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Plan Your Patio at Summer's End? Yes!
Score fabulous deals for your deck, garden or patio and put your summer experience to good use in upgrading for the future
I am a freelance editorial and wedding photographer and Houzz contributor based out of Hershey, PA. Come visit me at 'A Nest for All Seasons' where I write about design, photography and modern garden living!
I am a freelance editorial and wedding photographer and Houzz contributor... More »
As summer winds down, back-to-school sales hit the stores, and there's never a better time to reevaluate your deck or patio for a little upgrade. Two fabulous reasons to start planning right now:
- Your outdoor spaces are fresh in your mind. You've been using that deck for three or four months now, and you know what works and what doesn't. You know that the peeling paint drives you batty, the umbrella color is all wrong and the seating doesn't accommodate more than eight people. With all the nuances of your space fresh in your head, you can make smart decisions that will work better for you next summer.
- Sales! Garden and outdoor living items are already starting to go on clearance, and the sales will only get better from here on out. Buy the right pillows, fountains and even plants now, and next summer you will be thanking yourself.
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| Designer Molly Wood used the architectural lines of the space to create focal points. Notice how the pillows line up like little soldiers and direct your eye toward the bar. Buy: Pillows in summer shades. They are heavily discounted right now along with summer print fabrics. Snag both in indoor-outdoor fabric for a tailored space. |
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This outdoor space uses plantings and hardscaping to lead the eye toward focal points. Notice that the entire path is narrowing your focus forward and down the path.
Plant: Evergreens. Rain is great for new plants, and fall is a prime time for planting trees and bushes.
Plant: Evergreens. Rain is great for new plants, and fall is a prime time for planting trees and bushes.
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Looking from the opposite direction, you'll notice that a bit of sun glints across the path. This would be the perfect spot for a few plants that enjoy partial sun.
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| Plant: Succulents. They will tough it out through the winter and become stars next summer. Molly Wood used these easy-care, high-style plants throughout this patio design. |
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Accessories can make or break a space, and summery glass lanterns and beachy planters give this space a little personality.
Buy: Beach accessories and outdoor lighting, as they both get steeply discounted at the end of the season. Stick to just a couple finishes and buy in groups.
Buy: Beach accessories and outdoor lighting, as they both get steeply discounted at the end of the season. Stick to just a couple finishes and buy in groups.
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A major focal point of this garden is the shell fountains trickling water into a small pool below.
Buy: Fountains and hardscaping materials, which will be going on sale soon. Check out your home improvement stores for sales or watch for free shipping codes from online retailers. You don't want to pay shipping on huge, heavy fountains now, do you?
Buy: Fountains and hardscaping materials, which will be going on sale soon. Check out your home improvement stores for sales or watch for free shipping codes from online retailers. You don't want to pay shipping on huge, heavy fountains now, do you?
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| Another obvious focal point is this water feature flanked by lush lawn segments and capped with two lounge chairs. Even a little bit of grass can go a long way toward providing a rest for the eye and some ease for your toes. Plant: Grass. It can be seeded, or sod can be laid in the fall, giving it time to root before winter sets in. Planting grass now will give it a head start, and by spring you'll have a lush lawn of emerald green. |
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| The kingpin of focal points in this space has to be the massive fireplace wall. Set into a background of greenery, the area is staged to create little nooks and gathering areas. Notice the awning providing shade for the daytime dining room and the two chairs that create a mini room in front of the fireplace. Buy: Outdoor furnishings, which go on sale in late summer. Buy coordinating pieces that aren't matchy-matchy for a collected feel. |
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Notice the mirror that cements the dining room, giving it a defined start and finish. Amazing what a little piece of reflective glass can do, isn't it?
Buy: Mirrors and artwork. But if you live in a cold climate, hold off hanging them until next spring. Snow is not kind to outdoor wall hangings.
Buy: Mirrors and artwork. But if you live in a cold climate, hold off hanging them until next spring. Snow is not kind to outdoor wall hangings.
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Whether you are making giant upgrades to the design of your outdoor space, planting new evergreens or simply buying a few accessories to spice things up, do it in late summer or early fall. Check out clearance aisles, sale bins and even the side of the road for summertime scores and castoffs, and get planning for next year!
Ideabook published on Aug. 21, 2012.
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