by Sharon Novak, Allied Member ASID

Contents Interiors

1. Think about your comfort.  How will you use the space?  Is the space for kids and  fun, for grown-up entertaining, a place to relax, or all of the above?
2. Consider the views from the house and toward the house.  Your outdoor space has to relate to your interior but also be a place that draws you outside.
3. Create a focal point by paying attention to the details.  Are there comfortable chairs and a place to set a glass?  Good lighting is key for afternoon parties that extend into the evening.
4. Pots should vary in height and be filled with plants that are fragrant as well as colorful.  Select an evergreen  plant that can be there year-round, and then add  flowers and a trailing vine to keep the pot looking current.
5. Keep herb gardens close to the house and kitchen.  They are beautiful as well as handy when you need them  They also are a fragrant foundation for a fresh arrangement.

by Carol Bell

• Both in Milan and High Point, outdoor furniture is center stage. As we all begin to create outdoor kitchens and outdoor living spaces, we have all discovered that we want our furniture to be as comfortable as the furniture we have in our home. This line dropped a chair in a lake for one month to see how it would hold up. I saw it at market and it looked great.