Outdoor Living

Plenty of early sunshine in the Vancouver area is drawing home dwellers into their outdoor spaces. A few years ago I had the pleasure of having an article written about my dream outdoor kitchen. Many of these dreams have become a reality in my most recent outdoor living projects.

House & Home: Tell us about your perfect outdoor kitchen.

Lisa: I would love a grill with a spectacular iron or aged steel hood fan. Stone countertops. A built-in barbecue and cabinetry. The kitchen shouldn’t overpower the space, but allow the cooks to be part of the outdoor action.

H&H: What are the must-have appliances you would include?

Lisa: A great barbecue with a large grilling area. I like to cook my entire meal on the barbecue so I need a large area to grill. A sink is a must. It would be lovely to have a cutting board and garburator so that food scraps don’t sit in the outdoor garbage where it can be neglected or attract unwanted animals. A fridge. A warming drawer; the cool breeze can quickly cool your food so a warming drawer is an excellent idea. An ice maker would be ideal! A dishwasher would be dreamy!

H&H: In terms of furnishings, is there a special line you prefer, or a material (ie. synthetic wicker, teak)?


Lisa: I like to combine wicker, wood and stone. Synthetic wicker offers more of a contemporary sleek look. Weathered natural wicker would be less durable but has more of an old world feel. For furniture that will sit out, more exposed to the elements, I have a set from American Home & Patio. Their foam is quick drying, and the synthetic wicker is UV resistant. Lee Industries has some gorgeous weather resistant slipcovered look furniture for outdoors. Its very luxurious and durable. The perfect combination for outdoors! For under cover, nothing really beats Restoration Hardware. All of their collections are gorgeous. I love their grey weathered wicker.

H&H: Is there a layout you gravitate towards (ie. bench seating with a large table)? What does the table look like?


Lisa: An outdoor living space should have a comfy seating arrangement that somehow surrounds a fire. Whether that be a coffee table fire pit or traditional fireplace. Then a dining area with a weathered teak table and grey weathered wicker chairs. If space is limited a bench offers seating especially great for kids. Don’t forget hanging lighting. Its like jewelry for the room. An outdoor rug also make the room feel more cozy. An electric overhead heat lamp is really practical for Canadian climates, it allows the outdoor space to be used for more months of the year.

H&H: Is there a particular stone for counters or floors that you think is perfect?

Lisa: There is a new countertop available from the makers of Silestone, it is called Dekton. It is completely weather resistant, UV resistant, and the list goes on. It has a 25 year warranty so it’s a perfect solution for outdoor countertops. They have a really nice concrete colour which would be gorgeous for an outdoor kitchen. For flooring I would love oversized slate tiles. That would be lovely.

H&H: Is there a fantasy feature you have been dying to incorporate for a client, but haven’t yet?

LM: Wouldn’t a drinking fountain be fun for kids playing outside? And every summertime cook would love a wood burning pizza oven! I found one from Williams-Sonoma that gives very similar results to a wood burning pizza oven, but at a considerably less cost.

I made this mood board in the inspiration process of another recent outdoor living project. 

You can find the original House & Homes article at http://houseandhome.com/decorating-design/designer-lisa-moodys-dream-outdoor-kitchen/

Raving about Rattan

Currently I'm obsessed with everything rattan! It can bring a playful, retro element to your home.  It can be painted to add a pop of colour, or left natural. . Rattan isn't only for chairs, it can be found in headboards, ottomans, stools, and just about everything you can think of.

I've been looking for a bed for my daughter and fell in love with this Serena and Lily headboard. 

And who doesn't love a gorgeous rattan shade like this one from sixbyeight

.

Or 500 at once!

I love Society Social's collection of painted rattan.

Serena and Lily seems to have cornered the market on gorgeous rattan!  THIS BED!   no more words required!

And this chair from Serena and Lily!

Clockwise, l to r: anthropologie; the goods home; design sponge; west elm.

For the month of May we are offering a furniture sale from our local furniture suppliers.  We pay the tax. There are some great pieces available.  And lots of customization options.

I have been dealing with Stylus for years.  They have such great sofas, sectionals, headboards, chairs and more.  The sofa and bed pictured above are from Stylus, and still available in an endless variety of fabrics.  They have a showroom in Burnaby that is open to the public.  

Vangogh is another great local furniture manufacturer.  These living room chairs from Vangogh are were the perfect fit for this living room.  Sadly the Vangogh showroom is closed right now.

Vangogh also carries a new line of case goods through The Goods.  Check them out!

The line I think I am most excited about it Style in Form.  The have a great selection of modern case goods.  They have a showroom in Burnaby near Stylus.  If you would like to have a look, let me know and I can set up an appointment for you.

I really want this table....  

No Tax is big savings when you are talking about an investment like furniture.  And our prices are already low.  This deal does not include any design services.  You are welcome to come to our studio office and have a look at the Vangogh and Stylus fabric samples.  Let us know if you have any questions.