As vacation days and weekends on the water give way to busy school and work schedules, you might ask yourself, “Where did the summer go?” To make sure you squeeze all the sweetness out of summer before the first day of fall, we suggest perfecting your alfresco dining setup at home. Whether it’s a sunny summer lunch or an evening dinner as the sun sets, dining outdoors — for as long as possible — has a way of extending those summer vibes. We’ve lined up a few finds (enormous and small) for inspiration. Click through the above gallery for details.
9 Fabulous Outdoor Dining Finds from Sonoma Stores
Up your al fresco dining game before summer ends.
Up your al fresco dining game before summer ends. Click through the gallery for ideas. (Shutterstock)
Scene setter: A beautiful table is a great way to start. This spectacular onyx piece by Wine Country Decor is as lovely as it is large. With a 60-inch diameter tabletop, you can seat a good sized group — a great tool for practicing the-more-the-merrier approach. $4500, Wine Country Decor, 6001 Sonoma Hwy, Santa Rosa, 707-843-7619, winecountry-decor.com (Karen Kizer)
Top-down textiles: In interior decorating, the big trend is to “bring the outdoors inside” using large windows, plants and earth tones. But why not flip this a bit, and bring the inside outdoors with cozy pillows and rugs? This carpet is made of washable, woven recycled plastic. The pretty style at your feet will anchor the dining masterpiece. $139 (6’x9’), BOHO Bungalow, 3692 Bohemian Highway, 707-874-6030, 125 N Main St., Sebastopol, 707-861-9241, 143 Kentucky St., Petaluma, 707-874-6030, thebohobungalow.com (Karen Kizer)
Limited linens: Outdoor dining means keeping things simpler, so a runner might be a better choice than a full table cloth. This beauty by Soil to Studio is a perfect mix of understated and punched up. It’s handwoven of heirloom organic cotton, grown and handmade in India. $80, In the Making, Siri Hansdotter, 122 American Alley, Petaluma, sirihandsotter.com, inthemakingpetaluma.com (Soil to Studio)
Unbreakable style: Breaking glass is so last year. These acrylic pieces by Juliska are perfectly delicate in design but still sturdy. You can transport these outside a little more fearlessly. $15 (and up), I Leoni, 120 Kentucky St, Petaluma, 707-762-9611, ileoni.com (Karen Kizer)
Classy and indestructible: These unbreakable beauties are made of melamine. And the transportation from kitchen to outdoors will be a little lighter to boot. $22 (salad), $25 (dinner), I Leoni, 120 Kentucky St, Petaluma, 707-762-9611, ileoni.com (Karen Kizer)
Portable pizza oven: Get the party going with an outdoor pizza show. You can bake a pizza in 60 seconds with this gas-powered little number. These ovens are so popular, stores say they are hard to keep in stock. $349, Sebastopol Hardware Center, Inc, 660 Gravenstein Hwy N, Sebastopol, acehardware.com/store-details/06381
Pizza oven by Ooni (Ooni Pizza Ovens)
All-weather ambience: These solar lanterns are pretty and pretty tough against the elements. They are made of home-waterproofing material Tyvek. Hang for a little glow, and leave them up for a while without worry of wear. $34.95 (8-inch), $45.95 (12-inch), Urban Garden, myurbangarden.com (Soji Stella) Note: Urban Garden is closed while moving its brick-and-mortar shop to midtown Santa Rosa. The storefront and online shop will reopen August 20.
Run for covers: If the temperatures dip a little low, there’s often a heat lamp to help out. But an unplugged option is to provide some throws or wraps. Offer a basket of wraps, like these pretty throws. $28 (and up). Hello Penngrove, 101 Main Street, Penngrove,707- 665-5759, hellopenngrove.com (Hello Penngrove)