Our Design Team's Guide to the Great Outdoors

Rip & Tan: Can you walk us through your approach to an al fresco dining area?

Linnea Schooley: Here are my tips for the perfect outdoor set-up: 

1. Create your base.  Whether it’s a beautiful teak dining table like my current favorite, our Outdoor Garden Dining Table, or even a blanket on the ground if you’re going for a more casual picnic. 

2. Bring in softness and warmth with linens. If there is one tip to take your al fresco dining experience to the next level, it’s to invest in quality linens that you can use time and time again both indoor and out. I find myself often reaching for our Frayed Linen Tablecloths and Frayed Linen Napkins. 

3. Set the table. In the same vein of using quality linens, we also love to use classic dinnerware when we’re dining al fresco. Step away from the single-use dinnerware and you’ll automatically elevate your al fresco dining experience, bonus points for being better for the environment as well!

4. Set the mood with lighting. I recommend string lights, hanging lanterns, or lots and lots of candles. As with any space, lighting makes a huge impact. 

5. Immerse yourself in your environment. Add foliage and florals to your tablescape as the finishing touch. Pick up some tulips from the farmers market or grab some shears and forage something from your own backyard!

Rip & Tan: How would you create an ideal outdoor lounge area? 

Linnea Schooley: We always like to consider where the focal point of the space will be—typically a fire pit, pool or a beautiful vista and orient the furniture so the seating groups are geared towards conversation and maximum enjoyment of the focal point. 

As with interiors, we like to create “rooms” within an outdoor space with multiple seating groups, each with some diversity in shape and scale. For example, we might use our Outdoor Vista Chairs, Outdoor Vista Sofa, and Outdoor Vista Coffee Table on the main patio of a home, and our Outdoor Brentwood Chairs, Outdoor Brentwood Ottoman, and Outdoor Marin Low Side Table outside of the primary bedroom for a bit more intimacy. 

Rip & Tan: What tips can you share for curating an intentional poolside space?

Linnea Schooley: We like to keep the poolside relatively minimal and clean for both safety and aesthetics. A few of our Outdoor Vista Lounge Chairs, Outdoor Marin Low Side Tables, and a couple of umbrellas and you’re ready to start poolside lounging, ideally with your outdoor bar close by!