Guest Picks: Stylish Options for Outdoor Entertaining
What a lovely and surprising love seat for the garden. Based on a formal design and without compromise on the upholstery, this arched piece would also be gorgeous in a conservatory or any other sunny room with lots of windows. It's absolutely perfect for ladies' lunches.
One of the things I look forward to most when visiting my parents during the summer is a leisurely breakfast or lunch in their gazebo. It's amazing how it can feel as if we're in another world when we're really just a few feet from the house. I love the look of this lattice eucalyptus structure that offers a hint of Japanese styling, and the cool white drapery creates a peaceful sanctuary right at home.
I love having my food cooked right in front me on the grill tables at my favorite Japanese restaurant, so I think this teppanyaki cart is just fantastic. You can whip up meals directly on the cooktop, and the mobile workstation includes a slide drawer, two accessory bars and a pull-out worktop. It's perfect for the adventurous backyard chef.
These sizzling bowls are just brilliant. You add your own fresh ingredients plus rice or noodles, and let the bowl cook it for you. The weight of the lava stone lends well to outdoor use, and the bowls would come in handy for evening cookouts when the sun has set and the air is much cooler. They will keep your food warm until the last bite.
I would love to impress my friends by foregoing the traditional barbecue and serving up a spread of smoked meat, poultry and fish in this cool capsule smoker. You can hot or cold smoke your food, but if something on the menu is better cooked another way, it also allows you to steam, grill, roast or barbecue to your liking. And it's portable, so you can even take it to the next party.
This patio set is a thing of daydream wish lists even though it's a pricey item and requires a lot of space for it to feel natural. The good thing is that sets like this tend to be modular, so you can have as few or as many pieces as you want to build your set in your own time. This sleek and modern ensemble is made of wicker and Sunbrella fabric that you can customize, so you can go monochrome or mix shades for a vibrant island look.
You can't have a summer party without ice, and there's no party pooper bigger than having to do an ice run. This portable stainless steel ice maker does it all for you. It makes 12 cubes every six to eight minutes and stores up to two and a half pounds of ice. Plus, it will alert you when it's running low on water so that you don't find yourself suddenly dry.
A drink dispenser is a must for outdoor parties so that you can relax and let your guests help themselves. Set up a couple with kid-friendly drinks to give parents a break from having to get up and refill their kids' cups every 10 minutes — they will thank you! The steel base of this neat Mason jar dispenser doubles as a beverage tub that can chill cups in ice or keep bottles cold.
This is such a cool piece for the backyard. This white quartz-finish barbecue converts to a fireplace so that you can enjoy the warmth into the evening when dinner is over. It's especially handy for the cooler months because it allows you to take advantage of the outdoors year-round.
No one should be left trying to eat standing up at a party, so adequate seating is a must. Permanent yet unobtrusive pieces like this stone bench will ease the scramble for extra folding chairs while also giving your outdoor space a more finished look.
How nice would it be to be able to offer guests the comfort of indoors out on the patio? Thanks to advances in fabric technology, stylish sets like this can endure the weather and resist stains — no need to watch the clouds nervously anymore! The cushions are filled with comfort in mind, so these will likely be the most-coveted seats in the house.
An illuminated table is the perfect piece to give your outdoor space a relaxed ambient feel that will keep guests around well into the night. Place them in pairs or trios to maximize the effect, and use them for setting out drinks and nibbles in style.
You can never have too many tables and stations at an outdoor party, and my favorite option is the butler's tray. It's portable and perfect for holding condiments, glasses or dinner for one. I love this one for its solid, chunky construction, and it's painted with exterior paint so that you don't have to worry about the weather.
I often find myself panicking at parties when I realize that the olive in my mouth still has the pit and that there's no rubbish bowl. This interlocking pair of bowls solves the problem of where to put shells, wrappers or pits, and helps your guests avoid awkward moments and unsightly remains scattered about. They're made of melamine, so they're perfect for outdoor use, and the top half will protect the goodies from the elements while they're waiting to be snapped up.
These candle lanterns are pretty brilliant. They make a nice evening centerpiece for your table, and the glass sleeve protects the flame from the wind and guests from the flame. Plus, the rock bed goes great with outdoor decor.
The serious barbecue chef needs a high-quality set of utensils. The most important ones are the knife and fork, as precise slicing will keep the juices in the meat. The wood handles on this stainless steel set give it an elegant look, and there's nothing wrong with that.
These lights that you can put into liquids are so cool! Use them in any clear container, such as a water pitcher, vase or even the swimming pool, to create a cool effect and help your guests navigate through the dark.
Misting your guests might seem like an odd idea, or a great one depending where you live. When I think of how many family birthday barbecues were ruined by the stifling humidity back in Ontario, Canada, this little device seems like a godsend! Put it in an out-of-the-way spot where people can wander over at their leisure, and you just might keep a few faces out of the freezer in the kitchen.
Bonfires are lovely, but having one at home never appealed to me because of the unsightly remains — if my childhood neighbor's yard was anything to go by. These days, there are great options like this mosaic fire pit that doubles as a coffee table when the cover is on. It can also be used as a barbecue.Next: DIY Project: Reinvented Party Table
This gorgeous patio bar set is a bit of paradise with its sleek lines, textured finish and soft lilac cushions. Left freestanding, it can seat six and double as a dining set for light fare. If I were lucky enough to get a seat, I would stay put for fear of losing it.
Q