Classic Ornamental Trellis

One of the quickest, easiest, and most affordable ways to inject some vitality into your outdoor space is to decorate with an ornamental trellis. Trellises are available in a multitude of eye-catching styles and designs, and can be placed virtually anywhere in the yard or garden to enhance the surroundings.

Because trellises are so versatile, there are many different ways you can incorporate them into your outdoor decor. Here are some approaches that other customers have used to great effect in their own backyards:

• As a space-saver: Wall-mounted trellises like our Skyscraper Garden™ take up only four square feet of growing space, but yield as much vegetation as a 24-foot plot.
• As a privacy screen: Many homeowners associations prohibit the use of fences in backyards, so positioning trellises in strategic locations near your outdoor garden furniture can give you the privacy you desire.
• As a decorative arrangement: Purchasing several of the same trellises and then arranging them in certain patterns (e.g. semi-circle or fan-shaped) will give your yard a whole new look and feel.
• As an entrance to a garden walkway: Erecting two identical trellises on each side of a garden walkway or path makes for a lovely entrance structure.

These are just a few ideas to consider, but really the possibilities are limitless!

If you’re ready to bring the beauty of an ornamental trellis to your backyard, head over to Fifthroom.com now. We have many gorgeous trellises that can help make your outdoor living space more attractive and appealing, so be sure to browse our collection today.

POLYWOOD Captain Chaise Lounge

Although a variety of seating options exist for the patio and backyard, wooden chaise lounges and wooden steamer chairs remain two of the most popular products around. Their classic design, unsurpassed comfort, and ability to mesh with a variety of decorating schemes make them a big hit with generation after generation of consumers.

If you’re considering buying this type of furniture for your outdoor space, here are some fun facts to ponder as you shop:

• Wooden steamer chairs are so named because they were originally used on the decks of large, ocean-going steamer ships where they could be folded up and stored away when not in use.
• “Chaise lounge” is actually a corrupted spelling of the French term “chaise longue,” which literally means “long chair.”
• Chaise-style seating is believed to have originated in ancient Egypt, as many chair/daybed blends have been discovered in excavated tombs.
• Wooden chaise lounges and steamers are typically made of teak. This wood weathers with age, often turning to a silver or ash color as the years go by.
• Teak is highly resistant to water and harsh elements, so there is no need to stain or waterproof furniture made from this material.
• Although cushions can make chaises and steamers more comfortable and decorative, purists tend to prefer the plain, unadorned look.

Okay, so these facts about wooden chaise lounges and wooden steamer chairs aren’t likely to make or break your purchasing decision, but they might come in handy during a poolside game of trivial pursuit someday! In the meantime, be sure to visit Fifthroom.com to check out our current lineup of chic outdoor furniture for your backyard, garden, patio, or deck.

Cypress Adirondack Chair

Has it been awhile since you’ve updated your backyard with new garden features and patio furniture such as wooden chaise lounge chairs or tables? Underutilized stretches of space and rusted, rotted, or broken furniture not only detract from the natural beauty of the area but also deter people from wanting to spend time out there.

If this describes the current state of your yard, then consider restoring its appeal by making some long overdue improvements. Use the following list of the hottest summer 2012 trends for backyard spaces to get inspired while you browse the Fifthroom.com web store.

Create a theme

Decorating your yard around a single theme yields a nicely unifying effect. Whether your preferred style is Oriental, Southwestern, or coastal, make sure everything adheres to the theme.

Return to nature

Forget the perfectly manicured lawn and meticulously trimmed hedges, and let nature run a bit wild in your yard. Slightly overgrown grass, along with fruit trees and vegetables or herbs in the garden, can make the area look lush and vibrant, while birdhouses and feeders reinforce the concept by attracting local species.

Add a garden structure

Freestanding or wall-mounted garden structures such as pergolas, ramadas, arbors, and gazebos are practical as well as aesthetically pleasing. A thoughtfully placed eucalyptus chaise lounge or glider near a structure can further transform the area into your favorite retreat.

If your backyard space is stuck in a bygone era, then now is the perfect time to make some changes. By decorating around a single theme, buying new wooden chaise lounge chairs, returning to nature, and adding a garden structure from Fifthroom.com, you can finally have the outdoor space you’ve been dreaming of.

Treated Pine Double Roof Octagon Gazebos

Summer can be a frustrating season for homeowners with spacious backyards. On the one hand, you no doubt want to spend as much time as possible in the fresh air and sunshine; but on the other, there’s only so much of the scorching heat you can take before having to scramble back to the air conditioned comfort of the house. Fortunately, you can solve this problem by purchasing one of Fifth Room’s beautiful wood gazebos for your outdoor space.

A gazebo, with its solid roof and open sides, essentially gives you an extra sitting room or living room in your yard. When set up correctly, you can have a fun and cozy outdoor space in no time. Here’s how to do it:

• Choose the installation site for the structure
• Purchase one of the fully assembled gazebos or kits from Fifthroom.com
• Assemble or install the structure
• Add comfortable outdoor furniture such as chaise lounges, Adirondack chairs, rocking chairs, and ottomans
• Consider installing one of our outdoor gazebo fans to help keep the structure cool even in midday heat
• Put up side screens to keep insects at bay and increase your comfort
• Decorate the exterior with creeping vines, hanging plants, lights, or wind chimes to enhance the structure’s visual appeal and make it more welcoming

Gazebos provide a great combination of openness and shelter for your backyard, which is precisely what you need for the hot summer months. If you want to get more out of your outdoor space, be sure to stop by Fifthroom.com to view all available gazebo models and order your favorite one today.

First Step: Just as with any other garden, make sure the plants you put in close proximity to each other have the same growing needs. Most vegetables will enjoy as much sun as you can give them, so think ahead and pair them with sun-loving annuals and perennials like sunflowers, salvias, zinnias and petunias. Some vegetables will take a little more shade and do just fine, so plant those with impatiens, hostas, ferns and caladiums. Look at the label on the plant to make sure you are making the best choice.

Second Step: Don’t feel like you have to plant everything in rows. That may make for easier and faster harvesting and maintenance, but in this garden we are going for integration and beauty. I sometimes like to make patterns with my mixed gardens—I’ll plant roses in each of the four corners with smaller herbs planted in circles around them, then I’ll add larger ornamental plants dotted through the bed, and finish by filling in with lower-growing flowers in alternating colors.

Third Step: Keep proportion in mind. Don’t use plants that are all one size or level in the garden; have pops of taller or larger plants along the way. But be careful that your larger plants don’t shade out your smaller ones, particularly if they are all sun-loving. This will result in your smaller sunny plants struggling for survival, and their flower or vegetable production will suffer. Remember, we want to keep the garden functional while providing beauty at the same time! Place those larger plants at the edges or corners of your garden, and then opt for medium and smaller growing plants to provide the interest throughout the bed.

~Jenny Peterson

But because of the number of options available, it can be a bit difficult to select the right product for your backyard. That’s why we’ve put together this list of factors to consider as you shop for the best pergola at FifthRoom.com.

• Location: Where do you want to install the structure? Some people put pergolas in the middle of the yard, others select a corner, and still others build them right against the house.
• Sun exposure: Pergolas are able to provide shade as well as beauty, so it’s important to limit light exposure by keeping the direction and path of the sun in mind before you build.
• Size: Do you want the structure to dominate the yard or are you willing to settle for something smaller? Either way, take precise measurements to ensure a proper fit.
• Shape: Most pergolas are rectangular or square, though circular and hexagonal designs are also very popular. Selecting a shape comes down to taste, as well as the amount of yard space taken up by other garden furniture and the kind of area you want to cover.
• Materials: Durable, weather-resistant woods such as white or red cedar will yield the best results; however, stone, brick, aluminum, and fiberglass are also viable options.
• Budget: Figure out a dollar amount that you’re willing to spend on the project, and then stick to it.

By taking the above elements into consideration, you can narrow down the possibilities and make your hunt for the perfect pergola much easier. Once you determine the kind of structure you want, simply head on over to FifthRoom.com to make your purchase.

Let’s take pattern, for example.  Formal design rules say that you shouldn’t combine more than two patterns.  And when you do combine pattern, you should make sure that one is larger in scale and one is smaller in scale.  You should also make sure that you don’t combine more than one of the same type of pattern if they are similar in scale.  In other words, don’t put two large scale geometrics together.  Those are the rules.

And this is the trend.  Pattern, pattern and more patterns.  Combine any patterns together that you please.  The bolder the better in many cases.  That said, there are ways to make sure that combining patterns doesn’t result in a room that makes you nervous to be there or that gives you eye strain.

Rule #1:  Use colors with similar intensities, and make sure that the colors blend well together.  If you are worried about colors working together, try one of the many online tools to help you find a color scheme that works. Rule #2: You may combine patterns of similar scale if the colors complement one another.  For example, pull a color from one of the patterns and use if for the other one.

Rule #3 Trust your eye.  If something looks “off” to you, it usually is.

Decorating really is about feeling comfortable in, and loving, your space.  Sure there are rules.  And the rules work.  But sometimes coloring outside the lines creates a space just as beautiful and much more reflective of the person living in it.  So have fun and mix those patterns!

~Wendy Hyde

www.shabbynest.blogspot.com

To say the front yard is the ambassador for your family is an understatement – it serves as an important first impression to all who visit. Anyone can have a front yard that evokes envy and admiration from passers-by. All it requires is a little planning and a lot of hard work.

The first thing to keep in mind when planning your landscape is your home itself. Landscaping should always enhance your home, adding to it, rather than distracting from it.

Plants are the easiest way to improve your property, with little investment of time and money. They also are changeable from year to year, making it easy to frequently update your look without spending thousands of dollars. The kinds of flowers, plants or ground coverings you choose should be based on your climate and environment. It is often best to consult a professional landscaper or landscape supply company before choosing flowers that are right for your area.

Walkways and paths also are important part of your front yard. Whether you’ve chosen one constructed of paver stones, concrete or pebble, accenting the walk can help make it more attractive. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this goal is to add a bench or other seat.Place a bench – like this treated pine curved bench – strategically along your walkway, so visitors can stop and rest, or simply sit and enjoy the view.

Benches also can be used to accent the landscape, rather than as a place to rest. Fill one with potted plants and outdoor décor to create a unique look.

Another easy way to accentuate your front area is with a decorative mailbox and birdhouse/feeder. A mailbox often is the first thing visitors see of your home, so why not make yours unique?

Birdfeeders also can add a nice touch to any well-landscaped front yard, making it not only attractive to human friends and family, but also to feathered friends as well.

No matter what you choose to do, take the time to truly assess what you wish to accomplish before getting started. While professional landscapers can help, upgrades and improvements also are easily achievable by novices with the right tools.

 ~Shari Berg

The quilt pattern, A Thousand Pyramids, has been around a long time. Repeat pyramids are not the easiest of shapes to sew, but by the time you make a quilt with them you will be very good at it!  I love the old quilts as they are generally very scrappy, I’ll bet to use up what they had.

This quilt is Circa 1870-1890, maker unknown,   from the International Quilt Study Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, IQSC Object Number: 2003.003.0381  I like this version with a more controlled fabric selection. The yellow is repeated so the quilt is somewhat scrappy but controlled.  I’m more partial to this style as I like the repeating color.

This quilt is Circa 1925-1945, maker unknown, from the International Quilt Study Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, IQSC Object Number: 2003.003.0296   Using more lights, and what looks like a red and blue fabric focus, this piece has an Americana feel. You can recreate this one easily and still use scraps if you have a large variety of scraps in those 3 colors.

This quilt is Circa 1890-1910, maker unknown, from the International Quilt Study Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, IQSC Object Number:   2008.041.0020E There are many modern versions. Google Thousand Pyramids quilt pattern with image search. I did that and found this quilt pattern from Jean Ann Wright for Marcus. I love the big pieces and the soft watery… summery… blue!

Have you done a Thousand Pyramid quilt?

~Pat Sloan

http://blog.patsloan.com

1 Large pot, terracotta or glazed

1 Planter stand, optional, if you want to raise the height of the table

1 round glass topper for decorative side tables—sold at craft stores for about $10.00

Crumbled up newspaper or plastic bags for fill

Decorative moss

Decorative items (wine corks/glasses, Christmas lights, seashells, decorative rocks, etc.)

Get your pot in place, and set it on the plant stand if you are using one. You don’t want to move it after the project is put together, so plan ahead to avoid the inconvenience. I placed mine right by my entryway on the front porch as a welcome beacon for visitors, but your backyard patio or porch would work well, too.

Pack your pot with the crumbled newspapers or plastic bags. This will fill your pot and give support to the decorative items you want to add on top.  Next, add a good layer of moss to hide the packing material—I used Spanish moss that is readily available at craft stores. Now, gather up your items—they can be seasonal for the summer — or simply a collection of some of your favorite things like rocks, wine glasses/paraphernalia, and postcards from your travels or dried flowers. I change my display out with my mood, but I’ve had a wine theme going in there for a while now.

When you are done arranging your display items, add the clear glass topper over the top of your pot, and your garden table is ready for entertaining or for holding your cup of coffee as you read the newspaper!

I don’t suggest adding a lot of décor on top of this table—perhaps a simple candle—otherwise you will cover up your display items inside. Have fun changing out your décor as the mood hits you!

~Jenny Peterson