Tag Archives: Outdoor Spaces Minneapolis MN

Need a Break? Take a Picnic!

The Ultimate Picnic Guide - Sanctuary Home Decor

Photo Credit: sanctuaryhomedecor.com

Summer is a season of hustle and bustle, especially if you are buying or selling a home! Maybe it would do you good to take a moment to rest – take a break from all the efforts you’ve been putting towards your move – and take an afternoon or evening to stop, breath and reflect. What better way to rest and reset than with a picnic! Grab your partner, loved ones, and/or friends, and share a meal with the great outdoors! Take time to honor the home your leaving and show gratitude for your next adventure. Celebrate, remember, and most importantly, enjoy!

PICNIC BASKETS

It wouldn’t be a picnic without a cute basket, would it? Here are two of our faves!

The Summer Breeze Wine and Cheese Picnic Basket at Target is perfect for a sunset with wine and charcuterie.

Summerbreeze Wine and Cheese Picnic Basket - Picnic Time, image 2 of 11 slides

Photo Credit: Target.com

Summerbreeze Wine and Cheese Picnic Basket - Picnic Time, image 4 of 11 slides

Photo Credit: Target.com

Looking to fill your own, classic basket? We love the Granada Picnic Basket from Williams Sonoma, and it’s traditional checkered fabric, available in three colors!

Alt image 1 for Granada Picnic Basket

Photo Credit: williams-sonoma.com

Alt image 16 for Granada Picnic Basket

Photo Credit: williams-sonoma.com

PICNIC SERVICES

If you’re not up to the effort of packing your own picnic, but love the idea of a relaxing meal outside, search for a local picnic service to take on the setup for you! In the Greater Twin Cities area, you can find luxury picnic companies like Pillows and Prosecco or Pepper Sprout Picnics who will prepare a deluxe experience, catered to your liking, and all you have to do is show up – what a treat!

Photo Credit: peppersproutpicnics.com

PICNIC IDEAS

Head to a lakeside beach, into a forest, or even to music and movies in the park! Or even better, if you can’t get away, make a memory in your own backyard. The hope is to be with people you care about, making memories and taking a moment to be grateful and calm. Happy picnic-ing!

Donate Now | Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association

Photo Credit: Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association

Guest Blogger: Katya Larsen, Stager, A Home Revival

Embrace Your Outdoor Space!

Photo Credit: M&CO

You heard it here first, it’s summer here in Minnesota! That means it’s the ultimate opportunity to make use of your outdoor spaces. Plant an herb garden, set up the patio furniture and fire table, hang the café lights, and you’re set for a season of outdoor relaxation and fun!

In our home, we believe in being hospitable, not entertaining, so our goal is to create a warm, comforting space for guests, and to provide easy, tasty food and drinks. We want to avoid spending too much time cleaning, preparing and cooking (because we have two littles and don’t have the time anyways!), but we love to spend time with friends and family, and doing so outside is just perfect!

Here are a few of our favorite summertime, outdoor-friendly recipes. Add a couple of bags of tortilla chips and you’re all set for an afternoon, outdoor hang!

Cowboy Caviar by the New York Times

Two-Minute Avocado Dip by Pinch of Yum

Minted Lemonade by the Food Network

Caprese Salad by the Pioneer Woman

What are your favorite summer recipes? We’d love to hear! Email us at katya@ahomerevival.com

Guest Blogger: Katya Larsen, Stager, A Home Revival

Outdoor Spaces When You Are Selling Your Home

It’s finally summer and with the brutal winter that occurred throughout most of the upper Midwest and beyond, people want to be outside. When working with sellers, one of the things I advise them on during a Home Staging Consultation is to treat almost any outdoor living space as additional square footage.

I know it is not counted towards the square footage total in valuing your home, but many buyers gravitate towards the outdoor spaces and you need to give them priority.

Whether it is a deck, patio, screened in porch or front porch, they all need to be addressed.

With a front porch it is the first thing the buyer sees and it creates such a homey, cozy spot that they can see themselves enjoying quiet time with a cup of tea or a book and watching the world go by. wicker-furniture-on-the-patio-with-a-samovar

If it is a back deck or patio it invites them to spend a balmy summer night barbecuing with friends, making s’mores with kids or taking a nap.

outdoor dining table

These areas should have flowers but also furniture. A dining table perhaps, chairs for gathering, and don’t forget the throw pillows!! Outdoor throw pillows can be purchased anywhere for very little dollars and they add fun, zest and ambiance.

Okay okay you don’t need as many as me. LOL

Outdoor Throw Pillows

Take a look at your outdoor space and get it in top selling condition along with the rest of your home; and don’t forget to keep it spider and cobweb free. 🙂

Outdoor chairs