New Deck, Slate Patio and California Casual Entertaining

Hope your summer is off to a great start! Are you loving the longer daylight hours? Chief and I are!

Cindy Hattersley came up from central California to spend the night while Howard is away on business. Since I didn’t want making dinner to interfere with our “catching up” I assembled a simple Salade Nicoise.

In the morning, I made Ina Garten’s potato salad. Then, before dinner, I pan seared fresh tuna and added tomatoes, radishes, Greek olives and steamed snap peas plunged in ice water…all on top of arugula. Little individual pitchers of home-made white balsamic mustard vinaigrette was served on the side.

Look what Cindy gave me as hostess gifts….too much! LOVE it all though.

Fun evening with my pal!

Living in California, we are fortunate to be able to use our outside spaces practically all year long. My client, Sue and her family wanted to take advantage of that with a spruced up backyard!

I drew up this neutral backdrop plan so that Sue can change colors with table settings, flowers and accessories.

Here is a before photo. A peninsula closed off the space.

So, it was removed…

And this area was leveled for slate in a random square/rectangular pattern.

Here it is now…the slate is actually darker but it was a bright day when I took these “less than great” shots.

The deck is a bit red, but it will fade and I love the pergola painted all white. We still have a few more pillows and the umbrella for the far left corner coming.

The fire pit is from Restoration Hardware. Funny… this larger fire pit was on sale for less than the smaller one.

After shopping around, Sue found these durable party lights at Costco.

This is on order… (and on sale right now). It’s great as it can be used for a beverage center or to roll over next to the BBQ with a couple kitchen stools to keep the cook company during a party.

Abbot Outdoor Island