Consumer Articles From the HFC - Garden Party -Indoor-Outdoor Entertaining? Create A Space That's Always In Bloom

Furniture World Magazine

The days may be growing shorter, but that doesn't mean your outdoor entertaining plans should be packed away with the patio furniture, says the Home Furnishings Council. Instead, with a little design sleight-of-hand, you can inject some open-air charm into any room in the house and give a garden party that lasts all year. Cool floral fabrics, wrought iron and wicker, prints and pots, even garden-theme lamps-all create a casual, cottage garden look that can be easily transplanted indoors for late season entertaining. "About 70 percent of our outdoor wicker furniture is actually used indoors," says Dale Campbell with Lloyd Flanders, a leading manufacturer of outdoor/indoor wicker. "It gives you a summery atmosphere all year round. With the bright colors and bright frames available, you can have a garden party in January." A three-season porch or sunroom is ideal, but any room that opens onto the outdoors can be transformed into a breezy, open-air entertaining space. The key is to refuse to be limited by four walls--borrow colors and themes from the world outside your windows. Try white-washed wrought iron furniture to keep things cool, layering it with floral pillows to keep it comfy. "Wrought iron creates an intimate, secret garden look, particularly in a sheltered space," says Lynn Hanson with Minnesota-based Homecrest Industries. Look for accessories and decorative objects that bring the outside indoors, from botanical prints on the wall, to a centerpiece of smooth pond stones in a green glass bowl. "There's a nostalgic, weathered, garden look that we think is very strong right now," says Bob Phillips with Vanguard Studios, a California-based art and accessory maker. " Lattice-work mirrors, weathered, crackle-framed prints, table-top pieces on an animal and vegetable theme--they create a very fresh feeling." The trick is to make the indoor space feel like a continuation of the outdoor view. Try these additional tips: Keep the light low. Use candles, tea lights and lanterns--or a whimsical bird house lamp. Arrange flowers in rustic pots instead of vases, or bed candles in a bowl of moss and stones. Position a mirror opposite your windows, and literally bring the views and shifting light indoors. Then call guests to the table and let the conversation bloom. The Home Furnishings Council, a nation, nonprofit organization of manufacturers, suppliers and retailers, is dedicated to providing inspiration, information and guidance for consumers in furnishing their homes. Consumers can call 1-800-52 1 -HOME to learn where they can pick up their free copy of the latest edition of HAVEN & Planning a Comfortable Home decorating guide.