Style (E)scapes: Living Al Fresco With Heather Taylor

Every once in a while you meet people with such a fantastic personal style that you just want to BE them. Heather Taylor is one of those people. Her effortless taste in everything from decorating her home to her fantastic closet, combined with a passion for dining, make her an irresistible combo, and if you've never read her blog (especially if you're an LA guy or gal!) then hop on over immediately for droolworthy delights. I'm so excited to have her sharing the final patio of the style (e)scapes series with us!

My name is Heather Taylor and I'm thrilled to be guest blogging here on coco+kelley. In addition to owning an art gallery called Taylor De Cordoba, I also write about the charms of Los Angeles on my blog L.A. in Bloom. This regularly takes me outdoors as I love gardening, cultivating my exterior space and entertaining al fresco. Behold a tour of our deck along with pictures and recipes from our first outdoor meal of the summer...
Below is my favorite part of the deck. Accessible from our bedroom though french doors, this really functions as our outdoor living room. The Moroccan-style couch came with the house and this interesting carved headboard was sitting behind the garage when we moved in. My friend and landscape designer Tory Polone suggested we hang it above the couch to create a cozy little nook.
My ever growing collection of succulents and vintage pots decorate the space. I love how the environment is always changing as the succulents evolve and grow. The bottom left is my new favorite - a vintage Italian pot from The Melrose Trading Post and a succulent that looks like lace.
I'm also obsessed with this little elephant, found at a swap meet.
All summer long we eat outside in the "dining room" portion of our deck. I love decorating the table with Provencal linens from Lavender Blue, a beautiful linen boutique run out of the home of Catherine Giraud here in L.A.
One of my cooking gurus is Ina Garten and I look to her Barefoot Contessa cookbooks for much of my summer cooking. Last night we kicked off my favorite season with a summery menu -

No meal is complete without a pretty dessert so I turned to Bon Appetit for a little Chocolate Cake with Ganache and Praline. Pair it all with delicious vino and a table full of pink peonies and I'm ready for a delicious summer outdoors.

Anyone else want to steal that Moroccan-style couch? Me too! Not to mention the adorable elephant and collection of succulents. And with that, my dears, I do believe it's time for us to all head out and enjoy whatever patch of green we can, preferably with friends and wine by our side. Cheers, and happy happy weekend!

Style (E)scapes: Top Ten Essentials from CreateGirl!

Julieann Covino over at CreateGirl is one of my most favorite people... and I've never even met her! It must be our love of Red Sox baseball and interiors that unites us. Either way, I've been wanting to have her over to c+k for a while now, and I was so happy when she sent over this fabulous list of her Top 10 Picks for summer patio styling! (And, if you happen to live in the Boston area, check out her company, Jace Interiors, for a little interior design assistance!)

Thanks to the amazing Cassandra for asking me to guest post on one of my favorite topics, escaping to the patio!! Here are some affordable patio pieces to make your summer even more comfortable!

CreateGirl's Top 10 Essentials for Patio Living Big or Small Decks, Patios, Backyards or Small Pieces of Asphalt (whatever you have to call your outdoor space - make the most of it!)

A few simple pieces can create a comfortable summertime room! Here are my Top 10.
• As you are taking that lazy afternoon nap you will need a pillow so opt for a bold fun print like these from Williams Sonoma Home. Coral and Turquoise are so trendy and the combination of 22" and outdoor use these are perfect!

• While I nap on my chaise lounge I will be dreaming of dining on this amazing statement table from Nan Quinn. The benches and chairs she creates are also just so sweet and would have all guests talking long after they are gone!

• What patio would be complete without the ever fancy cooler? Napa Style offers this cooler/table, I know a little extravagant but it's a piece you will keep forever! After all, you want to keep the drinks cold while the temperature rises.

• Just because you are outside doesn't mean you should forget your design rules. Pull together and brighten up your space with an outdoor rug. I love the bold prints over at Rugs Direct. The options are endless and you can use in the basement or a mudroom in the cooler months
• Even in the city we have our share of pesky bugs. Keep them at bay with these Sur La Table fun colored citronella candles. They are too cute wrapped in bamboo!

• On my deck Twinkle lights are a MUST have especially for those romantic dinners you are sure to plan. The star bursts from Solutions are battery powered so there is no need to scour the house for an ugly extension cord.
• If you are anything like me there will always be friends and family dropping in so make sure you have extra seating. These "Sunny" chairs fromCB2 stack so you can leave them in the corner when not in use.

• My readers know I am a girl who can get a weee bit chilly so this is really for me. Why end the party just because the temps drop? This will keep me and guests happy until the early morning hours! Restoration Hardware's Table Top Heat Lamp is perfect! Patio parties in October? With this YES!
• A Side table is essential for both a bench and a place to stack magazines. This is a great option from Home Infatuation. With an extra shelf it's a good place to keep the blackberry out of the sun and if you must store the laptop!

• Outdoor dining does not mean paper plates are required. Dress the BBQ up with these melamine Thomas Paul plates I found over at Grand. I promise the burgers will taste even better!

I hope you enjoyed my essential pieces for the perfect patio. Make it a decorated room you will love to spend time in!

Thank you so much Julieann! I am SO going to have to get one of those mini heaters myself!! This California girl doesn't like the chill factor either! And those are definitely some of the best-looking citronella candles I've seen yet. I love your selections for how fun yet practical they are!! Even thinking about a spot for the laptop - that's the sign of a true blogger.

Style (E)scapes: The coco+kelley Patio!

Usually, the first place to redecorate when moving into a new home is not your patio, but I suppose I never really do anything according to the rules, and this space was no exception!

While I'm still waiting to move my entire wardrobe and office into the boy's place (or "our" place as he keeps reminding me) I decided that the little deck needed a major makeover in honor of this style (e)scapes week! Since we live in Seattle, and won't be using it year-round, I need to do a quick makeover on a tiny budget. And yes, it was completely empty when I started... but as of yesterday?
Done and done! As I mentioned earlier, it's important to think about how you're going to be using a space before creating it. For us, it's Sunday morning coffee and late afternoon drinks on the patio. We won't be doing tons of entertaining, and the space isn't really large enough to accommodate that many people anyway, so I didn't want to crowd it with unnecessary pieces. I created a little 'seating area' by throwing down one of those cheap-o beach mats (instead of splurging on an outdoor rug) and think it makes a huge difference in completing the space!
The palette actually came from the plants I chose (backwards again!) We hit Lowe's to load up on plants, and I went for a palette of dark leafy beauties with bright flowers and a few splashes of intense bright green. I found the wicker chairs on sale at Cost Plus, and the cushions there just happened to be perfect! The pale grey pots are all Ikea, while the aqua I found at Ross. I decided to protect the stools a bit by putting down bright dishes from Urban Outfitters for an extra splash of color under the pots.
The red side table was a piece I already had. A hand-me-down bamboo style that I lacquered up in bright red! The ice bucket is one I've also had forever, and will hopefully soon be filled with ice cold beers, wine and champagne! As for the stools - I wanted to purchase a few small ceramic ones to prop those plants up on, but couldn't find any in my budget that I loved. I found these stools at Target for $15, and love that we could actually use them for seating if we want to! Now, I can't wait to sit back enjoy the results!

Style (E)csapes: Garden Glam + Granitas!

Whats this? A glam garden, you say? Yes. Because being a coco+kelley gal means effortless glamour. And, today I'm feeling like this:

*resources: vintage bench at gardenhouse, table at cottage&bungalow, watering can and pots at jayson home&garden, throw pillows from target, monogram melamine dishes from snootie patootie

Fresh, and fabulous. A little unexpected. And very ready to entertain. A garden inspired by another yummy summer recipe that I'll be dying to try this weekend as the temperatures begin to rise.

The other day we had refreshing summer drink recipe to pair with a bohemian patio, so when I asked the lovely Kelly of Design Crush to share a favorite recipe (as she does so well on her blog), I decided to style a patio up to match. The perfect place to sip these summer Honey Berry Granitas. Take it away girl...

Summer evenings are my favorite time to entertain. The sun is (hopefully!) done scorching for the day and you can sit back and relax around a fire pit or lounge around someone’s pool. The most important thing to me is to be able to do all of the prep work before anyone ever shows up. I want to enjoy my party as much as my guests! Aside from that I like to always have one recipe that people are sure to be asking for when they leave. Enter Honey Berry Granita!
Granitas are the best possible answer to snowcones for adults. Intensely flavored. Extremely versatile. And best of all really, really easy to make. (Although you’ll look like a rockstar for serving them!) This recipe for Honey Berry Granita uses strawberries and blackberries as well as honey for the sweetness factor. Follow the recipe, then serve them up in some pretty sundae glasses or silver mint julep cups. Add a spoon and you’re ready to go!

• 4 C berries (any kind you have on hand)
• 1 C water
• ¼ C honey
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Fill your food processor or blender with berries (hulled if necessary). Heat your water and then dissolve the honey in it. Run the processor and slowly add honey water, keeping an eye on consistency (don’t let it get too watery). Taste intermittently to get the amount of sweetness you’d like. Add the lemon juice and swirl one last time. Adjust taste by adding more fruit, honey water or lemon juice. Pour mixture into a large metal pan and place it in the freezer. Check in about 20 minutes and start scraping the formed ice crystals on the edges into the center of the pan with a fork. Repeat every 20 minutes until the pan is full of fluffy ice crystals. (When ready it will no longer appear wet.) Use your fork to loosen and de-clump all the crystals. Pour into a well-sealed container and store in the freezer until it’s ready to enjoy!

*recipe and photo via sass & veracity

Style (E)scpes: A Patio Makeover from MadeByGirl!

I feel almost ridiculous introducing Jen from MadeByGirl, because I'm sure most of you are very familiar with her fantastic blog and super fun cards and prints! Well, as a woman of many talents, Jen also happens to be amazing at a little makeover as she's proven time and time again on her own blog. And, it just so happens that she's done a little revamping of her patio to share with us! Thanks Jen!

Hello this is Jennifer Ramos from MadeByGirl blog. My patio used to be pretty plain & boring...
After finding an amazing image in Sunset Magazine where corrugated steel was used as fencing, I had to try it! The first thing I did was plan everything out on my computer, then shortly afterward, I headed to Home Depot to get a few pots, paint & plants.
I decided to stay within 3-4 colors - lime green for the bistro set, turquoise blue for the corrugated steel, white for the hanging lanterns and gold spray paint for most of the pots. My biggest friend during the entire project was spray paint & of course the outdoor paint I bought for the steel. I had it mixed to my specifications, so it doesn't have an exact name.
As for the plants, I bought some bamboo, Australian tea tree, spiny agave, red agave, texas sage and more. I picked out a few succulents to place into tiny pots on the bistro table, which makes for a great accent!

Isn't it amazing what a little color can do to transform a space? I love the texture of the corrugated steel in the aqua! And all the little additional details give it such a nice finished touch (need those lanterns!). Planning the space out completely is smart - a move I forget to make sometimes, so it usually takes a few trips to the hardware store. Thank you so much Jen for sharing your space and inspiration with us!

Style (E)scapes: Bohemian Patio Palettes

A few days ago I showed you some inspired color palettes for modern patio spaces - well, today I bring you some palettes for my favorite style patio - bohemian! To me, the modern bohemia look laid back, worldly, comfortable, and eclectic. It is influenced by many cultures and surroundings - everything from the tropics and jungles to the beach! There aren't a lot of rules here, and the color inspirations range from bright and bold to neutral and warm. Enjoy!
A colorful mix of blues and oranges is perfect for creating a festive space! Shades of red, pink and orange make for a very different palette than you'll see in most gardens.
Neutrals get a boost from bright oranges and vibrant greens creating a gorgeous two-tone palette.
Bohemian doesn't have to mean bright. Sometimes the best palette is a base of warm neutrals and fresh white.
While indoors, this palette may seem a bit masculine or dull, in the outdoors, surrounded by lush greens, it's perfectly simple and soothing.
For something right in between netural and bright, select muted natural colors like eggplant, mustard, olive green, terra cotta, and clay.

Style (E)scapes: Prepping Lunch With Eddie Ross!

We talk a lot of tablescaping around here at c+k, so when I decided to incorporate the art of entertaining into this week, I knew I had to invite the king of tabletop design, Mr. Eddie Ross, to contribute a little guest post! I am so thrilled to have him here today sharing a peek 'behind the scenes' as he prepares for a luncheon that he and his partner Jaithan will be throwing this afternoon at their lovely farmhouse. So, without further ado...

Hi, everyone! Eddie Ross here, and I'm super excited to be a part of coco+kelley's style (e)scapes! The first of July marks my partner Jaithan's birthday, but this year we're celebrating it a little early with an al fresco lunch for eight this afternoon, including four fun, new friends from the Rye House Tour we did last month. Here on the farm, there are so many beautiful spots for summer entertaining, including this leafy spot by the brook.

Inspiration for the table came from these pretty beach roses growing all around the property. The color reminds me so much of the vivid fuchsia saris Jaithan's mother wears on festive occasions.

Whenever I set a table, I love mixing new and old, modern and traditional. For the runner, I'm using a fuchsia linen I found at Jo-ann's for $3.99 a yard. The pale orange napkins and caned carafe are from HomeGoods, while the beautiful, bright white bone china plates I found at A Christmas Tree Shop for $1.99 each! Finally, from my own collection, I'm using vintage mother of pearl knives and sterling silver flatware, along with eight 1960s pearlescent Lucite napkin rings from our Etsy shop.

These vintage gold caned glasses are going to be perfect for drinks before lunch.

This afternoon promised to be quite humid here in upstate New York, so for the food, I put together an Indian-inspired menu with chilled and room temperature dishes all prepared ahead of time. In the summer especially, there's nothing worse than slaving over a hot stove when your guests arrive. And like the light lunch for four we did a few weeks back, the food I cook is spontaneous with rarely a recipe in sight. Check out the menu!

For the table, I'm doing footed compotes for the height they add while still allowing guests to see and converse with ease.

Then, I'm going to float flowers from our garden, including beach roses, zinnias, cosmos and these magenta dahlias.

The way I see it, a successful party is all about planning, attention to detail, cohesive color palettes, and a good, eclectic mix of new and vintage pieces. Guests arrive at 12:30 ET, so follow me on Twitter, and join the party as it happens!

Fabulous as always! Love those vintage glasses and the palette - it reminds be a bit of my pink birthday inspiration! I just wish I were there to enjoy that delicious menu. YUM! Thank you so so much Eddie for joining in on the week! (pssst - next week Eddie will be sharing photos from the actual lunch onhis blog, so keep your eyes open for them!)

Style (E)scapes: Small Spaces. Big Ideas.

Many of us are city-dwellers. Apartment renters. Condo owners. We're lucky if we have a small patch of a garden to call our own, and teensy balcony to perch on. But, it doesn't mean we can't still enjoy our little piece of the outdoors! Just look to these small spaces for some serious inspiration...In the great outdoors, black recedes, and helps create a more open space, so don't be afraid to use it if you can! The top right patio has been a long-time favorite of mine. So creative to add the striped fabric below the window boxes! Add a little built in bench to save room, and a little splash of color. Too many things going on in this space would have been overwhelming. Did you notice the little garden gnomes that have been painted black? Adorable!!
This space is my new favorite with its little touches of pink in the dark window boxes, and a perfect mix of organic and metal textures. So so so fab! I love coordinating the flower colors to the decor (and yes, I've done it on my own patio - photos coming soon!)
Just because your space is small doesn't mean you can't go big - you just have to simplify. All of these areas are taking full advantage of the space they do have, and doing it well!! Whether lounging or dining is your priority - think about what you're most likely to use the space for and style accordingly.
While this space is hardly tiny, it is small, and I'm guessing it's also either a roof or garage top, making it a gorgeous example of how to transform an area with a bit of color and texture. They've even created a few different 'areas' within the space, which gives it the illusion of being a bit larger than it really is. I would love to call this fun patio my own!

*spaces via luphia loves, better homes & garden, and tara sharp's fabulous facebook album!

Style (E)scapes: Afternoon Inspirations

Isn't there something a bit magical about late summer afternoons? They're just the right time to gather with friends for drinks on the patio and soak in the last bit of lazy sunshine. Quite possibly my favorite time of year and day! So, I of course had to request a bit of afternoon inspiration from two of my favorite blogs - Arin at Zinke Design for her impeccable event styling, and Teri Rees Wang whose recipes always seem so original (and whose comments here at c+k always crack me up!). Together these ladies have put together the perfect inspired summer afternoon...

Arin's Boho Princess Inspiration Board

Thank you darling coco+kelley for inviting me to guest blog during your style (e)scapes week! I love this theme because my favorite gatherings are impromptu soirees on the patio with friends. Whether sharing a pitcher of mojitos or sipping iced tea, an evening spent on the patio welcoming the twilight & fireflies is a night guaranteed to leave your friends hoping for an invitation next weekend.
My patio inspiration is all about keeping it casual and fuss free. I suggest approaching the evening's décor with an eclectic style in mind. Pull furniture from your house into the backyard, mixing upholstery and dining chairs with your existing patio furniture. For the tabletop, I adore Anthropologie's playful safari plates. Style these with stacked colored glass cake plates and scatter colored glass votives across the table and the perimeter of the patio.

Don't forget the polaroids...these are guaranteed good times. Cheers!
*resources: plate and pillow via anthropologie, polaroids via colourlovers, green glass cake stand via simply chic, frosted candle jar via anthropologie, madeleine chair via anthropologie, floating buds linen design via bee square fabric, suede travel backgammon roll via vivre, lee horn french rattan cafe set via 1stdibs, blue velvet "telly" ottoman via anthropologie

Teri's Orange You Glad It's Strawberry Smoothie

Don't you think Sunny days deserve a Sun-shiny-sweet-splashy-drink? No doubt. Head over to the local farmer's market or even one of those Mega-food-stores, and gather up best and biggest bag of sweet juicing oranges; not your average Navel. No, these are small and not so cute, thin skinned, kind of pale and looking a little worse for wear. Best believe!
These are the better-gems-of-oranges just for juicing. Roll them on the counter like you're making dough, or play a practice-paddle-tennis-session, just to torture them until they are ready to let go of all their mighty goodness. Slice them all up and get to squeezing. Pace yourself if you care, or host a pre-juicing-party if you dare. Either way, you take your neglected army of ice cube trays and fill them to the top. Fresh freezing is a good and easy option to keep your party-prep rolling along and still take care of your strong-arm.

Strawberries are easy. Taste test until you find the sweetest ones in town, cut the tops off and toss those in the blender last.
Half and half is good but, I prefer a heavier dose of 3/4 orange to a lighter 1/4 strawberry option. It's your last minute call; you can't go wrong. If the Wee-Ones are coming, we can just park it here. Put the brakes on, and idle it right into that awaiting-chilly-thermos you were so smart to borrow. If not, we can slam it into gear and jazz this Pee-Wee up!...

A couple drops of Orange Blossom water to perfume the pot and impress the Ladies. Yet, still we can turn up the volume with a double shot of some Vroom-vroom for a game of Gotta-get-your-Groom.

Blend:
Ice
Orange juice
Strawberries
Orange blossom water
Maybe, Tequila? ~ make it the cheap stuff.
Or...Rum? ~ keep it the light stuff.
Or...Vodka..? ~ either the straight or the flavored stuff.
Or what ever you've got to Smack-this-Beach-up!

Be well.

I will definitely take a little vroom-vroom in my smoothie! The recipe and party inspiration both have me drooling, and frankly, my dears, I'm ready to go mix a drink of my own while I finish up my patio to share with you very soon! Thank you so much to both Arin and Teri for joining in on the week! So much more to come...