Statement Pieces Perfect for Springtime Entertaining
How to bring classic spring touches to your outdoor oasis
By John Stevens April 23, 2012
This article originally appeared in the May 2012 issue of Seattle magazine.
Here comes the sun! Kick off the spring entertaining season with a fresh take on elegant outdoor style.
A neutral palette of black, white and gray comes alive with pops of soft, sunny yellow. Want to add some panache to your patio? Start with the beautiful basics, like Summer Classics’ Plaza loveseat and chair, featuring a sturdy aluminum frame, Ancient Earth finish and weatherproof houndstooth fabric from Summer House (Southcenter; 1191 Andover Park W; 206.575.2201; summerhousepatio.com). Don’t be afraid to bring indoor furnishings outside for a little designer drama. Add a few key statement pieces, such as Hickory Chair’s sculptural Nadine and sleek Klismos side tables (both sporting soft gray weathered finishes), and Ryan Studio’s luxe striped throw pillows, all from Masins (Bellevue; 10708 Main St.; 425.450.9999; masins.com). Sophisticated seasonal accents are an absolute must, such as marvelous, mossy Campo de Fiori terra-cotta planters, a textural, rope-handled basket, vintage walking sticks and fabulous floral artwork by Vashon artist Mary Margaret Briggs, all from The Arbour (Bellevue; 10028 Main St.; 425.454.1510; thearbourbellevue.com). Stately vintage silver serving pieces paired with etched glassware from The Sophisticated Swine (Bellevue; 11639 NE Eighth St.; 425.452.9300; sophisticatedswine.com) add sparkle and pizzazz, and terrific tableware completes the look. Villeroy & Boch’s classic, toile-inspired Audun pattern is a perfect choice for posh patio parties, from Macy’s (Downtown; 1601 Third Ave.; 206.506.6000; macys.com).
With a few touches of designer style, any space can be patio perfect. Hooray for spring!
John Stevens (john@stevenswilliams.com) is a design writer and publicist.
Follow Us
Underground Overhaul
Going low solves couple's woes
The Seattle underground is alive and well and living in Montlake, a close-knit community in more ways than one. Dense suburban charm is what lures many families to Montlake. Dense suburban charm is also what forces many families to leave Montlake. “The lots here are very small, with setback and height restrictions,” says architectural designer…
Not Flown, Grown: The Slow Flowers Movement is Having A Moment
New book — The Flower Farmers — promotes the use of locally grown, seasonal, and sustainably harvested flowers
A few years ago, Debra Prinzing — speaker, podcast host, outdoor living expert, and founder of Slow Flowers — and her business partner, Robin Avni, pitched an idea to an editor at Abrams Books. The editor passed, but quickly came back with another offer. They didn’t have to think twice about it. Prinzing had extensive…
Where Function Meets Finesse
Without the use of a single brick, Little House turns the tables on the Big Bad Wolf.
Texas residents John and Julie Connor had spent many summers visiting family near Seabeck, an unincorporated waterfront village and former mill town in Kitsap County. They loved the wildness of the southern Hood Canal and imagined a small retreat here of their own, so they purchased a large lot with lush second-growth trees on a…
Master of Transparency
Award-winning architect Eric Cobb’s work seamlessly meshes glass, space and light
Noted architect Eric Cobb is collaborating on a second-home project near The Gorge Amphitheatre with a former junior high school soccer teammate, embodying a classic Seattle story of connection. The new Cliffe Pointe at the Gorge project located within the Cave B Estate grounds features 60 second homes surrounded by vineyards, natural sage, and rolling…