Summer Get-Together Ideas

1. Add a light, fresh scent to the outdoor air while cooking by throwing in some rosemary or other herbs into the charcoal grill.

2. Set up a lemonade station to quench everyone's thirst at your party.  Try including lemonade, fresh fruit and skews for ease stacking fruit to eat or to add an extra twist to your lemonade.  For adults add 1 part sparkling wine to 2 parts lemonade for an extra kick.

3. Take your holiday lights out of storage and brighten up your patio or deck.  This will also give you great ambiance at night!  Even try hanging the lights in trees, around tree trunks or add paper (battery operated) lanterns.

4. Get creative with displaying your food...plates and glasses can be placed on a tiered plant stand, and flower pots for utensils.

All of these tips and more can be found on the Better, Home and Garden Website

Summer Get-Together Ideas

5. If bugs are a problem and even if they aren't try using mason jars for glasses...it can be a fun way to use them.  Plus there is always the bonus of screwing the lid on if bugs are a problem.

6. Have you ever given a kid a Popsicle and before you know it, it is melted all over their hands and running down their arms...well try add a cupcake liner (with a small slit for the stick) to the bottom of Popsicle to catch drip and save a mess.

7. For easy set up and clean up load all your favorite hot dog/hamburger toppings into a tote that can go from the frig to table and back to the frig. 

8. If you not sure what kind of music to play at parties ask each guest to tell you their favorite song beforehand...you can make a party mix with the music and be set for the night.

All of these tips and more can be found on the Better, Homes and Garden website.

Before I started work on this house, the stairs were all wood. It was a tripping hazard, because it was hard to tell where one step started and another ended.

To solve the safety issue and add a little personality, I painted the raisers black with a gold stencil.  The photo on the left shows the front staircase and the photo on the right is the back staircase.  I created the same effect on both staircase with a different stencil pattern.

This could be a great weekend project that would have high impact in your house!

Stay tuned for the upcoming launch of the professional photos for this house!  Can't wait to share them!

I am so pleased to present one of my finished projects with Matt Sneller Custom Homes!  I am so happy to present this project with it's unique mix of traditional and contemporary elements!

Neutral doesn't have to be boring.  Elegant cream cabinetry mixed with a metallic subway backslash, dark granite counter tops and a gorgeous faux painted vent hood come together to create a place where family can gather for years to come!

For more design ideas please check me out on Houzz.