Pool Umbrellas

In the arid, perpetually sunny Southern California Desert, shade is valued, and since we lack the shade trees of the East, we are dependent on shade structures or sun umbrellas to provide protection from the damaging rays of the sun. Umbrellas are a feature found in the backyards of most homes in Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage, and come in a wide range of sizes and shapes. Buying the right umbrella is important- the better the umbrella that you select, the more likely you are to enjoy your time spent outdoors enjoying the shade. Here are some tips from William Miller, Interior Designer, for selecting an sun umbrella that can be enjoyed in any backyard:

Be sure that the size of the umbrella that you select suits the location as well as its use. If you are replacing an umbrella for a dining table, be sure that the umbrella is larger than the table, and that the base will work with your table as well. If you are purchasing an entire patio set, make sure that you have measured the space and that there is enough room for the chairs and the table. You should also make sure that the umbrella will clear any landscaping when open.

Outdoor Living Areas

As Spring is about to pounce on us, thoughts turn to outdoor activities and the spaces to enjoy them.

Outdoor living areas are an essential part of today’s lifestyle, and indoor/outdoor living spaces with continuity is essential to a pleasing flow and design. This is especially so in the desert communities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and Rancho Mirage, where out relatively mild weather allows us to be outside more of the year. From Tuscan style to contemporary, outdoor spaces considered essential to harmonious living, dining, entertaining and relaxing. Expanding the overall livable square footage of a home is easily achieved if these outdoor spaces are considered and designed from the beginning of the design process.

The best interior design creates a smooth transition from indoors to outdoors is choice in materials. An interior designer will often select wall finishes, flooring, paint colors and fixtures that will carry from the interior space to the outdoor living areas. For example, repeating a granite or stone slab material that was chosen for the kitchen counter or interior wet bar, to the exterior fireplace surround creates continuity. Wall treatments such as Italian plaster, natural stone and faux finishes can also be used indoors as well as outdoors to further design continuity.

Today’s outdoor rooms are not your average backyard spaces. They are extensions of your interior living space that can be enhanced significantly by an interior designer. These spaces incorporate televisions, fireplaces, wet bars, and in some cases even outdoor kitchens. This integration of outdoor living rooms, kitchens, televisions and entertainment systems, bars and even outdoor showers; are essential components in creating a lifestyle experience to which most home owners aspire.

Comfortable seating is a must- and of course, a functional and relaxing dining area, which is just as important to plan for as the architecture. Choices in furnishings and colors to coordinate with the interior of the home will further a feeling of continuity, making the outdoor living space seem like an interior extension.

Thoughtful planning by your interior designer that incorporates architectural overhangs, heating, lighting and comfortable durable materials are the foundation of effective outdoor rooms.

If You Can't Stand the Heat...

We just got in several of these HOT Angie Thornbury Chaise Lounge Chairs...perfect for fall desert sunbathing!