A Relaxing Evening at Home
When the day is hectic, this one was, with chores, telephone calls, emails, meetings, etc, then the evening at home is a relaxing counterpoint. So today will end and the evening will start just that way.
Simple dinner, with emphasis on being in the garden, then perhaps a bike ride along Beach Drive in Victoria, a few chapters in a book, a conversation about pleasant things, all these together will make for a wonderful evening, for sure.
Choices
There will be times for socializing, eating at interesting restaurants and so on, but those are choices for another time. It does seem that when we have choices, that staying at home is most pleasant, on its own merits.
Living Well
Perhaps having a lovely interior helps in that regard; well that is how we see it as interior designers. We are in so many homes and lives of clients, there is a good sense of how to live well, not necessarily lavishly, but well. More on this another time, since a simple dinner needs to be prepared. Easy enough, and relaxing enough too. I wish the same pleasant summer evening for you.

Summer Gardens
A delight and a chore
That's the way I am seeing our garden at the moment, especially since I spent nearly 7 hours outside prunning and thinning plants. We have a good gardening service, yet I recognize I want the garden to be well trimmed, something a gardener, of the professional and home variety, may be hesitant to do.
Also, it takes alot of work. I can only imagine how Butchart Gardens maintains their property, all apparently before or after the guests arrive. Not me, I work in the broad daylight, suppose I could get up before the sun comes up, but that is not my summer style.
A New Garden Soon
Soon we will begin installation of the new garden--

• There will be a broad walkway up steps, that now has a narrow, right angle approach that is not interesting.
• We will remove the second driveway, its not needed, and it will make a wonderful, expanded grass and planted area, as the entry to the upper garden, with a view across from the sea.
• Then we will be ecological and smart too, by saving hauling expenses and disposal expenses for the concrete; instead it will be used for the foundation of mounds, with great plantings on them.
• Some will be transplanted from the existing garden, but many will be interesting plants brought to the property. This is an approach we use for interiors as well, repurposing items, favorite pieces, and of course introduction of furniture and accessories that enhance and create excitement too.

We have a great collaborative relationship with our landscape architect. More about him in another posting. He's great and so knowledgeable , plus creative. That is a great combination we believe we bring to interior design as well.
So plant something this summer, maybe in a container or pot, easily done, and easily reused next spring.

Summer Dinners
The great taste of fresh fruit and vegetables makes summer meals a delight.
A Menu from this Evening al Fresco
Here's an example, taken from our dinner this evening --

• A simple tomato salad (cut a tomato in half, scoop out the seed and gelatin; then slice in segments, marinate for a half an hour or longer in a mixture of olive oil and a splash of white wine, season to taste with salt and pepper)
• Cold green beans with a vinigrette (2/3 olive oil to 1/3 vinegar plus a generous amount of grainy mustard)
• Barbeque fish or chicken (finished in a barely hot oven so they are cooked through but not overcooked)
• A simple sauce for the fish or chicken of sauteed mushrooms with a few slices of onion, then deglaced with white wine (meaning keep over heat and use a spoon to scrape up the browned bits on the pan surface) , and a few tablespoons of a tomato sauce, like the bottled type used over pasta.
• Desert as a simple fruit compote (sometimes I partly cook the cut up fruit in the microwave for a minute, then serve warm or room temperature) with sliced pound cake or a shortbread cookie.
• As you can see, I use wine to cook with, its fine to drink too, of course, but lemonade on the tart side is also great in the summer as well.

Invitations
Invite a friend, neighbors, its easy enough, especially if you eat outside. The secret of entertaining is to enjoy the event yourself: keep it simple, plan ahead, start cooking on time, and relax and enjoy the conversation. I like to combine hot and cold items, the cold ones I prepare ahead of time, so that makes it easy to concentrate on the rest of the menu. Your guests will appreciate your relaxed attitude and smiles, rather than the frantic efforts to prepare something too elaborate.

Summer at Home

Traveling Close to Home

Its a time for enjoying summer, with bright days and evenings too. Perhaps a vacation, perhaps weekends away, but also at home. So let's celebrate at home, the summer time, as well. Some ideas we are using in our own home and with clients too:

Bring the indoors out -- bring a piece of furniture, a table and chairs, outside for a nice evening dinner. Of course, be careful to avoid delicate fabrics, like silk and furniture that is too heavy to move safely. Yet, there are possibilities, even with a vase, a bowl of flowers, to create an outdoor room to enjoy. Have three meals a day, outside. Invite friends for afternoon ice tea, fruit, and cake.

Bring the outdoors in -- bring a few potted flower pots, filled with blooms inside for a day or two. Open doors and windows, of course, to enjoy the summer, but also bring in a garden chair or two and set them in a sunny indoor spot, use a large, attractive beach towel on them, a small side table, read a book, enjoy a conversation. Play some interesting music, something classical, something soothing.

Update: We are meeting with a new client this week, and that will be delightful to listen and hear about their hopes, dreams, how their lives are evolving so we can use that as a basis to bring beauty, tranquility, and glamour into their surroundings. What fun!