Outdoor Dreamin’

This post brought to you by Pier 1. All opinions are 100% mine.

The fine folks at Pier 1  contacted me again to see if I wanted to check out their new outdoor stuff for spring.  Do they even need to ask?!  Of course, I had to gather my jaw off the floor, pinch my forearm skin (narrowly missed that spelling mistake where I had left out the ‘arm’), and apologize to Jeremy for the five minute version of white-girl-does-MC-Hammer dance before responding with a capitalized and bold YES! 

I love Pier 1…always have.  Love the variety of styles (my personal style changes on the hour) and quality of stuff and the clearance prices.  And since we have been spending a lot of time outdoors lately, this couldn’t have come at a better time.  So without further distractions, I want to present some of the spaces that I have been dreaming about furnishing (and three different styles all from Pier1). 

I would love a dining space under our deck and this country-meets-awesome inpsired setup fits the bill.  It all started with the rug (Dobby Jute Rug with Ketchup Borders).  I love jute and the red on this one adds some needed color.  The country charm is infused into the space with the Santa Barbara White Outdoor Chair (which looks great with the Deluxe Angelique Chair Cushion) seated around the Emilie Natural Dining Table.  I know that it’s not an outdoor table but since I am dreaming, it will never rain here either 🙂  Dontcha just love the dark wood with white seating?!  And the back wall would be adorned with the Starfish & Coral Wall Art and 9 Clip Window Wall Frame (so that I could regularly display Will’s latest photos).  The chair pillows (Outdoor Maui Calliope Pillow) help bring some more color into the look without making it too matchy-matchy.  And I absolutely love the White Scalloped Serving Bowl…I seriously need that on my wishlist pronto.  I virtually plopped some Cream Hydrangea Stems into the bowl (they won’t ever fade!) for a charming country centerpiece.  Lastly I included the Solid Chenille Red Throw because you just never know if the dinner conversation will last into the chill of the evening (and not just to a baby’s bedtime!).  A girl can dream 🙂

The second board I created was much more wordly.  It still has elements of cottage charm (like the Coco Cove Outdoor Wicker Armchairs) but in general it is much more rich and dramatic.  That drama starts with the Kaeden Indoor/Outdoor Rug (gotta love a rug that can kick it outside!).  And the Simon X Table is the perfect way to get some modern energy into the entire space.   But I think that what really sets this look apart is the Grandiose Wall Clock – it’s huge and it makes me want a wall of clocks right now.  The mix-n-match pillows (Outdoor Calliope Spice Pillow & Gold Ruffles Pillow) are nice because they add a little texture and a little color (making the rug pop a little more!).  And the tabletop is great for morning coffee or late night hot cocoa on the patio.  I just used the Cafe Au Lait Mugs (personally I love white dishware) and the Elephant Teapot (so adorable.) and the Ceramic Potted Red Phaelaenopsis to make it look polished and set simply for chilling out.

This last board was totally out of my element but now that it’s done…I want it.  It looks so fun and chillaxed.  I dream this one would go on our back deck…and create the perfect baby-friendly and fun-friendly space.  It all started with the Outdoor Ciudad Corner Chair + Outdoor Ciudad Armless Chair.  I love that you can create your own sectional or couch or whatever with these pieces.  And the Outdoor Swingasan Chair & Stand?  What an awesome twist on the Papasan!  Can you just see this as the faught over seat of the century!?  Rounding out our seating area is the Ciudad Outdoor Mocha Trunk…which would be perfect as a coffee table slash toy bin slash move outta the way for babies box slash storage for throws and blankets and maybe a bubble machine 🙂

The real star of the show isn’t the bubble machine (stop shaking your head Pier 1)…it would be the 9 foot Pagoda Umbrella…ella… ella.  yes I just went there.  The colors are so fun…which are also brought in with the Blue Paisley Outdoor Rug, and the plethora of pillows (Crocheted Fiesta Pillow on the floor, Embroidered Floral Pillow on sofa, Outdoor Calliope Honey Pillow – yellow one in back, Offset Butterfly Pillow, and Suzan Embroidered Pillow which is in the Swingasan).  To balance the Umbrella…ella…ella…I placed the Artificial Japanese Maple in Silver Pot in the corner…which is great for people like me who forget to water plants and have toddlers obsessed with digging in them.  And what makes the space really fun is those Festive Stripe Cordial Glasses with Tray.  Can’t you just see friends and family toasting every birthday, holiday and celebration with those colorful babies?!  Lastly, I put in the Red Metal Lantern in the lefthand corner…I figure that it would be great for a citronella (ella ella ella) votive candle…to keep the bugs at bay. 

So there you have it…what I’ve been dreaming of for furnishing the outdoor spaces here at Pickled Acres.  What are you dreaming of for your own outside spots?  I’d love to hear all about it.

p.s.  Have you heard about Pier 1 Tweetups? ?  Basically bloggers from certain cities will be at Pier1’s across the nation to meet and greet with us normal folks.  I’m off to check out when they come to the ATL!