Confession: I spend most of the summer quietly mumbling about the humidity and the mosquitos, longing for the cool breezes of autumn.  Just as the moisture leaves the air and a crisp air rolls through is exactly when I leave my air conditioning hibernation and want to spend time lounging outside.  Fall is fast approaching, so it seems like the perfect time to share some tips on how to extend your patio life for best time of year to actually enjoy it!

Since we got to design the country cottage patio from scratch (see the full before and after post here), lots of fall friendly elements were incorporated into this space so it makes the perfect example to illustrate.



Layout  When selecting and laying out outdoor furniture, think about how you really use the space.  Do you spend most of you time gathered around a table enjoying a good meal or do you focus more on lounging?  For example we knew lounging would be priority #1 so we created this patio space with a conversation area featuring cedar adirondack chairs all facing each other and the firepit. Directly behind it sits a zone for relaxing in a hammock as well as eating dinner at a picnic table in the grass.  Creating these zones make for great entertaining flow and function.

Lighting  With the long daylight hours of summer fading fast, you'll need to think about how to best light your outdoor space once the sun goes down. Whether eating meals with the whole family or just enjoying a glass of wine out back, you'll want to be able to see after sunset.  There are endless options but some of the easiest to install as well as most beautiful to look at are simple string lights. Since we wanted to be able to move them as needed, we strung these Allen + Roth White Plug in String Lights  from cedar branches set in cement bases but you could easily hang them from trees, a garage or a deck.  Their soft glow not only serves the function of lighting the patio but also makes for a great celebratory decoration when entertaining.  You can compliment the main lighting with ambient lighting accents like lanterns and candles.



Fire There are few things more primal or more entertaining than starting a raging fire. Enter the firepit - an activity that never seems to get old for our group no matter what the temperature. Not only does it keep everyone warm and toasty during a chilly night but gathering sticks and lighting it ablaze becomes a party in of itself with everyone lending a hand.  When the fire is roaring, everyone can gather around for some sweet s'mores.  We used this Flagstone Firepit Patio Block Kit to build this one and it works beautifully with the brick patio and was easy to install.


Serve This patio was built with friends and family in mind so having a spot to serve treats for young and old alike was key. Instead of a fixed piece of furniture, we used lumber, plumbing supply pipes and casters to build a moveable feasting cart.  Used here as a s'mores bar, we outfitted it with jars of chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows, lots of firewood and some apple cranberry cider wash it all down.  For different occasions, it can easily be used indoors or out as a rustic bar cart, firewood caddy or bbq food prep bar.  We also situated this wooden picnic table just off the side of the patio to serve as separate seating and serving space to use as needed.


Cozy Once all the key elements are in place, don't forget to add a few cozy touches to make our outdoor space feel just as comfortable as your indoor.  Outdoor striped pillows were used in each chair for both color and comfort. Add a few throw blankets (these can be the regular indoor kind, just be sure to bring them in after the evening is over) to snuggle under for extra warmth.

There are so many ways to make the most of your outdoor space this fall - those were just a few of them.  How many days til the start of fall?

Disclosure: This post is written in partnership with Lowe's Home Improvement.  Thanks to them and all my sponsors who help make the projects you see on Brooklyn Limestone a reality.  As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

How to shop thrifted furniture and NOT bring home bed bugs [Sponsored]

You don't have to know me well to know I'm a sucker for used furniture whether it be flea market finds, Craigslist scores or even curbside treasures.  But no matter how tempting a piece or how low the price, there is one looming risk that is always at the back of my mind: the dreaded bed bug. Case in point this perfect pink tufted chair that I knew my daughter would love in her room and was being sold for a steal!



Bed bugs are a scourge for anyone but especially for lovers of used furniture!   So I'm quite careful in what I bring home, following a simple but strict system for how to keep those little nasties out of our house.  While nothing is foolproof, I'd like to think my system works pretty well.  Perhaps it can help you as well. I've been asked about how I deal with this quite a few times so it seemed like a great time to share.
 

First things first - you must INSPECT.  And I don't mean a cursory glance.  Bring a flashlight and a magnifying glass if necessary.  These bugs are great hiders but there are some tell-tale signs you can spot if you look carefully in seams including pinprick stains the bugs leave behind, molted skins or even the bugs themselves.  Consider the risk of the item itself - something like a mattress or any soft item in a bedroom is going to be more likely to be an issue then say a kitchen stool or a hallway table. Consider the source of the find. I always prefer to talk to the previous owner if possible to get a sense of why the item is being discarded. While bed bugs don't discriminate, I always tend to feel better to find out the backstory.

Once you've given it a throughout once over and feel pretty confident the item is pest free, it's time to get it home.  The next step is ISOLATION.  If you can, place the item in your garage, basement or even your bathtub for a few days and inspect again just to be sure. Since I don't have a completely isolated space, I create my own by wrapping the item in plastic and letting it sit for as long as practical.
 

With that step behind you, I like to do one final step in making sure I haven't missed anything and that's TREATMENT. I use a large plastic drop cloth and Hot Shot® Bedbug & Flea Killer Aerosol. This product is water based so less likely to stain, affordable and kills both live bugs and eggs before they hatch.  I lay out the drop cloth, use the product as instructed. Always read the label before use!


Once it's gone through my system, I breathe a sigh of relief and feel so much more comfortable using the item in my home.


Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by Hot Shot® Brand but all opinions expressed are my own. 

Saving Memories with Legacybox

Call this digital nesting or just plain being smart.  Some of my most prized possessions - old photographs - are finally off the shelf and safely backed up.  After years of wanting to get this task accomplished, I can finally cross it off my list! I had been researching the various companies for years but Legacybox seemed to be at the forefront both for ease of use and great reviews. The process could not be easier.  Legacybox sends you a kit which is essentially a box you can load your various outdated formats into  - VHS, Super8film, slides, photos, whatever. You return the box and LegacyBox turns those bits of ephemera into digital form and send the whole thing back to you in a few weeks.  The only hard part is going through all those old photos without spending a week reminiscing and calling up old friends to laugh about the good ol' days.
I had expected the task of culling down to just 250 photos was going to be difficult but I was wrong. Back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth (pre-digital cameras), there were a lot more bad photos thanks to not having that handy preview feature so even in the many rolls I had taken over the years, it was easy to find the ones worth treasuring.  Most importantly we are able to preserve in time some beautiful old photos that were well on their way to being damaged by sitting in shoeboxes! Like some of these beautiful black and white portraits that were practically falling apart...
Or just some generally adorable images of me being cute. Excuse my sap but having some of these treasured photographs secured in a way that not only I can appreciate but my kids will be able to share gives me the warm and fuzzies. It also makes me feel like I really accomplished something with very little effort on my part. Double score!

Want to preserve your own digital memories?  The first 25 readers will get a 40% off coupon with the code "LIMESTONE".  Click here to grab the deal. 

disclosure: This post was sponsored by Legacybox but all opinions expressed are my own.