Outdoor Entertaining – by Adam Haynes

Love Your Landscape – by Adam Haynes

Since Memorial Day weekend signaled the kick-off of outdoor entertaining season, I’ve been thinking about the importance of putting the pieces in place to throw a great outdoor party! This time of year is perfect for a variety of outdoor gatherings: graduation parties, backyard weddings, bridal showers, brunches and all types of casual get-togethers with friends.

My favorite elements for creating an inviting outdoor living area also double as additions to your outdoor space that can enhance how much you enjoy hosting these sorts of parties. A cooking center, portable or built-in bar are at the top of the list for outdoor entertaining musts-haves. But I also recommend built-in focal points such as fire pits that enhance the feeling of being outdoors while fostering a warm and inviting area to entertain. Another item along these lines is the outdoor fireplace or pizza oven. While the pizza oven is fairly specific in function, the impact of such a piece can set the overall tone for the type of entertaining you like to do. You definitely want to consider the flow of traffic—if there are natural paths built into your outdoor design, then you should utilize them by adding sitting benches in prime locations.

When it comes to making guests feel comfortable outdoors, the furnishings can make all the difference, too. Make sure to have a variety of seating options. I like built-in sitting walls that add to a casual outdoor atmosphere, but formal seating is also important. Even a few lounge chairs thrown into the mix will give guests a variety of choices that will suit their particular idea of comfort. Bistro tables and chairs are really ideal for cocktail-type parties common this time of year, and they work well to create smaller conversation areas with furniture. The same is true for pub-style tables and chairs. On the extremely casual side of the spectrum, consider adding a hammock or two! If outdoor relaxation is your goal, then a sturdy hammock is worth looking into.

Another great way to enjoy your outdoor living area is to establish a mobile, outdoor entertainment center. This can be accomplished by simply running cable TV to your outdoor cooking center or up into a pergola. Although the cable needs to be permanently installed, the TV can either be permanent or brought out for the evening. The mobility of the entertainment center addresses the obvious concerns about leaving a TV outside year-round. And, it’s super easy to design an iPod dock with speakers into the outdoor entertainment center as well. The great news about incorporating a mobile, outdoor entertainment center is that it’s generally easy on the pocketbook.

With so many months of beautiful weather ahead, I say let’s make the most of it by entertaining outdoors with style.

Artisan Landscapes owner, Adam Haynes

Adam Haynes is the owner of Artisan Landscapes and may be reached at 541-292-3285 and www.artisanlandscapes.com