How to Design Stylish and Inviting Outdoor Spaces

Summer’s here – and that means it’s time to take the party outside! And it’s time to prepare your outdoor spaces for summer bashes. From sipping icy-cold beer on the back porch with friends to dining alfresco on hamburgers hot off the grill, we love the laidback nature of summer entertaining. But we still want our porches and patios to be as captivating as our interior spaces. So, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite collections from our go-to choice for outdoor furniture, Summer Classics. And then keep reading for a little real-life, outdoor-living inspiration from a past client project.

Outdoor Furniture Favorites

One thing I love about Summer Classics is the wide range of looks they offer. These are the top five collections that are currently on my radar. I can’t wait to specify some of these pieces for our clients’ backyard spaces. (By the way, this is not a sponsored post; I’m just a big fan of the quality and style this brand offers).

Oh là là! How charming is the navy-and-white Savoy Collection? Made from durable resin wicker and wrought aluminum, it takes inspiration from the classic look you see in French sidewalk cafés.  And their compact design makes these pieces perfect for smaller outdoor spaces.

I absolutely love the luxurious Summer Classics Tailored Upholstery Collection! It brings all the elegance of indoor upholstery to the backyard. But don’t let the refined look fool you. Beneath the UV-resistant slipcovers lies marine-grade construction that can withstand the elements.

A new offering from Summer Classics, the Harbor Collection goes in a more modern direction. It combines an open weave, crafted from resin wicker, with a powder-coated-aluminum base. Love the tapered legs! These pieces are sophisticated yet sturdy.

The new Palma Collection epitomizes outdoor elegance and transports you to the Mediterranean coast. It marries resin wicker with cushioned seating covered in marine-grade vinyl on a wrought aluminum base. Summer Classics claims it’s their most durable collection yet!

You can’t go wrong with an updated twist on a classic – as the Ashland Collection proves. The design is a modern, slightly sleeker interpretation of Adirondack-style seating. These timeless pieces are solidly built from top-quality teak with mortise and tenon construction.

Porch Addition with Panache

Not surprisingly, when it comes time to furnish outdoor spaces – both our clients’ and my own – I turn to Summer Classics. The all-season porch we created off the back of our client’s Arlington bungalow, in collaboration with Lyon Architecture, is a favorite example.

While the homeowner can enjoy his climate-controlled, indoor-outdoor porch addition in every season, he certainly puts it through its paces in the summer!

We created two zones and furnished both with pieces from Summer Classics. For the seating area in front of the stacked-stone fireplace, we chose a sofa and chairs with clean, geometric lines executed in natural teak and metal. The deep, cushioned seats encourage guests to linger.

We wanted to give the dining zone its own personality. So, we opted for an oyster finish on the teak table and barrel-back side chairs, which we mixed with woven host chairs. The bungalow doesn’t have a designated dining room (the kitchen island serves that function), so this area sees a lot of use all year long.

We put the same thought and attention to detail into creating outdoor spaces that we do for our indoor designs. Choosing stylish furniture is a good start, but we don’t neglect the finishing touches. Here, striped outdoor rugs from Stark Carpet help to delineate the two zones and unite the shades-of-blue color scheme. Mod lighting and well-chosen accessories complete the space. This porch is ready for summer soirees – and year-round fun!

Are Your Outdoor Spaces Ready for Summer?

It’s summertime, so chill the beer (or rosé!) and strike up the grill. An outdoor-living space that is functional, durable and beautiful will help make entertaining a breeze. A. Houck Designs would be happy to help get yours ready to welcome friends this season.