Inside out: designer Kerry Joyce takes the fun outdoors with his pointers on how to party en plein air.(Designer's Top Ten)(Brief Article)

House Beautiful, May, 2005 by Joyce, Kerry

1 Create an outdoor room. Bring interior furniture outside. An overstuffed slipcovered sofa in the garden is unexpected and fun. A whimsical candle chandelier strung from a tree to hang over your dining table can be magical.

2 At the end of an afternoon party I look forward to the conversations that continue through dusk. Make sure to have supple, soft throws, coffee drinks, mellow music, and mood lighting--whatever it takes to entice your guests to stay.

3 Tiny non-blinking twinkle lights strung in trees are beautiful, but make sure you add a cord dimmer (hardware stores ...