RELAXING RETREAT
Backyards can become your own personal sanctuary where the sound of water – the music of nature – and statues create focal points for meditation and contemplation. Water features like ponds, cascading falls and fountains produce tranquility in your outdoor space with the added benefit of cooling temperatures during Arizona summer days. Harmonize the design elements by adding a bridge to create a sense of movement into a serene place, and away from the business of modern living.
COME TOGETHER IN OUTDOOR ROOMS
Creating a seasonal room outside expands the living space of your home and makes for fun entertaining and family times. Gather your favorite people by placing large tables for alfresco meals and comfy chairs and sofas for repose. Conversational pieces upholstered with modern textures and fabrics made to stand up to the elements have come a long way from the vinyl, sun-rotted patio furniture of the past.
INVITING, FASCINATING FIRE
Nothing says “summer fun” like marshmallows on a stick. What better way to celebrate family and friends than hanging out and telling stories next to the fire? Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits add inviting ambiance to your living space by providing light, warmth and those fascinating flames. One word of caution: please take care to obey fire restrictions set by the county, city or National Forest officials during our dry season before the monsoons.
HEART AND SOUL OF THE HOME: THE KITCHEN
“In the winter, the heart of a family home is the kitchen. It’s just the place everyone is drawn to. We think that in the warmer months, that ‘heart’ gets to move outdoors,” says Dan Andersen of Warner’s Nursery & Landscape Company, Flagstaff. Move outdoors beyond the freestanding grill with pizza ovens, built-in grills, warming drawers, fridges and beer dispensers. A well-equipped outdoor kitchen might be just the perfect place to view the stars in this first International Dark Sky City.
SHOW YOUR STYLE
Whether you prefer hip urban design, rustic-country style, mountain lodge or Old World Mediterranean, your outdoor space can reflect your tastes. Bring your indoors panache out by consulting with professional designers to complement the architectural style of your home and make the best use of your views. “It’s easy nowadays to create an atmosphere in your backyard or on your patio that’s customized, so it becomes another room in your house. It can reflect your overall style based on the colors you use and the furnishing or appliances you include. Whatever your tastes − traditional or modern, formal or casual − you can find something that complements your home aesthetic and brings it outside,” adds Andersen, Warner’s Landscape Division Manager.
THIS MONTH IN FLAGSTAFF
JUNE 10: Chicks with Sticks Women’s Golf Tournament, Pine Canyon Golf Club; nahealthfoundation.org/participate/chicks-with-sticks-2019
JUNE 12: Lunar Lecture Series: “Using CubeSats to Map Lunar Hydrogen,” Coconino Community College Lone Tree Campus; flagstaffarizona.org/lunarlegacy
JULY 4: Annual Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce 4th of July Parade, Historic Downtown Flagstaff; bit.ly/2InGpHR
Stacey Wittig is an award-winning travel writer and author located in Flagstaff, Arizona. For more travel & world-wide adventures visit Stacey’s website at unstoppablestaceytravel.com.
