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Porch Life: 8 Ideas for Great Outdoor Dining
No need to schlep a bulky basket out to the park — enjoy al fresco dining steps away from your kitchen with these porch ideas
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Dining on the porch brings the best of both worlds. Whether out front or out back, screened or open, having a meal on the porch allows you to enjoy the fresh air and outdoor views without having to pack a basket or cram together on a picnic blanket. Here are eight tips for setting up a dining space on the porch.
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by Rauser Design
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| Mix and match furniture just like you would indoors. Matchy-matchy outdoor dining sets are no longer required; today there are many options for furniture that can stand up to the elements. Furthermore, a porch roof provides ample protection for most of the year, as long as golf-ball-size hail isn't coming in sideways. |
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| If space is limited, treat one corner of the porch like a small breakfast nook. A small rounded table and two to four chairs can cozy up into a small space and leave room for settees, rockers and armchairs on the rest of the porch. |
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| On a screened-in porch, place a round table in an outer corner. This maximizes the views for as many people at the table as possible. |
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| Treat your porch table like your formal dining table. That means adding fresh blooms and candleholders. |
by Su Casa Designs
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Take cues from your formal dining room when it comes to hanging lighting. This onion lantern pendant has exterior style, but it's hung in an interior way — centered over the dining table.
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| If you have a long dining table, consider hanging more than one lantern. Browse lanterns in the Product section |
| Let your rustic flag fly. If some of the previous images are a little too formal for your ideal porch, by all means, go more primitive. This charmingly rustic porch and its coordinating twig furniture create a comfy picnic atmosphere where you can pretend you're roughing it — you know, like MBAs on a dude ranch. |
| Add an outdoor kitchen. A porch provides great cover for cooking al fresco, and you won't have to carry the serving plates very far. |
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Or integrate your grill with built-ins. A stucco vent hood, stone stands and counters give the grill a presence that fits into the old-world European flair of the rest of this home.
More Porch Life:
Wraparound Porches
Sleeping Porches
Screened-In Porches
Modern Porches
Banishing the Bugs
Porch Plants
More Porch Life:
Wraparound Porches
Sleeping Porches
Screened-In Porches
Modern Porches
Banishing the Bugs
Porch Plants
Ideabook published on May 13, 2012.
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