outdoor entertaining Archives - At Home in Arkansas

Immerse Yourself in the Details

July 6, 2017 by Laura LaRue

We all want people to enjoy themselves when they come to our home. How does that enjoyment come about? We serve good food, encourage hearty conversation, give our guests an experience they wouldn’t necessarily have at home. The best get-togethers entail a certain magic, don’t they? Your job as host is to attend to the details, so the magic can take place. And no detail should be beneath you. I suggest you prioritize, maybe make lists, but then stand back and look around. Is each room, each corner, each setting, done up in expectation that your guests can make themselves comfortable and delight in their surroundings? Have you anticipated and provided everything you think they’ll want? Once you’ve attended to the big stuff, it’s time to pay attention to even the smallest of details.

Sit a spell. Many of us entertain around the pool during the warm months. People love to be near the water, even if they aren’t taking a plunge. Dress up your pool area with towels you‘ve selected for this purpose, and provide ample seating. When I say ’seating,’ I don’t just mean chairs and chaises. Drop pillows poolside and provide a towel for each. Your guests might want to dangle their legs in the pool and you’re giving them a way to do it. Even the most formal party will benefit from this touch. Your guests may not take advantage of your offer, but they’ll appreciate it just the same.

Stack ’em up. Move a chaise even nearer to the pool edge, then plunk down a towel and pillow. If a guest doesn’t want to sit directly on the concrete, he or she can still access water’s edge with this seating nearby. And pay attention to color, either contrasting or complementary.

Fire and Water. After you’ve provided seating and towels to wick away moisture, don’t forget to add candles for a glow that will take you into twilight and dark. Scented or unscented will do, and to ward off mosquitoes, don’t forget the citronella. Exterior lighting can be abrupt or harsh, and candles go far to soften it.

Bringing it together. This photo is deceptively simple, but it encompasses quite a bit. You’ll find the seating, towel, pillow, flickering candle, and finally a robust plant in a pot. You’ve set the stage for your guests to stay as long as they wish. Isn’t that what we all seek when you entertain? That our guests linger and enjoy the conversation and surroundings? It’s all in the details you provide, the staging you set.

You’ll notice I didn’t state that everything must match, or that there are rules to follow for success. The towels should be selected for poolside use, but that’s the only requirement. Maybe you want to mix it up with contrasting colors or pattern, or use the same color palette all the way around the pool. And the diverse selection of cushions and fabric made to use outdoors has skyrocketed, so you’ll find a wide selection to chose from anywhere you shop. Once you‘ve paid attention to each detail, when people arrive, they can relax and spontaneity will set in. Not only is it in the mix of guests and entertaining elements, it’s also in your eye for detail. And all that means is taking a look around and anticipating what your friends and family–and you–will enjoy.

Live Life to the Fullest,

Chris H. Olsen

Botanica Gardens

chrisholsen.com

botanicagardens.com

Outside the Box with Daniel Keeley: June Update

June 16, 2015 by Tiffany Adams

Hello again and happy spring! I hope your June is off to a good start and you are enjoying lots of time in your garden and outdoor living spaces. No matter where I have lived, I have never been able to let a carport remain simply a carport. I just can’t resist the urge to convert these somewhat boring structures into exterior rooms. So, when I moved into my current house, I knew I would eventually transform the carport into a destination for outdoor entertaining. Indeed, I quickly converted it into a grilling and dining cabana where I could cook and enjoy al fresco meals. While I made the major transformation from carport to cabana shortly after moving in a couple of years ago, I recently decided to add a pop of color and a few finishing touches in preparation for a dinner party. So, I thought I would share with you how I went about creating the space. Hopefully it will inspire you to carve out a special entertaining space somewhere in your own garden. And, who knows? Together, we might just start a carport conversion movement!

To make the carport structure feel cozy and more like a “real” room, I first added curtains made from outdoor fabric. The durable panels, secured with contrasting tie-backs, give the space a resort-like feel and help set the mood for the perfect gathering.

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Outside the Box with D. Keeley: July Update

July 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Well, summer has definitely arrived! Last month I complained about all the rain, and I suppose I should have kept quiet, because it is plenty hot and dry now. Still, it has been a wonderful month full of rewarding projects and fun events.

One of the most exciting happenings was the realization of the At Home in Arkansas Curb Appeal Makeover. My crew and I spent a weekend with the contest winners, along with members of the At Home family, and we had a blast! Be sure to check out the full makeover feature in the August issue of At Home. Until then, here are a few sneak peek photos:

We used large boxwoods (my favorite shrub) to dress up the home’s entry.

Hydrangeas and azaleas helped fill in a forgotten shady corner.

Hostas and other textural plantings were used in various spots for their interesting foliage.

And here is Yours Truly, filling a pair of window boxes with colorful annuals!

Another thrilling experience of the past month occurred June, 20th…the evening of the Garden to Grill dinner party we hosted with Chef Jen Lewis. It was a beautiful gathering with delicious food, tasty drinks, good music and great people!

Around the Live Outside the Box House, the garden continues to fill in rapidly. The hostas I showed you last month burst into bloom finally and are only just now beginning to fade.

In the perennial garden, the purples are dominating right now, with the Hyssop and Chaste Tree taking center stage.

The view through the perennial garden looking toward the front lawn has improved for other reasons, as well. I decided to plant a trio of Emerald Green Arborvitae at the end of this vista to help screen out the neighbors house. Nothing against the neighbors, of course! Although it is a little difficult to see in this photo, I think the result is a good one, as the eye can now focus on all the colorful blooms of the perennial garden without being distracted by the house beyond.

The vegetable garden also continues to thrive and to provide me with fresh produce! The cabbages (despite a few worm holes on the outer leaves) are ready to harvest.

As are some of my tomatoes! I actually am dying to fry up some of the green ones before they all ripen, but these will be great on a grilled hamburger or chopped into some fresh salsa.

The dill from the Nourishmat is as tall as I am (6’2″ in case you were wondering)!

And one of the grape vines has already grown to the top of the fence and then some!

I can’t wait to have them all properly trained along the entire fence. At this rate, I am hoping they may really look like something by the end of the season. Either way it is so fun watching them grow….which you can practically do! So, join me next month. Who knows? Maybe they will have taken over the whole place!

Did you miss Daniel Keeley’s May Update or June Update? Click through to enjoy!

Exterior designer Daniel Keeley is an Arkansas native and founder/principal of DK Design. His work has won numerous awards and accolades and is featured regularly in various publications. For more information visit dkdesignoutdoor.com.

Outside the Box with D. Keeley: May Update

May 14, 2014 by ark_admin

Whew…it has been an exciting month at the Live Outside the Box House! In addition to the regular hustle and bustle of spring, we hosted three events: a VIP client party and two home and garden tours. Needless to say, we have been extra busy making sure everything was in tip top shape, and I am happy to report that everything has gone off without a hitch.

In the garden, this first year’s tulips were spectacular. I chose a blend of 3 different white varieties that bloomed at slightly different times. This provided the maximum amount of bloom time, and the tulips lasted at least a month.

The dogwoods in the front garden were also beautiful and were kind enough to hang around for all of the special events we had over the past month!

Near the front door, the giant urns received their seasonal plantings, as well. I decided to anchor the urns with a central boxwood topiary. The triple standard forms give dramatic height to the arrangements and also a bit of added formality. They are under-planted with a simple mix of white scaevola and asparagus fern…one of my all-time favorite mixtures.

Around the corner the perennial garden is filling in nicely, despite the fact that all the butterfly bushes died back to the ground during the harsh winter storms we experienced.

Also, as you can see, there is a new addition to the garden…a fountain! I have always wanted a fountain in this location and have been counting the days until it could be installed this spring. It is a wonderful, geometric vessel I commissioned from concrete artist, Jason Pledger of Forever Designs, LLC in Fayetteville. I am so excited to have it in and am enjoying the splashing sounds of the water as they waft throughout the garden and into the house!

The most exciting aspect of the past month, however, was all the wonderful visitors who came to share in the garden and outdoor living spaces. As I mentioned, we had several groups come by, including some lovely ladies from the Little Rock Garden Club. They were in town to visit several gardens, and it was an honor and a thrill to have lunch with them at the house. Even though the morning started off looking a bit stormy, the clouds parted just in time, and it was a beautiful and fun-filled visit!

We also had a garden party for our VIP clients this month, which was a huge success. Here is a centerpiece I made for one of the food tables that was super easy to do. I just cut succulents (echeveria) and placed them strategically on a pile of sandblasted grapevine…simple as that! I love the sculptural simplicity of the arrangement, and the succulents have already lasted a month with no care. My plan is to start misting them to extend the arrangement even longer.

In the kitchen garden, the Arkansas-native Cynthiana grapevines we planted last fall are leafing out vigorously. As they mature, we will trim and train them to grow all along the fence in the garden, and I can’t wait until they are laden with gorgeous, plump fruit!

And, as promised…here is your Nourishmat veggie garden update: I am happy to report that all the seeds seem to have germinated and should soon be yielding their delicious bounty!

room of the week: enchanted estate

March 20, 2014 by ark_admin

Feature photography by Nancy Nolan

coffee table | pillow | outdoor chair

Our March issue is packed full of outdoor living inspiration and this outdoor renovation does not disappoint. Garry Mertins and Chris Olsen worked on this Hillcrest-area outdoor renovation. When it came to the family’s must-haves, the addition of a new fireplace and conversation space on the pool level was high on their wish list. Thanks in part to the cool color palette of the outdoor fabrics, which were selected by the owner with an eye for both function and fun, it has become a favorite space for guests. There’s so much to see in this feature, including a beautiful pool, landscaping and outdoor kitchen. It’s the perfect spot to entertain friends and family. Cheers to getting outdoors this spring! Read the full story online in the March issue here or find a copy on newsstands.

At Home Friday Favorites 7.2.10

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

From editor Diane Carroll: “Ten great ideas, with lots of instructions and templates (easy and quick isÂ my favorite kind of project). That #5 is catching my eye for this holiday.” (“Let’s be creative for the 4th” from Signed Sealed Delivered)

“Precious baby shoes!” says account executive Katie Rawlings. “The red booties would complete a 4th of July outfit! Too sweet. Do they came in adult sizes?” (“If we were having a girl…” from Ruby Press)

Happy 4th of July from advertising coordinator Laura LaRue. “I might just be making that cute little cake this weekend!” she says. (“Sweet Tooth…” from A Life’s Design)

“Another great-looking project from D & D Interior Design,” says account executive Kathy Condrey. (“Vanilla Chocolate Swirl Ice Cream” from D & D Interior Design)

“Love, love, love a good renovation,” says marketing coordinator/account executive Lauren Strother. “This is fabulous!” (“Bathroom Redesign: The Reveal” from My Best Friend Craig)

“The only things missing in this scene,” says associate editor Paulette Pearson, “are my friends and family.” (“Happy Canada Day and 4th of July” from Pink Lemonade)

8 fun ways to spend Memorial Day weekend

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Memorial Day Weekend is almost here! How do you plan to spend this favorite holiday? We’ve got seven tips for making the most of this long weekend. Just remember to have fun and be safe!