It’s time to get your summer on and Sonoma stores can provide some shopping inspiration. Here are some unique buys to help you take the heat outside and feel stylish while doing so. Happy Sonoma Summer! Click through the above gallery for details.
Warm Weather Wares: 10 Sonoma Finds for Summer Days
We've compiled some of our favorite things from local stores to help you have the best summer ever.
Tossin’ Away the Time: While you’re soaking up sun and good times, try a classic game that’s become a craze. These cornhole boards are made using exterior plywood, vinyl decals and polyurethane coating for weather resistance. The bags included are filled with corn kernels that give the game its name. All is built to “specs” created by the American Cornhole Association. Yes, there’s an American Cornhole Association. Actually, there are a few organizations and all claim to be “the” official governing body. $250 and up, Woodworking by Dan, Petaluma, 707-338-2898, facebook.com/Woodworkingbydan
Ice Cold Art: Pour cold drinks from a fine art vessel like this piece by Iittala. The blown glass texture of the classic Ultima Thule line was created in imitation of melting ice in Finland, a welcome image on a scorching day. $150, The Passdoor, 452 First Street East Suite A, Sonoma, thepassdoor.net
Modern Lights: Warm days mean nights outside, so there should be no slouching in the stylish illumination department. One modern-lover’s option is this Mooon! Lamp by French-based Fermob. This piece is shatter-free, USB chargeable and gives a cool blue or warm light to your evening meal or conversation. $215, Petaluma Home & Garden, 516 Petaluma Blvd S, Petaluma, 707-778-6177, facebook.com/petalumahomeandgarden
Stylish Transport: Dining or drinking alfresco is a must-do on balmy afternoons and evenings. This sturdy, lightweight and modern tray is a great mover of foods and dishes. And bonus, it’s perfectly stylish indoors, too. $50, Scout West County, 780 depot St., Suite 140, Sebastopol, 707-827-6045, scoutwestcounty.com
Beaded Beauties: Goatskin and turquoise beads come together to form this pretty sandal. The entire piece is handcrafted by artisans in East Africa. $135, Clutch Healdsburg, 307 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, 2321 Magowan Dr., Santa Rosa, 707-433-8189, 133, Kentucky St., Petaluma, 707-774-6311, clutchhealdsburg.com
Summer Scents: Scented candles are not just for the pumpkin spice/harvesty/holiday season. Emily Lynch has a new line of summer scents like Summer Strawberry and Ripe Watermelon. Lynch’s candles are extraordinarily good-smelling (Birthday Cake is intoxicating!), so it’s extra great that they’re also phthalate-free, natural and soy-based. $20, Hello Penngrove, 101 Main Street, Penngrove,707- 665-5759, hellopenngrove.com
Beat the Heat Cooking: This little convection toaster oven saves energy and gives off much less heat than a standard-sized oven. It comes with a pizza stone for crisp-crust-making. Hardisty’s staff member, Sarah, likes to bring her oven outside on warm evenings to cook a hot meal while keeping indoors cool. $159, 1513 Farmers Ln, Santa Rosa, 707-867-0827, hardistys.com
Nostalgic Sunshade: A cap is just what your cool head ordered on hot sunny days. And summer seems to stoke our longing for vintage wares. This reproduction of a 1961 Kansas City Katz hat fits the stylish bill: it's handsewn, made of wool baseball cloth, with leather straps and a brass enclosure. Made in the U.S.A. $49, Scout West County, 780 depot St., Suite 140, Sebastopol, 707-827-6045, scoutwestcounty.com
Sipping Sunshine: Hellocello Limoncello di Sonoma is made from a year-round crop of California lemons. Sonoma-based Prohibition Spirits makes their take on this Italian liqueur, along with versions made with orange (Orangecello) and fig (Figcello) and navel oranges (Bellocello). $26, Prohibition Spirits, 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, 707-933-7507, prohibition-spirits.com
Bottle Rock: There's nothing like a wonderfully colorful and weather-resistant Adirondack chair that's made from plastic water bottles and containers. Available in many colors, these durable, classically styled chairs are sturdy and will be recyclable when their lifetime is over, an estimated 20 years from purchase. Sonoma Backyard, 410 Aaron St, Cotati, 707-795-0772, sonomabackyard.com
