Turning Your Deck Into A Backyard Room

I have just added a deck to my house and needed some inspiration on how to make it feel like part of the living space. Susi from Arcadian Lighting has generously agreed to be that inspiration.

Today’s guest post is from Susi, a writer for Arcadian Lighting, a must-shop resource for beautiful lighting fixtures. Visit their website and cool blog for more information. Enjoy.

Many people have an underutilized deck that is less than inviting for anything other than grilling.  Turning these decks into outdoor rooms is easier than it may seem. A few tricks, such as using outdoor fabrics and rugs, can turn the backyard deck into a lovely outdoor room.

Pinterest via

Create an outdoor room with a comfortable seating area and accessories. Garden stools, a coffee table and a mirror all impart the feeling of a well styled room.

Better Homes and Gardens via

When creating an outdoor room on the backyard deck, outdoor fabrics are a must. Outdoor fabric has come a long way in the recent years. Select a color palette just as you would for an indoor room.

West Elm via

Think about lighting when designing your outdoor room. An umbrella or sun shade to block the light during the day and lights to dine by at night are key for an outdoor eating area.

Elle Decor via

A rug centers an outdoor room just as it does indoors.  Outdoor rugs, like outdoor fabrics, are available in a multitude of colors, patterns and styles. An outdoor pendant light also helps turn a deck into a room.

My Kotori via

Entertaining is what having an outdoor room is all about.  Providing an array of seating options and side tables with vintage and new finds creates a charming space to entertain as well as having enough lighting fixture around the space.

The Pennington Point via

Create extra seating by building a custom banquette along one side of your deck. You can add storage under the banquette for pillows and cushions.

Miss Design via

A pergola not only provides shade during the day for an outdoor room but creates a place to hang lighting.  String lights, votives, outdoor lanterns and pendant lights can all be suspended from a pergola.

Good Housekeeping via

An outdoor fireplace or fire pit transforms a deck into an outdoor living room. The fireplace or fire pit becomes a nice focal point for the seating area as well as provides warmth on cooler evenings.

For more necessary inspirations on how to use your backyard deck as an outdoor room, check out Arcadian Lighting blog for more tips, ideas and inspirations. They are a one-stop shop that provides the best lighting fixtures from a variety of manufacturers. Make sure to check them out today!

Thanks again Susi....you have given me some great ideas! Linda

Pleasantdale Chateau - A Feast For The Eyes

We had the pleasure of attending a wedding this weekend at the Pleasantdale Chateau, just outside of New York City.

It truly was a feast for the eyes! 

Not only were the grounds simply stunning but the building and the decor were not to be outdone.

Before becoming a wedding destination, it was the former home of Charles Walter Nichols, a renowned industrial leader in the early 1900's.  In 1994 it was acquired by the Knowles Family.  They have kept its elegance and rich history intact, maintaining a farm and apiary on its grounds that provide fresh produce for guests and local restaurants in the area.

It is located on forty acres of mature woodlands, with ponds, fields and charming gardens nestled around rustic structures.

www.pleasantdale.com 

 I am in love with this millstone.....I want one!!!

Now for the inside....

There were many rooms....one more beautiful than the other and the cocktail hour is held in all of them.

  You could just wander from room to room....food was served in just about every one of them

Then, as if this wasn't enough....a large atrium 

with fabulous and exotic plants that led to more rooms

 The decor was everything that I love...

 

...and the grand ballroom, a later addition, 

was just as beautiful

I just can't resist showing you a few more photos

and finally....a little friend we met while on a stroll

Paradise for this Frog....or maybe the Prince?

Just Waitin on a Hurricane

No, this is not Hurricane Irene....thank goodness!

But Long Island is such a small sliver of land that I wonder 

how it survives hurricanes at all

 My house is just a few miles inland of that arrow....Yikes!  I am just short of the mandatory evacuation area so we are staying put.  They are saying it may downgrade to a low end category 1 or a tropical storm by the time it reaches us.  Lets hope so.

Right now it's just a waiting game 

 Wondering which trees will fall.....what will be damaged.....

how long will the electricity be out...you know...stuff like that.

 But we are ready!!!

 Candles assembled....actually this is my Fairy Lamp Collection.....

which I LOVE

Thermous & cooler collection so we can have coffee in the morning....

 AN ABSOLUTE MUST!

 and....cooking all day because with an electric stove....

I don't know when I will next get the chance. 

Roast chicken stuffed with veggies and eggplant parm.... 

so we shall eat while the eatin is good!

Just look at this Cactus Garden

My friend Kathy has this fabulous Prickly Pear Cactus garden in her front yard

I am in love with it.  It is easy to take care of and blooms in mid summer....I was dying to start one of my own.

So she gave me some cuttings and a pair of heavy gloves

 Apparently, all you have to do is take some cuttings and let them calcify at the ends....then stick them in the ground and you have a cactus garden....we'll see....

I was surprised that you could even grow a 

cactus garden in New York but she has a great sunny spot right next to her cobblestone walk way.  She has surrounded the cactus with stones that keep the warmth in.

 It fills up with so many buds and is so 

beautiful when it blooms

 

 She started this garden about 6 or 7 years ago 

with one tiny little cactus

I am hoping to be at least half as successful!

Long Island Farm Stands = Summer Roasted Vegetables

One of my favorite things to do in summer is visit some of our fabulous Long Island Farm Stands

Click Here for a Tour of Long Islands Farm Stands

Summer Roasted Vegetables on the Bar-B-Q are a real treat

 I always try to have some on hand to put on sandwiches or have with dinner

 There are several kinds and shapes of pans you can use. I prefer the kind with the holes over the mesh type.  There is more of a heat surface for good caramelization and browning

The varieties and combination's  are endless....Asparagus, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots, Eggplant, Green Beans, Mushrooms, Onions, Peppers, Scallions, Sweet Potatoes, Yellow Squash and Zucchini are some of my favorites

The Salad Shooter works great for many of the veggies.  It slices them nice and thin so they cook through evenly but any slicer or mandolin will work well.

 A quick toss with some extra virgin olive oil, salt & pepper and you are ready to go!

Place them on the Bar-B-Q and close the lid.  

This pan is what I use for 2 people but I had company this day so the pan is overflowing. 

 They will cook down and caramelize in about an hour

DELICIOUS & Ready to be served! 
You can add balsamic vinegar, grated cheese etc. for added flavor, but I love them plain.