JANUARY 2021 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 55
STEP OUTSIDE
THE PARTY’S HOT, HOT, HOT
BY ARLENE GROSS
Though Covid-19 is on the rise, it
won’t quash your desire to entertain
friends and family. To gather
together safely at your home, take a
few steps to create a lovely, socially
distanced space, protected from the
elements and frigid winter temps.
Outdoor living spaces are great in
winter when protected under the
roof of a covered patio or pergola,
says interior decorator Jodi Dell,
of Southampton-based Jodi Dell
Designs.
“When your living space is covered,
it’s easy to add ceiling-mounted electric
patio heaters into your design
as they are nonobtrusive, and when
paired with a fire pit or fireplace
you can quickly create warmth,”
says Dell..
For a warm hardscape, Dell uses
cozy wood furnishings with soft,
weather-resistant upholstery.
“Using teak outdoor furniture in
silhouettes similar to that of indoor
furniture, like a sectional sofa or
comfy club chairs with custom upholstered
cushions and pillows, are
great ways to achieve comfort and
warmth,” Dell says.
LAYER YOUR LANDSCAPE
As you spend more hours outdoors,
you’ll want to consider designing
your landscape for year-round
entertaining, says Ken Muellers,
senior landscape designer at Hicks
Nurseries of Westbury.
“In the winter, you want to be in a
protected spot that’s blocked from
the wind, but in the sun, to get that
little bit of warmth from the sun,”
says Muellers, adding that you’ll
want a blend of evergreens for protection
as well as deciduous plantings
that lose their leaves and allow
the sun to shine through.
“A lot of times you want to situate
your evergreens more towards the
northwest quadrant of the landscape
where they’ll block those winter
winds better,” says Muellers.
“I also like to incorporate planters
filled with plants that thrive in cold
weather,” adds Dell.
If done properly, you can plant well
into the winter, though local nurseries
might be short on stock in the
off-season; the ground is often frozen
and some plants, like Skip laurel
hedges, which offer year-round
screening, won’t survive a winter
planting, advises Muellers.
Muellers recommends winter-blooming
flowers like witch hazel, and
hellebore and holly bushes, which
bear beautiful crimson berries.
TAKE COVER
Whether you want to cover your
patio or deck from the rain or sun
or both, retractable awnings can
be used all year, notes John Biondo,
owner of Long Island Retractable
Awnings of Babylon.
“In a light rain or even a medium
rain, they could still have a party
of 25 people in the backyard underneath
the awning,” says Biondo,
noting that the awnings are made of
acrylic, go up to 40 feet wide and 14
feet deep, and can be attached to any
kind of house or roof surface.
“It’s obviously waterproof and comes
with a 10-year warranty, although it
holds up for around 20, 25 years,”
says Biondo.
An awning can also come with an
optional wind sensor, which, in the
event of high winds, will automatically
close up the awning.
“It adds a lot of living space to the
house. You can put your party outside
in the broad sunlight as well as
a light rain,” says Biondo, adding that
awnings are not recommended for a
heavy snow load.
INSIDE JOB
Photo by Ken Muellers
Light the fire
pit to warm up
your guests
Deepcushioned
chairs will keep
you comfy and
cozy
Patio covering
protects you from
the elements
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
