Wednesday 18 June 2014

Summer Time and the Living is Easy

Whenever I hear the words ‘summer time’ I think of the George Gershwin song, and my mind drifts to thoughts of lazy, hot days sitting by the river, listening to the quiet splash of water over rocks, maybe a fish reaching for a bug. The air is warm and everything moves at a slower pace.

In the summer, I like to spend as much time as possible in my back yard. Over the years I have made some small improvements to make it my personal oasis. I have a quiet space in the shade under a tree where I like to read. There are lots of perennials and shrubs so I have a minimum of maintenance. The stone patio is big enough for an arrangement of comfy couches and a low table. One day soon I will build a broad covered deck off the back of the house for dinner parties.


Just like a well-designed living room, the outdoor space should have a few different seating areas: One for small gatherings, a quiet area for reflection, and a comfortably sized eating area where people will want to linger after a meal and continue the conversation.

In the summer, I like to invite the neighbours for pot luck dinners. I place a couple of old Ikea pine tables and mismatched chairs out on the stone patio. I cover the tables with light blue tablecloths, and fill glass bowls with peonies and daisies from my garden. I coordinate with white plates, flowered napkins, and lots of glass candle holders with plain white candles. I put citronella garden candles in the garden beds to provide soft light and discourage mosquitoes. Then I make a batch of my secret Sangria recipe, turn on the jazz and let the music and laughter carry me into the evening.

I love the outdoor room concept. It’s so easy to make it happen. It isn’t permanent, so it doesn’t require tons of money and construction. It captures the essence of our Canadian summers that arrive suddenly and are gone before you know it. We want to take advantage of every moment and enjoy it while it lasts!

As a realtor, I know that most people who list in May and June are hoping to sell in early summer so that they can move into their new home and be settled before the school year starts in September. They don’t want to be rushed. So the outdoor room becomes even more attractive as the place to hang out, and the house stays reasonably tidy for showings. Remember that like calls to like. The people who will buy your house will choose it because it makes them comfortable. Their lifestyle will be similar to yours. So make it comfortable for you!