Series: Setting the Scene for Year-Round Enjoyment. Part Two: Outdoor Furniture Finds

Hello Friends!

I hope this post finds you in good spirits!  Today, I hope you will join me as I discuss my adventures in outdoor furniture shopping.

I started updating the space in my backyard and I initially began with looking for the perfect dining set.  You can read more about that here.

Although I loved the little bench I put in the area, it still looked a bit barren, so I decided I wanted something more substantial for the seating area.

When I began the process of choosing my outdoor seating, I knew I wanted something comfortable and modern, with clean lines and not too avant-garde.  

I considered quite a few ideas before finally settling.  Here are a few examples of the type of aesthetic I was interested in:


I really like the idea of this outdoor cabana from Horchow.  Doesn’t it look relaxing??  Calgon, take me away, lol.   See it here.

Über-modern, sleek, and I love it!!  From the Mika Collection by Rove.

Love the color palette of this collection from Wayfair.  You can view it here.

The clean lines of the Grid collection from Gloster are sublime.  Shop here.

Of course, when shopping online, one can get sucked into a vortex, and down the rabbit hole you tumble.  This statement is especially true for someone with design ADD like me, lol. Even though I really wanted a modern aesthetic, I also came across some fancies I could not ignore. A few whimsical options:

I just adore, adore this butterfly chair from Horchow.  Such a perfect garden chair!   View it here.

I love the color palette of this fun design by Mackenzie-Childs.   Fresh blue and white has always been a favorite of mine!  It is from the Indigo Villa Collection, available here from Horchow.

Speaking of fun, how adorbs is this snail garden table, also from Mackenzie-Childs??  See it at Horchow here.

In the end, I settled on this set from Living Spaces.  It is from their Pompeii collection. You can see it here.  

Here it is in the space.  I love the subtle grey tone of the wood, the clean lines, and the coordinating soft dove grey upholstery!  

I also added a small portable fire pit for those cooler Autumn evenings.  Fun!

I almost couldn't wait to christen the little guy with an official marshmallow roast!!  Please stay well, and until next we meet...

-Y

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Easy DIY Charcuterie Board/Pizza Peel

Hello, Dear Friends!!

How are you all acclimating to a Summertime pandemic-wrought?  I hope you are faring well.  We have been trying to play it safe here, especially because Mr. Parsimonious works in the medical field.


I don't know why, but the Summer months often make me think of the Mediterranean countryside.  Perhaps it has to do with the fervent weather.  My palate also craves a lighter menu this time of year.  Two of my favorite things to eat this time of year are wood-fired pizzas and beautiful nibbles presented on a charcuterie board.

Charcuterie is the French art of preparing different types of meats that are often sold in a delicatessen.  A huge board for presenting these delightful noshes is a perfect addition any entertainer, epicurist, or chef-aspirant's paraphernalia, but the board can also be utilized as a board to slide pizzas into a fire-brick oven.

In today's post, I am sharing a simple tutorial of how I made an extra-large presentation board perfect for the dual uses of charcuterie presentation and as a pizza peel (paddle).  I hope you enjoy the post!


You will need a large plank of wood.  I chose a beautiful African Mahogany.  I really loved the gorgeous grain of the wood.  I bought my plank from the Home Depot.

I began by roughly sketching (very rough, lol!!) a drawing of my handle.  I wanted my board to be quite large, so I kept the wood at the 3-foot size as purchased and didn't cut any away, save for the handle.

I cut the template using a jigsaw, carefully following the lines.



Next, I cut out a hole that will be used for hanging the completed piece on a wall.  To cut out the hole, I drew an approximate area where I wanted it to land, and then


cut it out using a drill fitted with a Forstner wood-boring drill bit.



A closer look.



Next, I used an oscillating spindle sander to smooth out all those edges.  An oscillating sander works very well for sanding out curves.



Finally, I used a sheet (finishing) sander fitted with sandpaper of varying grits to complete the board, removing any flaws and/or remaining pencil marks.  I began with papers of coarser grits, continuing to decrease the roughness of the paper with each sanding succession until the final sanding, for which I used a very fine grit paper.  As you sand, be sure to sand in the same direction of the wood grain.

To seal the wood, I used a mineral oil I found at Ikea.  You can likely find cutting board wood oil at any hardware store, or even on Amazon.  Just be sure that it is a food-grade or food-safe oil.  You may also opt to add a layer of all-natural bees wax to the wood as well as an additional sealant.  The same rule applies; be sure it is food-safe!!

Just use a very clean, soft dry cloth and wipe the mineral oil on the board until all of the wood is covered.  The mineral oil will absorb into the wood and act as a barrier between the raw wood and your food.  It will also protect the wood.  Be sure to repeat this process after every few uses.

Completed board.

Handle Detail.

I can't wait to use it!!  Please stay tuned, I will be sharing some special treats soon!

If you have enjoyed this tutorial, you may pin it here:

Or, if you prefer, here:

Until next we meet,

-Y

If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 

Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

Follow me on Pinterest!!  Please be sure to kindly follow the board guidelines!  Thank you!  

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Set Your Table With Flair--Afternoon Tea Week in the Dog Days of Summer

Hello, Friends!

I don't know about you, but I need a little reprieve.  A little bit of a distraction.  I want to think of simpler, happier, (and definitely more care-free) times.  A few months ago, I shared on my Instagram a simple teatime among the spring flowers in my garden, but I never wrote about it.  Today marks the last day of Afternoon Tea Week, so I thought this would be a perfect time to do so!  I so hope you enjoy.

Back in Spring, when the weather was wonderfully fair, my little blossoms were all a-bloom; their fragrant scent danced on the light breeze.  It was a perfect time to be outdoors and enjoy a simple teatime.

I used almost no color in the setting, which, quite honestly, I questioned then but can absolutely appreciate now because of the soothing feeling it imbues as I look back upon these photos.


A pretty topper with delicate periwinkle petals and soft greens, white, and muted beiges was the foundation of the setting.  A closeup of the detail. 


Simple white bone china for the teacup perfectly balances alongside 

the elegant lines of the fluted stand.

Closer look.  A perfect serving plate for my homemade macarons, such a light treat! 

A whimsical tea kettle completes the setting.

I adore the detail of the miniature Tea-for-Two setting on the top!  So sweet!


Completed setting under the canopy of my roses.

Another look.

Thank you for joining me in this look back, and I hope it has served as an enjoyable and peaceful lazy-day reverie.




From my collection:
Topper, Ralph Lauren Cape Elizabeth Lilac Collection
Tea kettle, Butler's Pantry Collection By Lennox
Teacup and saucer, Haviland France Ranson, Marseille Collections
Fluted cake plate, Ralph Lauren Pavilion Collection




Until next time, you are all in my thoughts!

-Y

If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 

Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

Follow me on Pinterest!!  Please be sure to kindly follow the board guidelines!  Thank you!  

Thank you for stopping by! ❤