Kick back and enjoy your garden
By: Garden Gate staff
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Clean and natural
A long and narrow front porch is the perfect place to create a simple-yet-chic escape. The down-to-earth color scheme of brown, green, rust and gold ties the porch in with the home’s green exterior and wood accents.
Natural materials — the stone floor and bamboo chairs — emphasize the natural feel. But the straight lines in the striped rug, the lantern on the table and the lights by the door keep this setting from becoming too rustic. Instead, it has a modern Craftsman appeal.
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Cottage charm
Tucked away in this small backyard patio is a little getaway. A classic black metal bistro set, with soft chair cushions for extra comfort, give this corner retreat an intimate feel. For extra privacy, shrubs form a screen around the small patio, while an overflowing hanging basket just overhead gives the impression of a roof. (But don’t water the basket right before you sit down!) Avoid using flowers or shrubs that attract bees in a setting this cozy.
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Casual escape
These wooden chairs have decorative, curled arms and bright-red cushions — they’re a bold, whimsical choice. Plus, don’t they look inviting? The wooden table between the chairs doesn’t match, but that’s OK in such a casual setting— you don’t have to have a perfect pairing.
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Refined retreat
An ornate table, classic container plantings and a paver-brick patio give this bistro an aura of elegance. It’s not traditionally formal, but this setting has a strong repetition of color. All those shades of red make the weathered bistro set stand out. Patinas usually occur on copper, but you can create an artificial finish on any type of metal (or even wood!) with a kit. Look for patina kits at local home improvement or craft supply stores.
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