain cool and shady when the weather was hot and sunny, and dry when it was raining.

The tunnels were made by binding shoots of willow, or “withies,” together at their tops, to create a series of arches, which were then loosely woven with long, wooden slats.  Once in place, these structures would have climbing flowers and ivies planted nearby, which would eventually cover them.  These were the early forms of pergolas.

It wasn’t until around the 17^th century that pergolas began to look more like the ones that we see today.  The main difference was that they were usually much grander, typically constructed with massive pillars of brick or stone that were fitted with large crossbeams.  During the 18^th and 19^th centuries, however, there was a movement toward creating gardens that featured mostly natural elements.  Therefore, manmade structures, such as pergolas, were a bit scarce for awhile.

Of course, as we all know, you can’t keep a good garden structure down; and pergolas proved that in the 20^th century, when they made a comeback.  Today, they’re huge (well, huge, as in, wildly popular – the actual size that you get is up to you).  Incredibly beautiful and versatile, they lend themselves to dozens of uses, as they fit in perfectly with nearly any garden design, and can even solve many landscaping problems.

For instance, if you have an open space in your yard, you can turn it into a nice, shady retreat, just by adding a garden pergola, and putting some patio chairs and accent tables beneath it.  With a picnic table, or an outdoor dining table, and an outdoor bar, it will be a great place for entertaining.  Pergolas can also be used to cover patios that have no other sources of shade.

They also make wonderful enclosures for hot tubs, especially when used in conjunction with arbors and trellises, the siblings with which they have held a rivalry since time immemorial.  In fact, their vying for top spot in the garden has been going on for so long, that people sometimes get them confused, and often use the words, pergola, arbor, and trellis, interchangeably.

That must really be frustrating for them, after having spent so many centuries trying to find ways of distinguishing themselves from the others.  The crazy thing is that not one of them has any reason to feel inferior, because they’re all outstanding in the garden!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy