The Future of Home Series: Volume 3 - Outdoor Living and Entertaining

Can you imagine what life would be like if this pandemic were happening in the middle of winter?

At least, with the Spring and Summer weather, we’ve been able to enjoy time outside while still social distancing. It’s so strange that this phrase has now become a perfectly acceptable verb in our language! We’re all a lot more comfortable socializing and entertaining outside. Our neighbors are developing a routine of Friday happy hours in the driveway. It’s been a lot of fun and strangely is helping to build nice neighborly bonds. But if you’re not hanging out on your driveway, you might be enjoying a nice time in your backyards. So you also may be looking around and realizing that you wish your backyard was a little more presentable for entertaining or even just more functional for everyday use.

Windsor Farms Project - Jennifer Stoner Interiors and Parrish Construction

Ready to Dive In?

Designing a fabulous outdoor space will depend heavily on whether there is a pool in place or in the works. With a pool, it’s important to design several different zones of seating to serve different purposes. Some will want to sunbathe by the pool on some fabulous chaise lounges, some will want to enjoy a bit of shade under a great umbrella, and some may want to enjoy some alfresco dining poolside. Give careful thought to how your family will use the pool, how many people are likely to use it at any given time and how to best suit everyone’s activities so that everyone can be comfortable.

Charlottesville, Virginia project by Jennifer Stoner Interiors, Rosney & Co. Architects, and Greer & Associates Custom Builders. Outdoor furnishings by Janus Et Cie.

In our Charlottesville new construction project, we built a pergola that ran the length of the pool. It was divided into three sections. The two outer sections had chaise lounges and the middle section had a round dining table for four people. There is a larger dining area up on the terrace near the house with a great 11’ square umbrella that tilts and rotates 360 degrees for total functionality.

Powhatan, Virginia Project - Jennifer Stoner Interiors and Rowsey Brothers, LLC

Our client in Powhatan built a beautiful pool right on the lake. There are areas for sunbathing on the upper deck or on the tanning ledge in the pool. There is a dining table for eight on the upper terrace and a great firepit with an outdoor TV for evening enjoyment. We’ve also just recently added a daybed swing which we haven’t photographed yet, but this house has lots of outdoor areas for this family of 8 to enjoy at all times of day.

Janus Et Cie Amari High Back Lounge Chairs surround this firepit.

Back On Dry Land

We just finished working with clients sold their house because they didn’t want to take care of a pool. So instead they built a beautiful house on a lake for the water view without the work. So, if you don’t have or want a pool, you can still create a great outdoor oasis to enjoy with your family and friends. In the 2016 Richmond Homebuilders’ Association Homearama, we designed a custom home with Bel Arbor Builders with a wonderful outdoor entertaining space. The back terrace was accessible from the great room and the master suite. We had a phantom screen that came down to completely enclose the room for year round enjoyment.

2016 Richmond Homebuilders Association Homearama Home by Jennifer Stoner Interiors and Bel Arbor Builders

We created this unique water feature off the back which was great during parties in the evening. You could sit all along the side of the fountain with a cocktail and enjoy the bubbling fountain and color changing light show. At the other end of the fountain, we had a firepit area with the unique fountain / firepit combo. I loved this idea, but in reality, the water was pretty hot from the fire, so I wouldn’t suggest it around small children. You’ll notice that I repeated my all time favorite Janus et Cie chair - the Amari High Back Lounge Chair.

We also created a pretty fun outdoor dining area. The tall hedge created the perfect backdrop to hang our collage of mirrors. We were also able to cantilever a pretty candlelier over the table which we lit with battery operated votives for a touch of extra ambience. Doesn’t this look like a great place to enjoy a little outdoor dining and an evening cocktail?

Featuring Janus et Cie Arbor Weathered Teak dining table and Amari Vita dining chairs

Outdoor Entertaining In The Time Of Covid

We’re typically inundated with summer entertaining ideas and blogs this time of year. The latest trends in pool parties, summer concerts, cook-outs and other summertime activities would flood our social media feeds. But now many people are conflicted about how and when to proceed with summer entertaining plans. With the states all in different phases of reopening or contracting, it presents some challenges that will be in play for the foreseeable future. But in an effort to celebrate the season and stay connected, here are a few tips for safely planning a small summer outdoor gathering.

1. How Many People Should You Invite? Keep your gatherings limited to no more than 10 guests if your state is still in Phase 1 of reopening. Phase II states typically suggest no more than 50 people, but you definitely need to check your state or locality’s restrictions. The number of guests you can safely invite also depends on the size of the property where you are entertaining. Can you comfortably host 50 people and still safely maintain social distance?

2. What precautions can I take to ensure everyone’s safely? I would suggest having a supply of disposable masks available to anyone who may need one. And think about everyone handling the same serving utensils to dish out your favorite potato salad recipe. Consider having hand sanitizer handy at the front of your buffet line. Or skip the buffet line altogether and go with boxed meals or serve your favorite potato salad recipe in individual serving containers or ramekinst be I would also encourage disposable tableware and silverware. This part is hard for me because I love all of the great melamine tableware options there are out there now. I enjoyed styling the table above for our Homearama photo shoot and tours of the house. Maybe if you’re having a small gathering, you can splurge on some fun outdoor melamine options. Check out these great pieces from the Thomas Paul Collection. I’m not sure which collection is my favorite!

Thomas Paul Metamorphosis Collection

Thomas Paul Vineyard Collection

Thomas Paul Ranchero Collection

3. Is it safe to have a pool party? Straight from the CDC website: “There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, or water playgrounds.” But be smart, especially if your guests are going to include smaller children who are likely to share pool toys and gears that often travel with a bit of slobber and a lot of germs.

4. Set the Rules In Advance! Make sure that you set rules in place ahead of time and communicate them to everyone invited. Your job as a host is to keep your guests as safe as possible and to also assure them that you’re taking their health seriously so that they can relax and enjoy their time with you.

Celebrating In This Season Of Protest

Now as we move toward the Fourth of July weekend, let’s take a moment to appreciate this country that we live in and the sacrifices that our veterans made so that we can have the liberty to protest and the freedom to speak out against injustices. Let’s find ways to work together without resorting to violence. I plan to find avenues for JSI and perhaps more of the local design community to team up and work with organizations to bring hope and joy to those who need it. If you have ideas of how we can help, please send them to me! This week we can also celebrate the 157 year anniversary of the cataclysmic battle at Gettysburg that marked the beginning of the end of the Confederacy. Even though we may still have work to do after all of these years, I will proudly hang our flag this weekend and support this country as we hopefully find ways to celebrate our freedoms and find ways to heal our divisions.