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Category Archives: outdoor entertaining
best wine charms ever!
I’ve never been a big fan of wine charms… So many of them look trinket-y, and those cutesy little shapes turn out to be rather unmemorable after a glass or two of wine. But these wonderful wine charms are as charming … Continue reading
Posted in accessories, outdoor entertaining, tabletop design
Tagged cocktail party, entertaining, Wine, wine accessories, wine glass, wine tasting
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setting a formal table
With the holidays approaching, it seems like a useful time to review the conventions for setting a formal table. Our tabletop conventions here in America have their roots in British tradition, where the classical progression of courses is as follows: … Continue reading
Posted in outdoor entertaining, tabletop design
Tagged Cutlery, entertaining, formal entertaining, Formal table, Table setting, Wine, wine pairings
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backyard waterfall
In the hilly terrain of the San Francisco Bay Area, I’ve seen countless backyards that slope up steeply behind the house. More often than not, this portion of the yard is left to its own wild devices, which can be … Continue reading
Posted in design ideas, feng shui, hearths and mantels, outdoor entertaining, San Francisco Bay Area
Tagged fire pit, hillside landscaping, indoor-outdoor living, landscape design for a steep slope, landscape ideas for hilly backyard, landscaping a hilly backyard, Marin County, San Francisco Bay Area, sloped backyard, stone wall, treehouse, Waterfall
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creative tabletops
Most people consider renting plates and glasses only when they are planning a large event; but this can be a wonderfully inexpensive way to create a lavish tabletop design for a smaller gathering. If you enjoy the luxury of a … Continue reading
insulated servers
‘Tis the season for outdoor entertaining and I am loving these sleek insulated servers from Frontgate! Simply place the dishes in a freezer the day before your event and they will keep food chilled for up to eight hours – … Continue reading
Posted in accessories, outdoor entertaining
Tagged backyard, entertaining, patio, serving dishes
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lighting your outdoor table
These beautiful arcs of light from Vibia remind me of fireflies… What a great way to add overhead lighting if you don’t have an easy way to hang an outdoor pendant. (PS: Powered by LED lamps, these lamps are as energy-efficient … Continue reading
Posted in energy efficiency, lighting, outdoor entertaining
Tagged energy-efficient, lanterns, LED, modern, outdoor, Spain, Vibia
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