Steal the Look: Outdoor Party Lighting

Posted by melness on February 28, 2013 in Design, entertaining, outdoors, wedding

Whether you are planning an outdoor event or just wanting a cafe feel to your patio, outdoor lighting is the key to pulling it all together. We’ve come up with a look that we think will do the trick for nights when you want to entertain and for evenings when you want to enjoy a glass of wine and the weather.

lights how to

Here’s what you’ll need:

4 ft. Wooden Garden Stakes
Galvanized Flower Buckets (around 13-inches)
Sand
Hammer & Nails
Globe String Lights

Instructions:

Step 1. A few inches from the top of each garden stake, hammer one nail in (leaving about half an inch of the nail exposed).

Step 2. Fill each of the tall flower buckets with sand (about 3/4 full).

Step 3. Place one yard stake in each bucket. Wiggle them around until they are level.

Step 4. Spread the buckets several feet apart in the area you want to light.

Step 5. String the lights from post to post (hanging them on the nail). Remember to leave some slack between posts. Step back and see how they look all together–you can easily move the string lights and the sand buckets if they need to be evened out.

Step 6. Flip the light switch and enjoy the ambiance!

This can be used in small yards, next to pool patios, for outdoor weddings, and everything in-between. We hope you enjoy today’s tip! How do you light your home for outdoor entertaining?

How-to: Fireflies

Posted by melness on February 20, 2013 in Design, entertaining, wedding

There’s something about childhood memories and fireflies. When I was young I would always look forward to the fireflies lighting up the summer evening skies. Sometimes I would try to catch them in a mason jar, but most of the times I felt bad about keeping them confined to a small container; so I’d opt to just watch them. As I’m planning my summer outdoor wedding I’ve been looking to re-create the look of fireflies in a mason jar (for mood lighting and ambiance). I’ve come up with a low-cost solution that gets close to the real thing. Here’s how to re-create the look.

What you’ll need: An old vintage lantern (you can find these at antique stores or on Etsy for around $10 or more) and one strand of Restoration Hardware’s 5 ft. Starry String Lights (about $10-15).

Simply open the glass chimney and feed the string lights into it. Once the string is fed into it (not the battery pack), close the chimney. The batter pack can be hid behind the lantern or underneath the base. When you’re ready to use, turn on the battery-operated lights and enjoy the look of fireflies in a lantern.

Steal the Look: Romantic Cocktail Tables

Posted by melness on February 19, 2013 in Design, entertaining, wedding

This gorgeous photo of a wedding cocktail table setup has been making the round on Pinterest for quite some time. I feel every wedding should incorporate at least a few new and unique decor items that will have the guests admiring the ambiance. I decided a few months ago that this look was one of the stand-out looks I wanted to incorporate into our wedding. After contacting the rental company from which it originated, I decided the rental price was too much and I could DIY the table linens myself. Here’s how you can re-create the look for your special day or your next party.

A similar fabric can be purchased from BigZFabric–called the Leaf Style Taffeta Fabric-Ivory for $13.99 a yard. I recommend ordering six yards per table. Cut the fabric in half (this is quite easy to do along the seam), sew the fabric so it is approximately 120” x 120”.

To achieve the lighting effect shown in the picture, I suggest purchasing some of Restoration Hardware’s Starry String Lights (sold in Amber or Diamond). I went with the amber lights to give it a softer glow. You can use one or two of the battery-operated 5 ft. string lights, depending on how much light you want shown underneath the table. Just tape the battery pack to the bottom of the table and wrap the lights around the base. The wire is bendable, so it’s flexible and easy to conform to any shape. Then stand back and enjoy your beautiful tables as day turns into night!

DIY Industrial Bar

Posted by melness on July 27, 2012 in entertaining, Projects

This DIY industrial bar is definitely going on my to do list once we find a space for it. Costing only $150 in supplies, this seems like a great piece to feature barware and accessories. Check out the instructions at Life Designed.

Image: Life Designed

Wedding Decor

Posted by melness on July 18, 2012 in entertaining, wedding

Besides selecting our cocktail hour music, the other part of wedding planning I thoroughly enjoy is planning the decor. I definitely have a vision at this point, but I’m still evaluating and making decisions on most things. Of course James has a say and weighs in on everything, but I’ve taken the lead on this. Though wedding magazines are great, the real gem is Pinterest. I don’t know what brides and grooms did before Pinterest. It’s hard to think creatively when it’s spoon-fed to you in perfectly staged photos on Pinterest.

Here are some of the Pinterest photos that best capture what I hope is the feel of our wedding

We’re going for a somewhat rustic wedding with a casual backyard entertaining vibe. Though I may not be a wedding planner, I can definitely plan a great party. When I get overwhelmed, all I have to do is look at these photos and know that at the end of the big day I’ll be married, eating cake and drinking wine. How can it get any better than that?