OUTDOOR LIVING
By Daniel Keeley | Photos by Meredith Mashburn
Thrill of the Grill
The Perfect Scene for Outdoor Celebrations
After a winter that proved to be particularly damaging to gardens throughout Northwest Arkansas, all of us at CitiScapes Magazine were especially eager to celebrate a new, warmer season with our annual Thrill of the Grill feature. As usual it was a lovely, alfresco gathering where we enjoyed the culinary delights of local chef Case Dighero. This year’s setting was the fantastic front porch of a pool and guest house belonging to generous clients with whom I have had the pleasure of working over the past two years. Complete with a wood-burning fireplace and an outdoor kitchen that a chef’s dreams are made of, it was the perfect place to enjoy Thrill of the Grill’s combination of fine outdoor living and grilling!
Special thanks to Cobblestone & Vine in Bentonville for providing the beautiful pillows and accessories.
A playful beverage cooler, which can double as a plant stand, keeps chilled beverages close at hand.
A beautiful, scalloped lacquer tray dresses up the coffee table and provides a home for entertaining books and a pair of preserved boxwood topiaries.
A hand-blown glass bowl and white orchids make for an impressive floral display at the bar.
An oversized wicker tray at the kitchen’s bar serves as a resting place for festive glassware, a selection of wines and other items while echoing the French bistro-inspired barstools.
Bright blue seat cushions on the living area’s lounge seating establish a cheerful vibrance and are complemented by gorgeous printed and embroidered accent pillows, also in various shades of blue.
An outdoor rug brings softness to the porch’s stained concrete floor and lends coziness to the main seating group.
Blue and white porcelain cachepots, along with garden urns, flank the fireplace and hold SunPatiens and macho ferns respectively, bringing the charm of the nearby garden right onto the porch.
Coordinating blue seat cushions and more intricately embroidered pillows beckon guests to relax and linger at the dining table.
A simple table runner and floral arrangements set the stage for the tablescape’s real star: handmade ceramic candlesticks by artist Lisa Alpaugh of LiBird Studio in New Orleans.