better living | home & decor

MAKE YOUR
OUTDOORS
GREAT AGAIN

WHEN IT COMES TO decorating, out is actually in.

“There is so much you can do with an outdoor décor,” said Diane Paul of the Inland Design Center. “All the rules you use when decorating indoors can apply, but then you have the added fun of dealing with outdoor space."

Her favorite and quick way to add a new look to your outdoor space is using plants.

“Buy or plant all kinds of plants in interesting pots and then use them not only to decorate, but also to designate conversation areas. Use flowers as centerpieces on tables. The plants come and go with the season,” she said.

Denise Turner, an interior designer and owner of Color Turners, which specializes in color forecasting and use, agrees that color can go a long way toward adding a fresh look on practically anything. Homeowners can’t go wrong opting for a Mediterranean feel for their yards since the local climate and landscape are similar, said the Rancho Cucamonga woman. But don’t forget color, which this type of design décor lovingly accepts.

“You don’t have to be serious. Have fun with residential exteriors,” she added. “Use plenty of tropical colors, particularly citrus lime green, corals and blues. All will set the ideal tone for relaxation and family get-togethers.

Garden fun doesn’t have to be just green or black anymore."

That couldn’t be more true than at the Rancho Cucamonga home of Mike and Ashley Basso. Their gorgeous home comes with an equally appealing backyard, which fits in great for the family. Once the days start heating up, the Bassos — Mike, Ashley and their five children — head outside.

Talk about resort living. The yard features a stunning pool, barbecue, fire pit, outdoor fireplace and plenty of seating for conversations that can go late into the night.

“We spend a lot of time in the yard and that was the plan,” Ashley Basso said.

The family room has enormous wooden folding doors that make the transition from inside to outside almost unnoticeable.

“We try to entertain in the yard, especially around the pool, but it is still nice to be able to use what you have to change things up, and then everything feels like new again."

The magic is courtesy of Kelly Ferm, a noted Inland area designer and owner of Ferm Design Concepts, and Scott Clarke of Sun-Scapes Landscapes of Upland. Together they added a few items here and a few plants there to make spring and summer 2008 look inviting in the Basso backyard.

It’s not as hard as it may sound. Ferm offers five simple ways to add character and fun to outdoor living space, no matter the scale:

SHINE ON
In addition to simply illuminating the night, lighting helps establish a mood. Do you want to be festive? String holiday lights along fences, on trellises, hanging from patio covers or dangling from shrubbery and trees. Do you want to be romantic? Set up candles in votive holders and other candleholders. Vary the shape and size of both the candles and holders. It’s the glow, after all, that adds the ambience and gets one’s mind thinking about love.

Or do you want elegance? Use chandeliers. Yes, chandeliers — either ones that require electricity or ones that use candles. These dining room staples take on a whole new role in the big outdoors and bring new meaning to the idea of dining by candlelight.

Ferm said candles are an absolute must.

“Candles compliment the mood of the outdoors and create an environment that separates us from the sometimes mundane feeling of being at home. Mood lighting is best achieved by candlelight, combined with a portable or built-in fire pit,” she said.

IT’S A CUSHY JOB
You love your patio furniture, but you want a bit of something, anything. Change the cushions, throw pillows and even the umbrella. Here’s the ideal chance to add splashes of color and personality to a place where you’re planning to spend a lot of time during the next months. And, at least in the case of the cushions, the idea has comfort written all over it.

“Pillows, cushions and canvas umbrellas are victoriously the best way to add color to outdoor seating areas. I always recommend having two sets, your spring and your fall,” Ferm said. “Don’t be afraid to mix up patterns and colors. I often suggest using at least three different patterns from stripes, solids, to this year’s high demand — polka dots. Don’t forget to mix up shapes and sizes either, the more variation, the more interest you give to the space."

CURTAIN NO. 1, PLEASE
You can’t call them window treatments because there are no windows, but many outdoor areas feature curtains. They add definition. They add color. And they add protection from insects and the elements.

“Finish your space with canvas drapery panels. If you have an overhang or trellis, you can easily hang an iron rod and add ready-made or custom canvas tab-topped drapery panels,” Ferm said. “By closing these when the sun is harsh, you will find that you can use your space at all hours of the day.

The fabric not only softens the space and customizes your area, it provides function."

Add a last personal touch by using canvas tie-backs or big tassels. But remember, she said, the more billowy the better. Fabric helps soften hardscapes and transform a setting.

TALK IT UP
Outdoor rooms are designed to be extensions of your home, particularly now that days are heating up and entertaining is in the future. Turn off the air conditioner and head to the backyard. Set up spaces and start a conversation with family and friends.

Depending on the size you have available, Ferm usually suggests adding a few more seating areas. One space should be set aside for simple and fun conversation, while the other should be set up for dining.

And while you’re setting up these individual areas, remember to have fun.

Avoid the “it looks like I bought it all from one showroom floor” look by mixing and matching furniture. Combine wood, glass, iron, stone and, even, durable plastics such as Resinweave.

CONTAIN YOUR EXCITEMENT
Plant containers full of fresh and colorful flowers. It is the outdoors, after all.

“Container gardens are a wonderful way to create a lush, colorful, calming environment. There are so many wonderful containers, large to small scale, that will simply finish your space.

Enjoy collecting them,” Ferm said.

Whether it’s small fruit trees, cascading plants full of blossoms or herbs to cook with, plant, plant and plant, she said.

Container gardens help add vivid punch to the yard, help visually define space and can provide an ideal way to keep you supplied with lots of fresh flowers always ready to cut and display.