Outdoor spaces grow with every season, as homeowners create alfresco dining spaces with picnic tables and outdoor napping spots with swing beds.  However, the greatest opportunities can sometimes serve the greatest challenges.  I love the limitless prospects of decorating without walls or ceilings, but creating distinct spaces can be difficult without these go-to dividers.

Many people want a space for dinner parties as well as space for casual socializing.  Using creative barriers can help define spaces and communicate an open, yet structured outdoor space design.

Pathways: Often, space can be the best friend to the outdoor decorator.  If you’re lucky enough to take advantage of an expansive backyard, don’t feel pressured to pile your outdoor rooms on top of each other.  Housing your living space in a gazebo and your dining area under your porch (near the kitchen!) will clearly delineate your outdoor rooms.

To propel guests toward different outdoor rooms, use inviting pathways.  Paver stones and brick walkways work well, but treated pine roll-up walkways are an economical and portable option. Laying out pathways and walkways clearly tells guests where to explore!

Structures:  Using backyard structures like gazebos, pergolas and pool houses is another easy way to clearly separate outdoor spaces.  If you’re back deck is lined with patio chairs and chaise lounges, make your backyard gazebo a destination spot for dining.  Using structures not only adds dynamic architectural elements to your landscape, it creates more covered areas for relaxing and entertaining.

Flora: Using vertical gardening techniques can also create private spaces and living walls between outdoor rooms.  Growing wisteria or trumpet vines up a trellis or garden arbor will develop colorful, living and growing walls that will make guests feel at home in a secret garden.  Using garden arbors with gates and softening the latticed edges with growing morning glories will let beautiful color spill over into every available outdoor space.

Separating living, dining and lounging spaces within your outdoor rooms will make your backyard areas seem larger and more encompassing.  Group your outdoor furniture and patio furniture into outdoor rooms and make entertaining easy by cuing your guests around your outdoor living spaces.

Have Fun!

Hazel.

Some folks see pool houses as just a simple structure for changing in and out of swimsuits.  But, though the name is focused on pools, its uses are nearly endless.   Most people who know the true advantages of pool houses see them as the perfect space for a home office, entertaining, outdoor storage, or as shelter from inclimate weather during your backyard gala. Truth is, pool houses make life easier in many ways – but more specifically, the separate area for entertaining behind your house is second to none in convenience and style.

Making Concessions: To begin with, a pool house shaped like the hexagon style guest house on your lawn can come equipped with a concession bar that may serve line drinks and snacks, even buffet-style meals for guests to enjoy libations and a tasty treat. The centralized location means no wandering for direction to a random table either. It’s height and separation from the home keeps entertaining fun and light.

Outdoor Stow Away Zone: In addition to the concession bar to keep energy levels high on cool nights or sun-drenched afternoons, a pool house provides your home with extra storage for pool toys, lawn games, outdoor dish ware for throwing parties, and extra patio seating, among other things. This separate storage area helps keep clutter down in your garage or basement, and allows for site-specific items to be easily taken out and put away.

Storm Shelter: Lastly, you don’t necessarily need a custom pool house to be set for all weather conditions. In fact, many pool houses come with attached porches to shield your guests from the occasional rain showers that may otherwise dampen the mood. An added benefit of the porch follows right into your house too, since you won’t have to worry about muddy, wet clothing entering through your house when the storm hits.

Pool houses provide your grandiose outdoor entertaining ideas with a central location where food and beverages, storage, and even shelter take the party into their own hands for a shock-proof approach to dynamite outdoor events.

Naturally, most of the people who are hosting Labor Day cookouts will have made meticulous preparations to ensure that there will be ample food, drinks, and tableware for everyone.  They will also have music and lawn games planned in advance; and if people are going to be swimming, they will have lounge chairs by their pools, and extra towels in their pool houses.

Undoubtedly, they will also have places for everyone to sit and eat comfortably.  If their picnic tables are not large enough to accommodate everybody, they will surely have outdoor settees, Adirondack chairs and chaise lounges with wide armrests, outdoor accent tables, and even ottomans, where people can set their food and drinks.

While this is the ideal scenario, in reality, there will be many not-as-well-put-together get-togethers, because a lot of people will decide to have parties at the last minute.  After all, there are those who like to, uh, fly by the seats of their pants, as I believe the expression goes (you know, I’ve never quite understood where that saying came from; but one of these days, I’ll get to the bottom of it!).

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with doing things on the spur of the moment; actually, sometimes, that’s when you have the most fun.  So, if you suddenly decide to invite people over this weekend, don’t worry about things being unplanned.  Even if you never entertain, and you don’t have a lot of outdoor furniture – or even a picnic table – you can always use a table from your house, and scrape up some folding chairs.

Once you have your friends together, simply add some food and a grill, and it’s a party.  But, wait!  What if you don’t have a grill, either?  That’s okay, too, because you can make one on the spot.  Just take some cinder blocks, and stack them, at least a foot high, in the shape of a ‘U’ on a patch of concrete or bare ground; then put a rack on top of them (your oven rack will do), and start cooking.  In a pinch, you can also use an old, metal wheelbarrow with a rack across the top.  That should really get things rolling!

Just as there are several creative ways of getting the festivities started, there are many techniques for getting the fire started.  For example, a half-gallon waxed milk or juice carton makes an excellent disposable starter.  Just fill it with charcoal briquettes, and set it aflame; the container is easy to light, and will heat things up quickly.  You can also use a brown paper bag, filled with charcoal, twigs, and pieces of paper.

To make a reusable starter, use the sharp end of a bottle opener to punch triangle-shaped holes around the edge of a large coffee can, and remove the bottom with a regular can opener.  Then, place the can in your grill, open side up, put in some scraps of wood and paper, fill it to the top with charcoal, and light it through the holes at the bottom.  After the briquettes get hot, use tongs to lift the can and spread the coals.

In any situation, there are ways to improvise.  Mind you, I’m not saying that they will always amount to gracious living; but they don’t always have to.

The important thing is to have a fun – and safe – holiday weekend.

Happy Labor Day!

Kathy

Now that you’ve cleaned and repaired all of the concrete and asphalt around your house, it’s time to relax for awhile.  So, invite a few friends over, throw some steaks on the grill, and get the picnic table ready.  After you eat, sit back on your porch furniture and socialize, or take a snooze in the hammock.

Once you’re well-rested, you can start surveying the landscape again, with fresh eyes, to see what other tasks there are to be done before summer fades away.  For one thing, you may want to get a heads-up on the tree situation, as low-swaying, dead, or diseased branches can be quite hazardous, especially in cold, stormy weather.

For example, they can rub against, and damage, your roof, siding, and gutters, while steadily dumping loads of leaves and sticks.  They can also hurt other outdoor structures, such as garages, gazebos, sheds, cabanas, and pool houses.  Furthermore, in high winds, or when laden with ice and snow, they are famous for dropping entire limbs, or dropping entirely.  On top of that, they act as natural bridges and ladders to your home, for rats, mice, and squirrels trying to find places to hole up; and you don’t want to have these worries hanging over your head all winter.

Therefore, in order to preclude the impending peril posed by these precarious perches, it’s imperative that you pinpoint and prune them, pronto.  Identify the ones that are the biggest threats, and, as long as you can get to and remove them safely, cut them back, or cut them off completely.  If you see any branches that are obviously dangerous, but out of reach, or any that you’re not sure about, you may have to call a certified arborist and/or tree removal service.

This is also a good time to take another look at your deck.  By this point in the summer, it has probably been continually supporting a lot of people, pets, patio furniture, and planters; and it’s been constantly exposed to the elements.  If it has been treated regularly with a sealer, that shouldn’t be a problem; otherwise, it may have taken on a great deal of moisture.

Moreover, if it’s left to endure a winter of ice, snow, and rain, the wood will repeatedly absorb water, as it expands and contracts, and will develop cracks.  As they deepen over time, the water will penetrate further, and the deck will get weaker.  If you can’t remember the last time you sealed and/or stained it (or if you’ve recently moved in, and haven’t done it yet), do a quick test.  Just pour some water over the boards, and if it beads up, you don’t have to worry; but if it sinks in, the deck needs another treatment.

Besides looking for cracks, and making certain that it’s water-repellent, examine your deck, top and bottom, for loose boards.  Shake the railings to ensure that they’re secure, and inspect the stairs, too, as the expanding and contracting of the wood can also dislodge hardware.  Any nails or screws that are sticking up should be refastened, or replaced with galvanized deck screws.

There’s no over-emphasizing the importance of keeping decks strong and healthy, considering how many of them collapse every year.  So, remember – a check of the deck prevents a heck of a wreck!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Now that you have the front of your house looking spiffy, and your porch chairs, patio furniture, planters, and picnic table in place, you can move on to other areas and items that need to be repaired, tidied up, cleaned, or replaced.

Exterior doors, for example, can be adversely affected by the months of excess moisture, heavy snows, and freezing temperatures.  The hinges can become squeaky, or they may even begin to stick, preventing the doors from opening and closing properly.  Usually, you will be able to fix these problems with just a can of lubricant and a rag; but first, you’ll have to pull out the hinge pin(s).

To quiet a squeaky door, you may need only to oil the pin (yes, you can do this without removing the pin, but the noise will eventually return).  However, a pin on a sticky door is likely to have some kind of build-up, such as rust, or old oil that has been thickened by accumulating dirt and dust.  Just sand and clean it, then lubricate and replace it; and if one pin is in this condition, the other ones probably will be, too, so it’s best to take care of them all at the same time.

If a hinge is in really bad shape, the pin can become stuck, and you’ll have to knock it loose with a screwdriver and a hammer.  At this point, the door may even be sagging, and you may be able to fix it by tightening up or replacing any corroded or missing screws; but if that doesn’t work, you may need a new door.

Of course, it’s time to take out your storm windows, and put in the screens again.  If you find any that are torn, don’t worry – fixing screens is a breeze.  Just measure the screen, then add at least an inch to each side, and get a new length of it at a hardware store.

The screen is held in place by a thin, rubbery cord that fits into a groove that goes all the way around the edges of the frame (if it’s brittle or inflexible, pick up a new one when you get your screen).  Just pull the cord out, place the new screen tautly over the frame, and, well, get the cord back into the groove.  The easiest way to do this is to push it in with a screwdriver, being careful not to rip the screen.  Once it’s snugly in place, use a box cutter, or a pair of scissors, to trim off the excess.

While you’re at it, check the screens of any outbuildings or garden structures that you may have, such as garages, sheds, gazebos, and pool houses.

Sure, your home will probably need some repairs this spring; but, fortunately, you will be able to make most of them without spending a lot of money, or calling in a professional.  So, there’s no reason to become unhinged, because you’ll have no trouble getting everything back into the groove.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

March is finally here; and rarely has a month been so anticipated by so many people across the nation.  After the record-breaking, branch-breaking, and back-breaking amounts of snow that fell on much of the country in February, millions of people have been waiting for the weather to break, so that they can do some serious ground-breaking in their gardens.

Although there are lots of places where it will be safe to start planting this month, there are also many regions that can have frost, and even more snow, well into April.  So, if you live in one of the latter locations, even though spring is just a few weeks away, and even if the temperature is rising, and the forecast calls for it to continue in an upward trend, you’ll still have to resist the temptation to start putting things into the ground too early.

Of course, as I always say, if you can’t plant, plan.  Start by designing the structure of your garden, and don’t forget to include your garden structures.  Whether you already have arbors, trellises, or pergolas, or are going to install any, make sure that they’re properly placed before putting seed to soil.

This Planter Bench is all ready for spring!

This is even more crucial when it comes to gazebos, pool houses, cabanas, and sheds, as it’s common to give these backyard structures some special landscaping of their own.  Furthermore, if you don’t have one yet, but intend to get one, some of your newly-established plants and flowers may be wiped out during its construction.

You can also tend to your compost pile, which may very well have been neglected – and, indeed, even forgotten – if it has been buried deep beneath the snow.  Begin turning it regularly, to get it all heated up and ready for action.  If you don’t have a compost pile (or if you accidentally shoveled or plowed yours away with the snow), start one now.

Your tools will also have to be ready for peak performance, so have your lawnmower’s blades sharpened, oil changed, bolts tightened, and other parts inspected and/or cleaned.

Sharpen your garden tools, using a file on trowels, hoes, clippers, and shovels, and a whetstone on pruning shears.  Once they’re sharpened, coat the metal with some penetrating oil; and, if they are moving parts, a heavier oil as well.  Sand rough spots on wood handles, and then apply some linseed oil.

In my next entry, I’ll have some more suggestions for March gardening projects.  I’m anxious to get started on mine, too, but, at the moment, I’m sitting here looking at a patio that remains covered with at least a foot of snow.  So, I’m still waiting for that big break!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Another year is ending, and millions of people are making their New Year’s resolutions; but I am not in that number.  It has never made sense to me.  For one thing, no one ever keeps them.  For another, if there’s something that you really want to – or have to – do, why in the world would you wait until the next year to do it?

Still, the tradition of making resolutions goes back, at least, to 153 B.C., and the Roman god, Janus, for whom the first month of the year was named.  With an extra face on the back of his head, he was the god of beginnings and endings, and the symbol for resolutions.  At midnight on December 31^st, Romans imagined that he was looking back at the old year, and ahead, to the new one.  Many began exchanging gifts with, and asking for forgiveness from, their enemies.  They often gave branches from sacred trees, for good fortune, or nuts or coins imprinted with the image of Janus.

Certainly, no one knows exactly when the first New Year’s resolution was made; but this is believed to be the oldest celebrated holiday, begun by the Babylonians, more than 4,000 years ago.  I’m sure that there were people back then who thought that they could magically quit their bad habits at the stroke of midnight on the first day of the year (which, at the time, was on what would be March 23^rd today).

Still, I say that the best strategy is to just try to improve yourself every day, regardless of the date; and that’s also the philosophy here at CedarStore.com.  We have always been dedicated to enhancing the outdoor living experiences of our customers, by offering the highest-quality wood, metal, and synthetic outdoor furniture, along with garden structures, such as gazebos, sheds, pool houses, cabanas, and sunrooms.

We speak with – and listen to – our customers every day, and work year-round to provide them with everything that they need for comfortable, stylish, and gracious outdoor living.  That’s our resolution, 365 days of the year; and we’ve kept it since our first day in business.

So, here’s listening to you in 2010, and hoping that it’s a great one for us all!

Happy New Year!

Kathy

As I mentioned before, when it comes to backyard structures, pool houses are becoming extremely popular.  However, it must be understood that I’m not talking about just any pool houses, but, specifically, the ones that you’ll find at GazeboCreations.com.  These are the ultimate, not only because they combine the optimum features of other outdoor structures – that is, the beauty of gazebos, the storage capacities of sheds, and the convenience of cabanas – but because you can customize them right on the site.

All you have to do to get started is to click on the Custom Pool House Creator, then select the material that you want for your pool house – Dura-temp, pine, or vinyl – along with the shape, which can be a hexagon, elongated hexagon, or a rectangle.  Next, you’ll choose from a wide range of sizes, which are listed along with the base price and standard features for each. 

Then, you will be presented with a menu of options, including many siding and trim colors, decorative porch railings, finished interiors, insulation, screened floors, cupolas, sliding glass doors, double-paned windows, shutters, steel doors, ceiling fans, and several colors of shingles.  You may create as many pool houses as you like, submit them for quotes, save them to your own personal gallery, and change them as many times as you wish, until you have perfected the pool house of your dreams.

Another great thing about these pool houses is that they are so versatile and practical that you will get years of enjoyment and constant use out of them even if you don’t have a pool.  In fact, a pool house will make the perfect focal point for your backyard parties, as it will drastically reduce traffic into and out of your house.  You can set up your picnic table or outdoor dining set and grill nearby, and surround it with outdoor furniture, including Adirondack chairs, settees, and steamer chairs.  Because many of the pool houses feature attractive porches, you can also add some porch furniture, such as a swing or glider, and some accent tables. 

Oh, yeah, and don’t forget that GazeboCreations.com also has a selection of Tiki Bars that will go great with your pool house, or any other backyard structure.  Of course, if it gets a lot of business, that may increase the visits to your house. 

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Although they have always been familiar sights at public swimming pools and seaside resorts, over the past few years, pool houses have also been making big splashes in backyards across the country.  In fact, these outdoor structures are beginning to rival gazebos in popularity. 

Of course, by now, everyone knows that GazeboCreations.com is the best place to find gazebos; but we also have a great assortment of stunning pool houses.  One of the reasons that ours are in such high demand is that they are not only pretty, but thoroughly practical, even for people who don’t have pools, as our designs incorporate the best qualities of our other outdoor structures, such as gazebos, cabanas, and sheds. 

Like gazebos, our pool houses are attractive and available with tons of exciting options.  You can customize one right on the site, choosing from features such as finished interiors, screened floors, cupolas, sliding glass doors, double-paned windows, shutters, and steel doors.  We’ve also made it simple for you to design your pool house to complement your home, by giving you a huge selection of siding, trim, shingle, and shutter colors from which to choose. 

Our pool houses also have lovely porches that make them look like charming little cottages; and with all of the extras that we offer, they are frequently used as such.  As a matter of fact, people often install plumbing and electricity, and turn them into summerhouses, guest houses, home offices, play houses, entertainment rooms, and countless other things.  You can even put in a hot tub and create your own backyard spa. 

Like our sheds, these pool houses also have a lot of storage capacity, so they make great places to keep all of your garden tools, pool maintenance equipment, water toys, and more.  Of course, you can also use your pool house as a cabana where people can change into and out of their bathing suits. 

Oh yeah – and, remember, no matter how rustic, or how elaborate, you choose to make your pool house, CedarStore.com has the perfect porch swings, outdoor dining sets, and patio chairs with which to furnish it.  Do we make it easy, or what?

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy