Turning Your Home Inside Out
By L.J. BUTTERFIELD :: April 24, 2006

It's time to abandon that old dining room table family and friends have been hunched around all winter long.

After an entire season of entertaining indoors, the mild weather and the smell of barbeque is like an aphrodisiac pulling us out into our patchy yards and filling our heads with visions of happy, bare-footed people, hair blowing in the breeze -- mingling freely around the garden.

But the old lawn chairs aren't cutting it anymore and neither is that tattered looking grill standing alone by the garage.

Entertaining outside isn't what it used to be. Outdoor spaces are increasingly expanding to resemble indoor living spaces, bringing all the comforts of home across the threshold.

''People are extending their indoors outdoors,'' said Curtis Redmond of Chef Central of Hartsdale on Central Park Avenue. ''And they're doing the whole kitchen -- counter tops, wet bars, anything you want,'' he said. ''Everything is stainless steel and ready for the outdoors.''

Troy Killam of Patio.com. agrees. ''Outdoor kitchen lines are one of the newest trends,'' he said. ''Most vendors that do grills are expanding and doing the whole line now.''

Walk into many shops that sell grills today and it's just as easy to find outdoor beverage centers and dispensers, wok cookers, warming drawers, double-side burners, refrigerators and -- you guessed it -- even the kitchen sink.

Everything that makes life easier in the home can now be brought outside, so whether a rotisserie rod is needed to cook a suckling pig or a bottle of champagne is needed to smooth the cooking process, there is no need to make any unnecessary trips inside.

Even when the dishes can be washed within a 1foot radius of your grill it becomes obvious that times are changing.

But kitchens are only the beginning.

''People are creating outdoor rooms -- using items like outdoor curtains,'' said Amy S. Uva, annual buyer and outdoor sales associate at McArdle's Florist and Garden Center on Arch Street in Greenwich, whose sign boasts that they have been ''Keeping the Green in Greenwich Since 1910."

Pergolas are popping up everywhere and are being adorned with everything from fashionable curtains to mirrors and rugs. Even the furniture going in them resembles indoor furniture.

''The wicker and rattan lines we carry are like full sofas,'' said Killam. ''People are putting 80-inch sofas outside and leaving them there year-round.''

This is not a simple matter of just dragging your indoor furniture outside. These are high-end pieces adorned with fabric that can be left outdoors for years through harsh winters and heavy rains. No more bringing in the cushions when the sky turns gray.

''Sunbrella fabrics are 100 percent synthetics so you can literally leave them in water and there' ll be no damage, they have drainage grids built in,'' said Killam. ''And there are so many different prints and textures that the fabric feels and looks like it's been made for the indoors.

''Beyond wicker couches, though, you can find what ultimately looks like a full double bed to put in your outdoor rooms,'' said Killam

''And you're seeing more exotic woods in different grades, it's not just teak anymore.''
These outdoor rooms can make an amazing impact on guests, just don't neglect the rest of the yard.

Remember the rest of your outdoors

Besides the actual spaces created for entertaining friends, remember that guests' eyes will extend out into the rest of the garden. To complete the effect, think about what the entire yard will look like. The luxurious effect will be mitigated if the yard has an oasis of beauty and beyond that just crab grass.

''If you're having a party and want to make your yard look good instantly, a great way to achieve a freshened up look is with new mulch,'' said Uva. ''Mulch keeps down weeds, holds in water and looks really nice,'' she said.

Stay away from the reddish-pink colored mulch when possible since it contains dyes that may be harmful to your plants and also stay away from coco mulch if you have pets. Like chocolate it can be harmful to dogs.

''Good types of mulch to use are pine barks, cedars and buckwheat,'' said Uva.

Big urns and massive containers are another great way to spruce up the garden by adding color and height.

''People are really into containers,'' said Uva. ''They are great for displaying early color. People are buying better quality pots like cast stone and iron that can be left outside,'' she said.

''Evergreens last in containers for many years, but people need to remember to water them in the winter. Junipers and Alberta spruces are best. You never want to do a holly in a container,'' said Uva.

Containers also add a sculptural element which always provides interest to a garden. Pair them with figurine sculptures and the yard begins to feel like a secret garden. Sculptures can be found in the forms of fairies, frogs, owls, birds and just about anything imaginable. The element of surprise in a garden can make all the difference.

Add water features for the tranquil sound of running water and to attract wildlife and bring the garden to life instantly.

With so many options today, it has become just as possible to design an outdoor space that can speak to a personality as it can indoors.

Finally, the lawn is like the canvas of a painting and should never be neglected.

''Treat for crabgrass -- you don't want to overfertilize because that can weaken the plant,'' said Uva. ''Then use grass seed on any patchy parts. Scratch up surfaces with a rake and spread a thin layer of topsoil or hay on the grass seed.'' she said. ''Grass should take about two weeks to germinate.''

An outdoor kitchen, a decked out pergola and a well-planned garden are sure to wow guests and provide a luxurious space to entertain in all summer long and -- luckily -- can be designed one piece at a time.

''Most people have a Weber and a small cooler,'' said Redmond. ''If you have more money you go to the 25,000 BTU burner and the refrigerated beverage center.

''If I had the money, I'd do it too,'' he said.