steven gambrel does it again

If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know I have a slight obsession with interior designer/architect Steven Gambrel and his AMAZING portfolio of timeless, polished interiors.  His exterior spaces are just as fabulous, including this quaint porch and patio in East Hampton - classic white board and batten paired with black shutters, a slate patio, boxwoods in zinc planters, a fabulous pergola and teak outdoor seating with cushions in Gambrel's signature aqua blue are so fun and fresh for spring and summer.  The greenery and trees are a beautiful backdrop...I can just see myself, sitting on the side of the pool, sipping a margarita at the end of a long day....absolute perfection.

And just for good measure, I thought I'd add a shot of the back of the house, with its pea gravel drive, more potted boxwoods and topiary - so charming!

Here are my picks for creating a similar look at home:

Chaises / Dining table / Striped umbrella / Hanging lantern / Topiaries /

Seagrass ottoman / Zinc planters

fab outdoor finds from ballard!

The Spring catalogue from Ballard was waiting for me in my mailbox yesterday and I found myself dog-earring quite a few pages with some fabulous outdoor finds! Mother Nature seems to be enjoying herself, teasing us with 70 degree weather one day and then 40 the next, but I don't mind, because the longer it's cool, the longer we have until the pollen sits in and covers EVERYTHING.  In the meantime, I can make my plan to get our deck and screened-in porch ready for Spring!  Here are some of my favorites:

The Capri chair is one of my favorites - with a low back and modern lines, it's definitely not your Grandma's wicker!  I'd recover the cushions in charcoal gray or even aqua for a beautiful contrast with the gray tone of the wicker:

                                      

Teak is a great option for outdoor furniture and one of my favorites because it weathers to a beautiful, warm gray patina if left untreated, but it's also super sturdy wood, which is good for the crazy (adult) children we have at barbeques and pool parties at our house! The Sutton dining table is gorgeous and would look even more so with matching benches (but sadly, Ballard doesn't offer them, boo!):

Nothing screams, "I'm ready for warmer weather!" better than a good stripe, and these striped canopy umbrellas are like candy - I couldn't pick just one! 

               

             

And, speaking of stripes, how adorable is this canvas tote?  Love the silver grommets and rope handles!

I'm dying over the kubu finish and size (almost four feet!) of this Savannah coffee table!  I don't think it's meant for outdoors, but it certainly would look fabulous on a covered or screened-in porch:

Just like indoors, lighting is an important part of an outdoor space, as well.  These vintage string lights add a cozy ambience long after the sun goes down!

With three different color options, I would have a hard time picking one of these fun wide striped outdoor rugs!

one hell of a porch!

It's cold and pouring down rain as I sit here writing this post, and while I've got a little while longer before warmer temps and margaritas by my pool, I'm lusting over this amazing porch by interior designer Anne Hepfer!  I love the charcoal gray shakes and the beautiful contrast it creates against the white beadboard beneath the porch.  Wicker chairs, generously sized banquette seating, a driftwood mirror and that fabulous geometric chandelier bring the indoors out with texture and warmth.  But nothing can trump that view...hello, gorgeous!

Here are my picks for creating a similar feel:

I love these chevron striped pillows and think the bold black and white are the perfect nautical touch!

These Capri wicker chairs from Ballard have always been a favorite of mine -  they work with any decor style!

A jute-wrapped orb chandelier is another nautical nod (and it's on sale!)

Hanging mirrors outside is a great way to bounce light (or the view of a pool or the beach!) and bring a bit of the indoors out.  It would be an easy project to make your own, but if you don't have a bevy of driftwood near you, this beauty would certainly do!

Love these fiberglass planters that look a lot like zinc!  I would plant big ornamental grass with some trailing sweet potato vine for color and contrast. 

our screened-in porch plan

We've been in our house two years now and are finally getting around to the screened-in porch off our living room.  We live in the south, where the weather is pretty nice for all but maybe two months out of the year and we use the porch a lot. In the Spring and Fall, the doors from our living room to the porch are wide open, so it was important to create an outdoor extension of our indoor living spaces.  We have donated the two plastic Adirondack chairs we've been using and are busting a move!  Here is our plan:

A room isn't complete without something on the windows and the same goes for outdoor spaces.  Bamboo roll-up blinds like these will not only add texture and coziness, but will also help block some of the summer sun:

I found these simple, white outdoor curtains for a steal - they will add another layer of luxury and soften the corners of the porch:

We are making two lounges/daybeds ourself-something simple, but classic and very similar to this one (except with navy blue or charcoal cushions-haven't decided that one yet):

...plus lots of plush pillows, of course:

I've collected quite a few lanterns from TJMaxx and HomeGoods over the last year, as well and am excited to finally have somewhere to put them:

Remember all that driftwood I blogged about finding in the mountains last year?  That is going to be used to cover a pretty good sized mirror that will hang above one of the daybeds, like this one from Devon Driftwood Designs:

Cold concrete underfoot is hardly inviting, but with the swimming pool out back and a water-loving dog who runs in and out constantly, I need something that will stand up to lots of wear and tear.  I've had my heart set on this outdoor beauty for sometime:

Stay tuned for pictures of the finished space!