We Found Inspiration for Furnishing Your Backyard in Our Favorite Summer Movies
Everything in our roundup of the latest accoutrements for your patio came from the films we insist are warm weather classics. (Yes, even "Blue Crush.")
Everything in our roundup of the latest accoutrements for your patio came from the films we insist are warm weather classics. (Yes, even "Blue Crush.")
Beads of sweat and warm night winds. Smoke from the grill, the rip-roar of ice in a blender, and the sweet, sweet taste of turning on your out-of-office for a week or two. Summer’s (almost) here, and we’re getting ready by watching some of our favorite sun-soaked movies. In case your old lawn chairs are no longer compelling or your patio has lost the plot, we took some inspiration from a selection of what we think are classic summer films and found a few new outdoor accoutrements that will bring a cinematic atmosphere to your backyard.
Blue Crush
Picture this: Foamy waves tumble across white-sand beaches as you catch your crush’s gaze for just a little too long. No Doubt is blaring out of your radio, and Britney is hand-in-hand with Justin on the covers of all your favorite magazines. It’s 2002, and there are no higher stakes than in the world of sun, surf, and teenage infatuation.
But if you’re landlocked and loveless, no sweat. Bold colors and blocky lines transform any outdoor area into a piece of paradise fit for a flirty, fleeting fling. Splurge on a wavy teal Tupelo Goods chair or a radiant, canary-yellow sun lounger from MoMA. Let your rash guard dry in the sun while you sit next to a hot-pink side table from Heller and rest on one of Sferra’s extra-large terry-cloth beach towels. Just don’t forget your sunblock—Dune’s award-winning gel has got you covered. Soon you’ll be all set for a summertime romp in the sun. Just remember: It’s just a little crush.
Get the look:
Amigo Outdoor Lounge Chair with Sun Shield
MoMA Exclusive: No sun hat, no worries. This Amigo Outdoor Lounge Chair features an adjustable shade panel to protect your head or upper body. The backrest has three positions for reading or leaning back for sunbathing and relaxing. The chair’s comfortable high-tech fabric is weatherproof and UV-resistant.
Line Lounge Chair by Tupelo
With a modern silhouette that stuns, the Line Lounge Chair and Ottoman add an inviting respite to any patio, pool, or baja shelf. Made of a premium polyethylene resin, this chair is as durable as it is beautiful.
Peanut Coffee Table Lavastone by Uchronia
Platform enameled in washing stone in shades of orang-white-pink is set on a concrete base. Made in France.
Wet Hot American Summer
Enamel plates, mosquito nets, and a dinner bell ringing off in the distance. Where are we going? We’re off to summer camp. School’s out, and we’re ready to kick it full-time with a healthy dose of absurdist 1970s and ’80s nostalgia. I’m talking s’mores and short-shorts. I’m talking card games and Mitch, a can of mixed vegetables dispensing wisdom to Christopher Meloni. It’s going to be hot, it’s going to be wet, and it’s going to be a summer we won’t forget.
But if you want your backyard to evoke camp without being too campy, you can capture a grown-up version of the vibe with a bench from Fritz Hansen or an elegantly utilitarian pendant lamp from Fermob.
Want to go all the way this year? It’s all in the details: Add a pair of Nocs binoculars, a Crow Canyon mug, or a bell from Schoolhouse.
Get the look:
Riviera Lounge Bench by Fritz Hansen
The Riviera Lounge Bench (1992) is an outdoor classic that’s also quietly revolutionary. This versatile, multifunctional outdoor piece can expand to serve as a lounge chair with side table, a sofa, or a flat sunbed. It was created in collaboration with Danish designer Povl B. Eskidsen, a trained architect whose thoughtful pieces champion form and function. Made from solid teak, the lounge will develop a soft-gray patina if left to age naturally outdoors.
Polson Teak Side Table by Rejuvenation
Complete your patio, porch, or balcony with our Polson Side Table. Designed with a deluxe, oversized form and slatted surface, Polson is crafted from Grade A FSC®-certified teak that is naturally resistant to light, heat, and moisture.
Material Studies Rugosa Lounge Chair by Kalon
The Material Studies Rugosa Lounge Chair is an indoor-outdoor chair made from powder-coated aluminum and GreenGuard Certified, outdoor-rated textiles. The elegant, pared down silhouettes of Rugosa’s original designs have been adapted in slender, reflective metal. A vibrant palette, including oxblood, lapis and lime white, both celebrate and contrast the textures and hues of the natural landscape. Designed to ensure rugged durability in a variety of climates including the seaside and desert, and equally at home in interior spaces, these pieces exude a joyful sophistication.
Something’s Gotta Give
See the full story on Dwell.com: We Found Inspiration for Furnishing Your Backyard in Our Favorite Summer Movies
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