Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Keeping Cool With Backyard Blues!!!



Since the weather is changing to a nice summery warmth my mind is going to my backyard.  I truly love my backyard, but as with any area in one’s home it can always use a little sprucing up.

I keep a file of backyard inspiration images that attracted my attention for various reasons. As I have told you before the back of my home is painted a different color than the front. The front of my home is soft yellow, white with small amounts of black. In the backyard I used cool greens and blue. I wanted a cooling down effect with our hot summer temperatures. 

Let me show you some of the images that are inspiring me right now.

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So cool and crisp looking. Notice the boxed pillow frame in the stripe.  I am going to remember this as a fun look for pillows inside or outside.


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White wicker looks so crisp with the addition of the cobalt blue stripe.



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I like how this long narrow space was divided into two sitting areas. If this had cobalt blue pillows I think it would have such a lush cool affect.



EK2[1] Candlelight always makes everything look inviting to me.  If you add stripes to the mix it becomes perfection. In all of these pictures I am visualizing my blues and greens in place of the colors that are pictured.



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Love,love,love this door. I am going to try and figure out how to incorporate it on my fence gate in the backyard. Maybe cobalt blue and white stripes. How fun would that be?



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I know, I know this is not an outside area, but their is so much inspiration for me in this picture. I love the large  almost monogram looking print on the back of the chairs. 

The black legs of the chairs and the black table reminded me of all the old black wrought iron gates in my backyard leaning against the cool green walls. You see there are lots of places to get inspiration for the outdoor spaces in your home.


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This is perfection to me. I just purchased some cobalt/navy cushions with off white cord welting for my white wicker. The addition of ferns and flowers in all blue and white give a wonderfully cool look for the hot summer days.

The two lamps on the console table are amazing. Oh how I would love a lamp out back, I am working on that idea. I am also going to add a couple of blue and white porcelain pieces with my cobalt and green pots. I love it when an idea starts to come together after being in my brain for so long.


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I loved this image for the use of boxwoods and water features. I have to have water features in my yard. I do have a pool so that is a feature in of itself. 

We have connected a fountain to the pool that floats in the middle and adds a nice ambiance when there is no swimming going on. 

A couple of other elements in this image that I love is the lantern and the overhang on the door. I also like the outdoor shutters. I have shutters that my honey made for me to go with the window box.




I think this image sums up the look I love for my own backyard. Crisp white wicker with sharp tailored cobalt blue cushions trimmed in white.
The blue and white garden stool makes a great side table. I would prefer a white canvas Market umbrella. For some reason I like the basic natural canvas umbrellas more than color.




I am in love with this!! The sound of the water going into the pool would be so relaxing. I love the texture the wood brings to the area. Don’t you just want to jump into this pool?!


A couple of things that I really like in this picture beside the amazing view. Notice the band of color and pattern at the base of the chaise? Fun idea with a beach towel, You could change the atmosphere by what towel you used.  I also like the towels on pegs by the door and a large wicker basket to hold the towels right by the door. Since I have a pool this would work nicely for me.



This looks like a perfect setup to me. I love everything about this space. The canvas market umbrella mixed with the cobalt cushions on all the furniture is just what I love. In this image the addition of the black metal lanterns is a nice touch. I have some black wrought iron pieces in my backyard also and I really love the look they add.

I don’t know about you all, but I feel much cooler after looking at all these images of beautiful outdoor areas with touches of blue.
If it is hot where you are living I hope you can enjoy the weather and keep cool.

“Enjoy the Process” Of:

Making your summer environment feel cooler with the use of color.

Kathysue

20 comments:

  1. Kathysue-
    If I had a pool I think I would be living in it now. Do they make water coolers for pools?
    I love the boxed pillows too! All of these spaces are so pretty. The beach house overlooking the water is fabulous.
    Ok, I seriously have to have a table like that black one. I can most likely easily find chairs similar to those, but I haven't seen a table like that. LOVE.
    Hope that your week is going well.
    Teresa
    xoxo

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  2. Kathysue, I totally agree ~ crisp white wicker with gorgeous blues. But reality here ~ that's not the look of our outdoor spaces. Our spaces are the natural greens of the woods. ;-)
    ~ Sarah

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  3. Hi Kathysue,
    After seeing all of these lovely photos I am now inspired to do something about my porch and patio.

    hugs
    Sissie

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  4. Beautiful images! Love the use of stripes, and how wonderfully crisp and cool the seating looks. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Someday when I have my interior finished I'd love to devote more time and budget on my outdoor area. These images were so inspiring. I absolutely love the one with the vines trailing up the home and the water feature.

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  6. I love the white wicker and blue. It looks so crisp and cool. Don't forget to show us the pictures of your back yard when you are done.

    Susan

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  7. Gorgeous images one and all.
    I really love Sarah's.
    Great ideas here as always.
    Love your thought process :)
    XO

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  8. Love the inspiration!! Particularly adore the striped arched door and the pool with the wood water feeder - I wonder if that serves as a diving board as well!!

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  9. We must be on the same navy blue wave length these days!!!
    Cathy

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  10. I totally ignored my backyard this summer...it got hot so fast! I'm bummed because it is too late now here in Ga.

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  11. Kathysue, I didn't know you like blue and white! Lol one hundred times over! So you, these images! There is something so undeniabley crisp, summery and appealing about blue and white outdoors. I love looking at it so much, I wish I could live with it. Weird how you can look at some colors and they make you feel great, and you can't take your eyes off the magic they create, but you just can't live in/with them -- that's my relationship with blue and white. So I love that I get a color fix when I come to your blog!

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  12. Love them all. I'm tired and hot and ready to dive into bed. This cooled me off first. Mona

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  13. Great pictures! I think a striped door would be awesome!

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  14. Kathysue, love all that blue, but especially the last picture! Beautiful and cool and restful! Linda

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  15. My fav is the one with the boxwoods and water feature...so pretty! Happy weekend!...hugs...Debbie

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  16. Kathysue -The third photo is SO romantic! I think whatever you come up with for your backyard will be gorgeous!
    Have a great weekend -
    and a PRETTY day!
    Kristin

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  17. Mel @ Georgica PondJune 24, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    All those lovely photos going straight into my inspiration folder for our back garden and pool. Thanks for gorgeous ideas.

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  18. I'm with you...blue and white combinations are always perfect. It's basically a no-fail way to decorate. Loved the last pic of the little bungalow with the white deck. Heaven on earth. Thanks for sharing.

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  19. Love the inspiration!! Particularly adore the striped arched door and the pool with the wood water feeder - I wonder if that serves as a diving board as well!!backyard design

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  20. Very Attractive designs.
    thanks for beautiful sharing.

    backyard design

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I would love to hear from you, Kathysue