Hello HGTV readers! I’m thrilled to be joining you for my first post on Design Happens! I hope you all had a lovely Memorial Day weekend and started your season of outdoor entertaining off right! Today, I’m sharing with you my top three must-haves for creating a welcoming and stylish outdoor entertaining space.
Pottery Barn
#1 Galvanized Metal Serving Pieces
Pottery Barn and HGTV
No longer just for chilling buckets of soda and beer, galvanized serving pieces are everywhere these days. From serving trays to utensil caddies, galvanized metal goes with practically every decorating style and stays cold for hours. I have an extra-large galvanized bucket I always use for parties to keep drinks chilled. I also just picked up a galvanized tiered tray at HomeGoods that will make the perfect cupcake stand for my son’s upcoming birthday party.
#2 Umbrellas
Pottery Barn, Pier One, Grandin Road and Pottery Barn Kids
Umbrellas are a must for entertaining in the sun, especially if you don’t have a canopy of trees covering your backyard. Provide your guests with an extended area of shade by using several umbrellas close together. Fabric umbrellas also add color and interest in your backyard whether they are poolside or positioned in the grass.
#3: Outdoor Pillows
Pottery Barn Kids, Restoration Hardware and Grandin Road
Outdoor pillows are an easy and affordable way to instantly spruce up your outdoor decor with pops of color and pattern. Outdoor pillows made with durable fabrics are easy to find at most home decorating stores, home improvement stores and online. I recently updated my front patio furniture with green, blue & brown pillows, and I love how it looks now!
Do you have a must for hosting outdoor parties that didn’t make my list? I would love to hear your ideas!
[...] hope you’ll check out Kim’s post this week where she reveals her top 3 essentials for outdoor entertaining. Then return every Tuesday for her fresh, informative and inspiring takes on stylish entertaining [...]
Kim is awesome and I am so excited that you are now having her as a regular contributor!! What fabulous ideas–LOVE them all!!
Is this the Kim of TomKat and the girl birthday party themes I fell in love with on HGTV? http://www.hgtv.com/entertaining/4-adorable-birth…
(Squeel) I can't wait to see more of what you have in store for us! Welcome!
Thank you so much! I'm so excited to be a part of Design Happens!
Fabulous tips from the fabulous Kim!! LOVE the umbrellas! I'll be putting these tips to good use. Thank you! <3
I LOVE Kim's ideas! What a fabulous new contributor!
Congratulations Kim!! I always appreciate her entertaining tidbits! Looking forward to future posts!
Love it Kim! Way to go and congrats on this new adventure!
Your post makes me want to RUN to HomeGoods so I can spruce up my deck with some of these ideas. Great picks, Kim!
Congratulations Kim!!! LOVE all your great outdoor decor ideas!! I have a galvanized tub as well – but now I think I need that cupcake stand – it's adorable!
Love the ideas…How fun! I can't wait to see all of your great entertaining ideas here too!
put my congratulations in the bucket with the others kim! i love the look of galvanized serving pieces… such a great contrast with pretty summer colors.
Thank you all! I am looking forward to sharing fun ideas for entertaining, here on Design Happens!
Kim, these are some really great ideas! The galvanized cupcake stand is awesome! Lots of fun colors and comfort! Looking forward to all of your fun tips!
Yeah, but did you notice the missing mosquito umbrella or something similar?!? The Texas mosquitos come into OK and make outdoors miserable (not to mention the fact that we have broken the record for having 19 days in June over 100 and they are still coming!!
Great that your backyard was finished in time for your entertaining!
[...] Click here to say hello and read my first post! Share and Enjoy: Filed Under: blogging, hgtv About KimKim Stoegbauer, Party Stylist/Editor of The TomKat Studio. Her work and products have been featured on HGTV.com, MarthaStewart.com, Celebrate Magazine, Parenting Magazine & 202 Magazine. Kim is a contributing writer for HGTV, HomeGoods & Project Nursery. Next PostPrevious Post{Free Printable} One Hundred & One Fun Summer Ideas for the Kids! [...]
Wow, Congrats! I am following you here from TomKat Studio which I absolutely adore!
Love the ideas Kim!!!!
Long time reader of Kim's– and I am so excited to see her on HGTV. Congrats, I can't wait to see what you have in store for summer entertaining.
http://craftytexasgirls.blogspot.com/
Wow, that's fantastic news! Look forward to hearing your thoughts on upcoming entertaining trends. Cheers!
Congrats Kim! I'm so excited to have another place to follow you…you have the best style! They couldn't have picked a better person.
xo Sarah
So exciting, Kim!!! Congrats!!
[...] TomKat Studio: My Top 3 Musts-Haves for Outdoor Entertaining [...]
Thank you all so much! I'm so happy to be blogging here!
[...] TomKat Studio: My Top 3 Musts-Haves for Outdoor Entertaining [...]
I love this post, Kim! I especially like the galvanized metal serving pieces, and along those lines, can anyone recommend a nice outdoor wine rack? I enjoy serving wine at my gatherings and am looking for a wine rack that looks good and won't rust outdoors.
Thanks!
I don't know what kind of feel you're looking for for your backyard but a lot of my friends store their wine in outdoor coolers. In terms of display racks, if you're looking for wooden William Sonoma has great products: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/modular-a… My only problem w/the wooden racks is that they aren't as decorative as I'd like.
Metal wine holders like this one are vintage looking and add instant decor to your backyard: http://www.greatusefulstuff.com/Zodax-Triumphe-Me…
I especially like it because it allows you to choose a few extra special bottles to display v. hundreds.
great ideas for garden parties.love all of it
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