Guest Blogger Denise McGaha

 Denise McGaha here from Denise McGaha Interiors. I am so excited to be blogging here at New York Spaces. Since I live in the South, summer months here began in May as the thermometer reached 90 degrees in late April!  As a result, we have been enjoying the outdoors and outdoor dining for a while now. I love summer picnics and thought my New York friends would enjoy a little Southern inspiration. 

I love to deliver Design with a Deadline for my clients, so most of these looks can be ready for entertaining within a week. There is no need to wait six months to have friends over…start now and you will be ready for the July 4th Holiday bash in no time.                                                              

I love outdoor linens. Don’t save the good stuff for inside. Bring your favorite tablecloths and runners outside to bring color to your party.

And I can’t say enough about having fresh flowers on the table and pots of greenery around to make your outdoor table and patio come alive...literally! I love to drop by the garden center the day before an outdoor event and choose the best flowering plants to fill my pots.

Tip: Make sure there isn’t organic manure in your potting soil though…the smell will overpower your meal.trust me, I made this mistake once and everyone giggled when the wind blew.  

I love evening meals al fresco and if your outdoor entertaining plans include after-hours dining, make sure you have lots of candlelight and insect repellent. I often buy potted citronella plants, in addition to having citronella candles and torches burning. (Our mosquitos here can drive a car!)

Now that your space is picture perfect, you need a great easy-to-prepare menu that causes “NO” stress for the hostess. You can't go wrong with using simple ingredients and making serving easy. I also love to have a chalkboard menu—they are so fun and the kiddies can draw on it after dinner for entertainment.

And don’t forget a signature drink and a hostess gift (like this great BBQ sauce)—it will be what your guests remember the most!

I hope you are inspired to plan your next party and know that you can Design with a Deadline if you start now. Want more party ideas and tips? Visit my New York Spaces Magazine Pinterest Board for tons more inspiration! Party on…

-Denise
 

Denise McGaha participated in Kravet's second annual Blogfest. New York Spaces offered five design bloggers the opportunity to submit a guest blog on our site. We cannot be more pleased with McGaha's post. Thank you, Denise McGaha for a wonderful post—just in time for Fourth of July celebrations!