Month: June 2009

The weather in Sunny Southern California has not been so sunny.

June Gloom is what they call it, when the inland skies are overcast, temperatures mild, and urban hipsters enjoy fog and the occasional drizzle until noon when the sun burns off the marine layer.

Because there's a silver lining in every cloud, the weather makes us think: why not spend your own June Gloom-kind of day and organize your backyard for the summer? Often, the summer backyard is the most neglected place to pull together. Don't let this happen again.

The time between Memorial Day and Labor Day can be more enjoyable if you spend a little bit of time planning your outdoor cribs now.  Outdoor spaces require the same questions your inside spaces do. Ask yourself- How do you want your space to function?  Do you want to entertain, play, outdoor cook– and then make sure all the toys and tools are close by for quick access.  A gloomy day is an excellent time to pull-out some indoor furniture (yes, we said indoor furniture) and take advantage of the storage they can utilize (chair cushions, pillows, plastic serving ware, beach balls, extra electrical plugs, those fun Tiki torches and lighter fluid). You'll want all your gear to be within arm's reach so you won't have to be going back and forth for what's forgotten.

Use your casual summer style and creativity when finding storage options.  Who doesn't have that odd family hand-me-down dresser or vintage kitchen table in the garage?  Now is the time to enjoy it.  After all, if the stuff you love isn't close to you, you won't use it– and it just becomes clutter.  We once went to a brunch off Mulholland Drive and the owner installed a Venetian chandelier in an outdoor Gazebo. Just make sure the furniture you pull outside are not family heirlooms– they'll get wet or sun-damaged.

What interesting furniture did you pull outside that normally would not be thought of as an outdoor piece?  How did you use it? What did you store in the piece?  Please share your creativity, we're listening, and patiently waiting for sunnier skies ahead.

Image of the world famous Santa Monica Pier courtesy Duck Studios Blog.

If you've enjoyed this post and want to see more, please subscribe to our daily emails (Feedblitz) or through the RSS Feed (click here).  Options are now available for Twitter (Feedblitz) and your mobi through FEEDM8, too.