Outdoor Entertaining | Design Happens

ALL POSTS TAGGED "[outdoor entertaining]"

Trending on HGTV.com: Outdoor Entertaining

by Sarah Herron April 20, 2013 2 Comments

Hosting a party is more than fun, it also provides motivation for cleaning the house. Outdoor entertaining encourages us (okay, my husband) to clean the grill, wash the porch and spruce up the yard. It can also give you (okay, me) an excuse to shop for new patio furniture, accessories and outdoor games.

HGTV.com readers are also motivated to take the party outside. Ideas for an outdoor party is a hot topic right now. Editors are sharing their favorite outdoor entertaining ideas on Pinterest. Be sure to check out our most-loved cocktails, party recipes, decorating ideas, decks, patios, pools, outdoor kitchens and more throughout the next few weeks.

Tell us how you’re getting ready for the warmer days ahead…or just keep clicking (and pinning)!

Tuesday Huesday: Set the Table With Raspberry Pink

by Liz Gray April 9, 2013 2 Comments

Here at D-Happ headquarters, we’ve skipped straight from winter coat weather to strappy sandal season. Now that the breeze is more balmy than bitter cold, it’s time to dust off that picnic table and dine outdoors.

I love how this sweet table setting’s raspberry, sky blue and fuchsia palette creates a sweet, old-fashioned vibe. This might be the same color combo that graces many a little girls’ room, but the fuchsia accents make it decidedly adult. Don’t you just want to linger at the table? (In between bike rides, of course.)

Raspberry Pink and Blue Color Table Setting Color Palette

Table Setting :: Vintage Bicycles

Get more color palette inspiration from our previous Tuesday Huesday posts.

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Daily Delight: Light ‘n Go® Bonfire Log

by Grant Dudley September 7, 2012 15 Comments

Bonfires are so fun — especially in the fall when the air is cool and crisp. And thanks to Essay Group, LLC — setting a bonfire just got a whole lot easier.

The new Light ‘n Go® log is an all-natural birch stump, kiln dried and engineered to light with one match. Just one! You can set it in a fire pit or even a fireplace. It’s portable, so take it with you on your next camping trip.

Light 'n Go Bonfire Log

There seem to be several methods to starting a good fire. Any campers out there who want to share their best tips? Tell me in the comments below.

More Fire Pit and Fireplace Talk:

Fire Pit and Ice Chest Combo
Cozy Fireplaces
Fire Pits and Grills
Pictures of Fire Pits
Fire Pit Ideas
How to Build a Fire Pit

Summer Party Essentials + Tips: Add Cozy, At-Home Touches

by Kayla Kitts June 26, 2012 5 Comments

This week it’s all about outdoor entertaining. For part three of our summer party essentials miniseries, event planner Calder Clark of Calder Clark Designs shares her simple entertaining must-haves for a seamless — yet fun gathering for everyone on your guest list. And with events like the Rockefeller-Carnegie wedding under her belt, Calder knows how to bring stylish touches to the backyard. Check out Calder’s decorating and buffet picks for ideas for your next soiree.

hgtv magazine summer party essentials calder clark Event planner Calder Clark offers her favorite summer entertaining must-haves.

Every Warm-Weather Party Needs…

hgtv magazine summer party essentials place settings Teal Stripe Solera dinner plates, target.com :: Chalkboard Vinyl, voguefabricsstore.com

Plastic Plates: “Every summer I stock up on melamine plates from Target. They’re just two bucks a pop, and are dishwasher-safe.”

Chalkboard Place Mats: “This makes a great kids’ table activity — I use pinking shears to cut the reusable fabric into squares and put out chalk for doodling.”

hgtv magazine summer party essentials decor 20″ no frills lantern, lunabazaar.com :: 10″ sparklers, sparklersonline.com

Paper Lanterns: “Hang these in abundance from tree limbs. Use all one color to pack a punch.”

Sparklers!!!: “These little goodies are the life of the party.”

The Buffet Always Has…

hgtv magazine summer party essentials food Acrylic pitcher, crateandbarrel.com :: Mamie’s Famous Cheese Wafers, mamieswafers.com

Spiked Lemonade: “Gotta love a tasty spiked lemonade! The hot sauce doesn’t change the color, but it gives the drink a spicy kick.”

Get Calder’s signature Cajun lemonade recipe, perfect for hot summer days:

Calder’s Cajun Lemonade

24 oz. store-bought lemonade
8 oz. Bacardi light rum
8 oz. soda water
Original Louisiana Hot Sauce

Directions: Mix the lemonade, rum and soda water in a large pitcher. Serve with ice; add hot sauce to each drink, to taste. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Quick and Easy Finger Foods: “Slice-and-bake cheese wafers are my number-one crowd-pleaser. They have a nutty, sharp flavor that tastes homemade, but they come right out of the freezer.”

See more of Calder’s simple entertaining ideas and others in this summer’s HGTV Magazine (check out page 136) — on newsstands now! And for more can’t-miss entertaining ideas, check out HGTV.com’s Outdoor Entertaining guide.

Summer Party Essentials + Tips: Keep It Low-Key and Fun

by Kayla Kitts June 19, 2012 7 Comments

For part two of our summer party essentials miniseries, upscale event planner Yifat Oren of Yifat Oren & Associates shares her top seven must-haves when hosting warm-weather gatherings. Although she produces high-end events for celebrity clients like Reese Witherspoon and Drew Barrymore, she prefers her own parties to be “laid-back, ecofriendly and fun.” From casual place settings to budget-chic decor, follow Yifat’s essentials for the perfect low-key get-together.

hgtv magazine entertaining essentials yifat oren Upscale event planner Yifat Oren shares her top seven summer party essentials.

Every Warm-Weather Party Needs…

hgtv magazine summer entertaining essentials invitations Summer Fun Citrus Slice invitation, cocodot.com

Easy Invites: “I usually blast an informal email invite to friends on cocodot.com.”

hgtv magazine summer entertaining essentials place settings 7″ compostable starch plates, sustyparty.com :: Rainbow Stripey Straw mix, shopsweetlulu.com :: Tekla dish towels, ikea.com

Earth-Friendly Plates: “These colorful plates are biodegradable.”

Paper Straws: “They’re cute and popular with the kids, but adults love them too.”

Clever Napkins: “I buy these dish towels in bulk — you can’t beat the price — and use them as napkins.”

hgtv magazine summer entertaining essentials decor Smith & Hawken 10-count string lights, target.com :: Alseda stool, ikea.com

Mood Lighting: “Stringer lights make any yard look better. Drape them above the food table or hang them from tree to tree.”

Extra Seating: “Scatter these little rattan ottomans around outside — they’re chicer than folding lawn chairs.”

hgtv magazine summer entertaining essentials lawn games Tournament Bocce, llbean.com

Lawn Games: “Bocce is perfect for the backyard — lots of people can play or watch.”

See more of Yifat’s low-key party planning tips and others in this summer’s HGTV Magazine (flip to page 134) — on newsstands now! And check back next week for more quick and easy entertaining ideas from the pros.

Summer Party Essentials + Tips: Stay Effortless and Alfresco

by Kayla Kitts June 12, 2012 4 Comments

Planning a backyard party doesn’t have to be stressful. As a matter of fact, it should be fun! For the next two weeks, just sit back and let us do some of the planning for you. In this Design Happens miniseries, full-time party planners share their summer party essentials, from bocce ball to chalkboard place mats.

This week Jung Lee, event designer and cofounder of Fête, shares her top party must-haves for the season. Jung says she likes to keep her gatherings simple and alfresco. Want to steal her secrets? Check out her tips below.

jung lee hgtv magazine Party planner Jung Lee shares her summer soiree must-haves.

Every Warm-Weather Party Needs…

hgtv magazine summer party essentials

Tablecraft galvanized steel oval beverage tub, Wayfair :: Tava flatware caddy in honey stain, Pottery Barn

A Tub for Drinks: “Ice down Stewart’s sodas in a giant metal tub, and let your guests serve themselves.”

A Utensil Caddy: “I’m smitten with this rattan design for hauling out flatware and napkins.”

hgtv magazine summer party essentials

UniFlame 32″ aged bronze steel wood-burning fire pit, Lowes :: Optoma EP-PK-101 Pico pocket projector, Amazon

A Fire Pit: “For a little campfire fun, I put out marshmallows, graham crackers and dark chocolate for s’mores.”

A Movie Projector: “This nifty gadget plugs into your iPhone and projects downloaded movies onto the back of the house.”

The Buffet Always Has…

hgtv magazine summer party essentials

Govino stemless wine glasses, CB2 :: Clos Beylesse Côtes de Provence Vin Bleu Rose, nywines.com :: Frozen pizza, Trader Joe’s

Party-Friendly Wine Glasses: “These cups look like crystal, but they’re actually shatterproof plastic.”

Food That’s Delicious + Quick to Prepare: “I like to thaw frozen pizzas, then put them on the grill and set out toppings for guests to customize slices.”

The Perfect Summer Beverage: “Serve refreshing rosé as the sun is going down. It’s the perfect summer drink, and this one is one of my favorites.”

See more of Jung’s party planning tips and others in this summer’s HGTV Magazine (page 133, to be exact) — on newsstands now! And don’t forget to come back next week for more pre-Fourth of July entertaining ideas.

Daily Delight: Fire Pit and Ice Chest

by Farima Alavi May 27, 2012 9 Comments

You usually don’t mix fire and water, but I will make an exception today. This fire pit and ice box combo by Funston is one of the coolest outdoor innovations I’ve seen in awhile. Use one side as an ice box during the heat of the day, and turn it over to use the fire pit during a chilly night. The sleek design makes outdoor entertaining easy even if you have a small backyard. The ice box holds up to 24 bottles of your favorite drink – with a built-in bottle opener, I might add – and the fire pit comes in great use as your party goes into the night.

Funston Fire Pit and Ice Chest

HGTV How-To: Turn an Old Dresser Into an Outdoor Buffet

by Kayla Kitts June 22, 2011 4 Comments

Fourth of July weekend is just around the corner, which means it’s time to get your outdoor room party-ready … and quick! Last week we spruced up the deck and turned it into a stylish, weather-resistant painted area “rug.” This week, we’re making entertaining even easier by turning an old dresser into an indoor/outdoor serving buffet. Nothing can ruin the mood like having to run inside every five minutes to grab napkins … then plates … then cups … forks. (Not to mention the air conditioning bill.) So, keep your outdoor entertaining essentials easily accessible and stylishly concealed by storing them in a repurposed dresser on your deck or patio.

HGTV-How-to-project-Brian-Patrick-Flynn-outdoor-serving-buffet

And yes, this project gets even more awesome with the addition of casters on the bottom for mobility. So grab that old dresser that’s been collecting dust in your attic or garage, sand it down, give it a few coats of spray paint, attach casters and you’re officially ready for your holiday hosting gig. Check out the detailed shopping list and step-by-step instructions at HGTV.com for this easy-to-create outdoor serving buffet by designer/feature blogger Brian Patrick Flynn. And of course, we want to see and hear about your finished project, too!

Tell us all about it in the comments below.

TomKat Studio: My Top 3 Musts-Haves for Outdoor Entertaining

by Kim Stoegbauer May 31, 2011 30 Comments

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.

Outdoor Entertaining Essentials - TomKat Studios

Pottery Barn

#1 Galvanized Metal Serving Pieces
Why Go Galvanized?

Freebie Fridays: Frontgate Copper Hose Pot

by Karli Sanders Cook May 20, 2011 524 Comments

It’s week three of our fabulous month of outdoor decor giveaways from Frontgate. This week it’s all about keeping your outdoor space looking stylishly neat and trim. We’ve got this gorgeous copper hose pot — perfect for tucking away that gangly gardening essential when guests come by for a mid-summer soiree. I love the rustic elegance of the pot’s patina. I can totally picture it at a vineyard in Napa Valley nestled beside a showy bougainvillea dripping with blooms.

Copper Hose Pot

Just leave us a comment before 12/11c Monday, May 23 for your chance at this useful — and gorgeous — piece of garden art.

This week’s question: When guests make an unexpected visit, what outdoor unsightliness do you find yourself rapidly cleaning or scurrying to tuck away from view? (A collection of newspapers that haven’t made it inside or recycling that hasn’t made it to the street? Repositioning a welcome mat that the cat has dragged across the front porch?)

Click for official rules.

You can create the perfect spot for outdoor entertaining this summer with HGTV.com’s outdoor spaces design guide.