I’ve wanted to spruce up my backyard for a while and finally had the perfect reason to – throwing a little dinner party.
I decided that since the backyard gets so sunny, adding an awning would be perfect. I went bold with a bright yellow and white striped fabric and even ordered extra fabric to make into matching pillows. Now we can grill in the shade. Heaven!
People often forget that you can use the exterior of your house as a canvas to hang a mirror or a piece of art. We hung a large mirror on the exterior wall, as well as a lucite longhorn.
Another thing that I love to do for outdoor parties is hang candelabra chandeliers from the trees. The effect of the burning candles seeming to float through space is really amazing, and very pretty.
When I’m up in the Berkshires I love to hit all the local tag sales. Luckily, I found just the table and benches that I needed at one right down the street. I wasn’t loving the dark wood, so we painted the whole set high gloss white. Luckily it dried just in time for the party!
Enjoyed this show so much! I smiled all the way through the episode. The chandelier looked so lovely, especially at dusk with the candles lit. Well, I'm off, got to go make a peace wreath.
I loved the painted motorcycle tire swings, and the yellow accents (especially the wall stripe and the front porch curtains). Why would you do all that work to spruce up the outside and leave the dirty yellow shutters and dirty white siding all over? At lease repaint the shutters… maybe power wash the siding.
[...] Dressing Up the Outdoors for a Party HGTV Design Happens Sun, September 4, 2011 2:30 AM UTC HGTV Design Happens Rate this story Share this story [...]
How can a couple claim to have so much talent in decorating yet they don't spend the time needed to properly clean the outside of their house before throw a party. They didn't even prep the wall over the outdoor grill before they painted that ridiculous yellow stripe, you can still see the dirt bleeding through the yellow paint. Seriously, they spent $1,500 on a couple of beat-up old chandeliers to hang from the trees and take the time to paint a yard gnome gold but the outside of their house is chipping paint and mildewing. This couple is giving advice on decorating? Their show is a joke and should be yanked off the air as soon as possible.
My thoughts exactly. Those filthy shutters were absolutely revolting!! Jeez….spend a couple of hundred bucks and power wash your disgusting house.
Hi HVV…………..I totally agree with you…..what were they thinking…….Hell i could do better job
they claim to be bohemian chic, yet, like you said, they drop 15 grand on beat up chandeliers. no, no, no! thats the kind of thing you randomly see in your neighbors trash….drag them home…..and your drunk uncle crams them in the branches of a tree…..that's what makes something like that cool……NOT spending serious cash, overthinking, and just plain trying too damn hard. Cool isn't planned….it just happens@
The 2 previous posts display a lack of vacation home awareness (besides forgetting that Cortney admits they concentrated on the interior & will paint the exterior when time permits). That said, what a pair of marvelous parents they are besides their groovy design aesthetic. Another great episode and can't wait for next week.
Calling John Giddings on this one! What is so special about this? It looks junky. Vern Yip and Candace Olsen will not be picking these folks for Design Star.
NOthing wrong with junky if you don't wast 15 grand on it!
Happened to see the show during rain delay of football game. Sprucing up outdoors with flowers and a swing is fine. But, hanging chandeliers on trees and placing a mirror on the exterior of the house is silly. A bird will crash into the mirror. The trees will be set on fire and possibly burn down the house. And what's with the yellow stripe on the back side of the house? It's more suitable to Kodak's headquarters building.
I wanted to find out where they got the metal looking floating pool spheres…so cool.
i saw an add for that "housewife", saying she was airing this coming sat at 10:00!! Isn't that the regular time for the novagratz! if so, WHERE AND WHEN WILL WE SEE THEM???
What I found interesting was the clear acrylic cow head — I liked it and want to know where I can find one.
I have a western room it would be perfect for. Went online looking for something like it , but no luck.
I'm sorry but I change the channel when this show is on. From what I've seen, they may be talented but their personalities make them unapproachable and they're style isn't applicable to most people's homes. I think given our economy, we need more inventive shows like we used to have on HGTV. Trash to Treasure, Gardening by the Yard, these shows actually taught you something and it could be adapted to most any home. Inventive shows with hosts that didn't make me want to change the channel.
Right on! So true in this time of financial stress. Decorations (chandeliers) that are as expensive as these and yet do nothing are a reckless waste of money.
Does anyone know what the spray was that Courtney used on the mirror to seal it prior to hanging it outside?
The chandeliers look like roadside finds and what is up with those dollar store lawn chairs! Tacky, tacky, tacky! No taste or design skill! They have no business on HGTV!!!
Love this family. It's true that Cortney & Robert are a little 'out there' but it fits them. I watched their previous hr long show and miss it. The design last week of a children's room was very nice especially the wall size photo of the children who will live in the room. I like their funky ideas for their yard and house (outdoors) but did notice that the house did need a good power wash, but the paint is not in very good shape so it may not have been done for that reason! Anyhow, enjoy the show and I watched them purchase and renovate their existing, multi-floored, glass fronted home in New York. Their kids seem happy and well adjusted which is a big accomplishment, too! You might say I am definately a fan!
I also have to add how surprised I was, by designers not power washing the so obvious dirt off the house, before it was painted. Like putting lipstick on a pig….This was a mistep:(
I love this show! Thanks HGTV for presenting it, and please keep it coming! I think the show serves its purpose — it spurs ideas and creative thinking in our own home decorating adventures. As some of the other posters mentioned, it would be nice to find out where they bought the clear cow head, and the spheres for the pool. I wondered if the spheres were spray painted beach balls or some other kind of lightweight ball.
You can get the silver spheres at a store called Chiasso http://www.chiasso.com/
Im not a big fan of the Novogratz design ideas either but ya gotta love their energy AND I welcome most anything other than House Hunters – only becuz there is way toooooo much of it.
I like to watch HGTV for good design ideas.
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Well.. at least they are consistent. They were just as awful with their own yard/home as with others. Wash the house before painting. But really …. should we expect anything different?? Just look at them so unprofessional and sloppy looking!
CANCEL THIS CRAPPY SHOW!!
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$1,500 for the 2 chandeliers!!!!!! They thought they got a good deal!! It pays to know the owner of the shop!! PLEASE. I am a Goodwill & yard sale shopper, maybe I would have paid up to $20.00 for the chandelier, maybe. Can I mention the unruly & misbehaved children?!! Lack of supervision, rude & obnoxious!
$1,500 for the 2 chandeliers!!!!!! They thought they got a good deal!! It pays to know the owner of the shop!! PLEASE. I am a Goodwill & yard sale shopper, maybe I would have paid up to $20.00 for the chandelier… maybe. Can I mention the unruly & misbehaved children?!! No supervision, rude & obnoxious.
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We agree with the prior blogs that this show is a joke and absolutely the worst show on an otherwise great network. They are the worst designers ever and we change the channel immediately. Send them packing back to Bravo!
It's the "joke" part only that makes it worth watching…..seeing them eff up someone's home for an exorbirtant price, all in the name of "hip" and "cool" (according to their skewed definition) is….well…."sick"
That baby was not properly restrained in his car seat….I'm not sure if the other kids were either. Poor baby could have gone right out the window. perhaps 7 is too many if you can't provide a safe environment.
Westral website has a list of beautiful awnings. I am going to look for a yellow one because I am inspired with the look of your outdoor patio.
The colorful patio looks very inviting and accommodating specially so that the decking is painted with black. My patio in Perth looks nothing like it but you've given me a nice idea of putting on some colors to make it look more appealing to stay specially on outdoor summer dinners.
Your house looks amazing. I like the big space outside and those barbecue grill look awesome. Well, lucky for you the smoke won't come inside because of your glass windows. I installed some window blinds in perth just to keep the smoke out of the house.
I want to buy white and yellow striped curtains and blinds Perth because those shades inspired me to design my kitchen with bright colors. That outdoor patio of their family is splendid because everything is set into place and they have chosen a good theme color for an outdoor patio.
What did they serve for the children? Hotdogs with marshmallows is the common food in outdoor picnics.
-Gemma Merlin
I’ll tell my husband to fix out patio so that we can renovate soon. Those colours that you’ve chosen for that area are great because it’s bright and lively.
-Sofie O. Iversen