This copper-gold color is one of the most popular finishes Weber offers, but the name confusion can make it hard to find.

Although grills from Weber’s Genesis Collection also come in black, green, and stainless steel, the copper Weber Grills are in highest demand.

Weber Genesis Copper Gas Grills E-310, E-320 & E-330

Unlike a shed, a greenhouse adds warmth and brightness to your yard. Powered by solar energy, they are an energy-efficient alternative to indoor hydroponics and herb gardens.

Solexx Garden Master 8′ x 8′ Twin Walled Greenhouse

Solexx Lit’l Propagator Twin Walled Greenhouse

Even if you haven’t got a large outdoor living space, there are smaller products like the Solexx Lit’l Propagator Twin Walled Greenhouse (shown above) which can tuck into the back yards of townhomes and ground-level condominiums.

Solexx Deluxe Cold Frame at Cymax

Having a greenhouse in your back yard is handy whether you enjoy creating flower beds, honing your landscaping, or giving your vegetable garden a head start.
Serious gardeners will save money in the long run, cultivating seedlings at home, as opposed to purchasing seedlings from a garden store. The capacity to hand-craft seedlings also means that your selection of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and shrubs will increase dramatically.

Solexx material in particular is ideal for greenhouses, creating light-filled spaces that retain just the right amount of heat. Here’s a short video that describes how their siding is used:

We’re excited to share a selection of portable grills that will look great in your yard, but also pack up and go with ease.

We love the look of the Camp Chef Outdoor Camp Oven (shown top right) that captures the feeling of a full-size stainless steel range, sized right for portability. Just imagine how nice it would be to bake in the summer without heating your indoor kitchen? Or how about fresh muffins on your next camping trip?

Other portable products – like the Weber gas grills on sale at CS Grills – are a great choice if you’re looking for a budget-friendly grill that delivers the quality of a brand you trust. Selection ranges from the more economical Go-Anywhere model up to the Q 220 with extra shelving either side.

Back in April, we shared our picks for charcoal grills, including the Fire Sense HotSpot Notebook Charcoal Portable Grill (shown bottom right) which also happens to be a very attractive, highly portable grill.

But did you know that gold Weber grills are actually copper Weber grills? Either way, we love the finish!

Read more and browse the selection of copper Weber grills at CS Grills.

It’s a great idea, enjoying what you already own. But if your home or back yard doesn’t have the relaxing space you need to really take advantage of your break time, the stay-cation can fall short in the fulfillment category.

So this summer, we’ve got a new twist on stay-cations. We’re sharing design ideas that bring the resort to your home, full-time. Invest in a new back yard sanctuary and have a mini stay-cation anytime weather permits.

These popular pieces from Padma’s Plantation can turn even the most bland back yard into a lavish resort in a few quick steps.

Padma’s Plantation Outdoor Haven Lounge in Bark

Padma’s Plantation Outdoor Bay Harbor Bar in Bark

Landmann USA Black Dog 42XT Charcoal Grill with Offset Firebox in Black

Landmann USA Round Rock 36 Inch Charcoal Grill with Rotisserie in Black

RV enthusiasts and campers may prefer the portability of smaller grills, as well as the rich flavor of charcoal. Enjoy barbecued meals your way, even while you travel.

Fire Sense HotSpot Notebook Charcoal Portable Grill

The options are many, from adding a few patio chairs to a totally new outdoor room. Choose a contemporary piece or two. Or look for distinctive themed designs.

Outdoor Great Room Company Ebony Chair

Poly-Wood SeaShell Adirondack Chair

If you decide on a bigger change, outdoor dining sets vary in size and can really recreate your space.

Zuo Myrtle Outdoor Table and Bench Set

Vifah Vista 7 Piece Dining Set

If you’re looking for a different, trendy background accessory this new season, why not consider getting an outdoor bar. Nothing quite says ultimate luxury like having your own personal backyard bar, not to mention the convenience of entertaining guests. Having an outside bar makes it easier to host, even if you’re serving something as simple as lemonade.

Surprisingly, there are durable stools, such has Howard Miller bar stools, that are available specifically to surpass Mother Nature’s hardships. Weather proof, modern, bar stools can add a whole new contemporary look to your backyard and give it that tropical, relaxing, resort environment that puts everyone in awe. If you have a pool, even better! Your bar can overlook your whole yard and the crystal blue water for a great view. Your bar stool can also be used as a spot to watch over your kids as they swim.

You can get outdoor bar stools that match your current patio furniture or go with neutral, all black bar stools that match everything. If unsure of what color to get, you can always rely on black, especially when it comes to outside messes and spillage that can happen to your furniture. Nevertheless, a bar is the perfect piece for getting the most out of the great outdoors.

Outdoor Great Room Company Woven Resin Wicker Swivel Bar Stool Set of 2

We are planning on installing a wooden privacy fence. Our issue – Cypress or Pine? If we go with Cypress then we would stain it. If we go with Pine then we would paint it a deep chocolate brown to match our doors and shutters. The Pine is the option that I am leaning too but have searched for “painted wooden privacy fences” and found none other than white picket fences. We have been riding around neighborhoods for months looking for someone with a painted fence and nobody has one. I don’t care for the stain because in time it has a grey “ugly” look to it. I think the painted would look good and everything would match but why am I the only one thinking this way??? Please help – need your advice.

Design Question

That’s good that you have done your “homework;” you don’t want to do something to your property that is going to strike a jarring note with what is going on in the rest of the neighborhood. By the same token, you don’t want to be the same as everyone else.

I don’t know what type of wood it was, but the backyard fence of the family home I grew up in was chocolate brown. And we were the only ones on our street to have a brown fence; as you mentioned already, the popular color choice for wood fences appears to be white.

I’m sure you have checked it out already, but I do know that some cities have by-laws that dictate how high the fence can be; I’m not aware of any by-laws that state or limit the types of materials used in building and/or painting a privacy fence. If you haven’t already, you might want to check the local by-laws just to see if the fence you are planning to build will meet all pertinent codes.

Some people like that “gray” weathered look cedar attains over time; it’s a matter of personal preference. I say you go with what you like – as long as your privacy fence isn’t breaking any by-laws and looks good to you, I would go with the pine/chocolate brown paint combo.

I hope this has been helpful. Let me know how it turns out. Come back next week when I will answer another one of your design questions. Don’t forget to keep sending them to; just remember to send one per email.

You may think it’s too small to do something with, but it isn’t. Anything that can add to the esthetics of your living space contributes to your overall well-being, whether you’re conscious of it or not. Even if the balcony is so narrow that you only have room for two or three earthen pots and a couple of planters, the view will be greatly improved when you look out the window. Whether there is room to spare or there is not, use the following three well-known principles of interior design to create an outdoor space that will help you enjoy summer that much more.

• Function – What function or role will the balcony play in your life? If it is to relax and watch the world go by, you will need some kind of seating. Will you also need some type of shade? If you intend on entertaining friends you will definitely want to add a table. Or if the balcony is more Juliet than spacious, a set of outdoor nesting tables would be the ideal solution. But if you want your balcony as place to grow flowers and herbs, or even vegetables, then you will require more planters and plant stands than you will outdoor furniture pieces.
• Mood – Creating a mood for your balcony might be as easy as adding soft outdoor lighting like a lantern or candle holders specifically designed for outdoor use. Wind chimes are another great way to give your balcony ambiance, and of course, so is a fountain.
• Harmony – Here harmony refers to how all of the other design elements on your balcony work together.

Dress the space you have. Whether it’s long or short, a narrow balcony realistically limits your options, but it doesn’t eliminate them entirely. A grouping of three differently sized planters creates a focal point. A small fountain or water feature will accomplish the same thing while creating a sense of tranquility even in the busiest of urban environments. Do you look at your balcony and bemoan the fact that you can’t sit outside to enjoy the scenery? You might not have room for a standard size patio chair but how about a patio cube or a compact yet stylish stool like the Vifah Graden Black Hardwood Seat Stool?

Even when the balcony is roomy enough for a bistro table and chairs, you might opt for a cleaner, spare look that has an ultra modern vibe. On the other hand, you might be the type of person that enjoys overflowing planters on fire with riotous color. The choice is yours. The important thing to keep in mind when decorating a balcony is to make it functional, practical and appealing to you.