Planning a very large backyard picnic, I need tables but don't want to buy or rent, any creative ideas?

outdoor bistro table image

professor

I have 1 picnic table, 2 bistro's, 2 8x10 folding tables and a card table. I have plenty of chairs and benches. There may be about 60 people, so far I have seating for 30. I have asked people to bring lawn chairs and blankets because I am planning an outdoor movie night. The problem with rentals is the pick-up and return. Hope you can help!

Answer
Go to a "resale" shop and get some used flat doors for a couple of dollars each. With saw horses, these make really good "tables." Modern saw-horses fold for pretty compact storage. You can re-donate the doors if you have no other use for them. They also store pretty easily.

Plywood works,but be sure to get a thick enough grade that the sheet will be stiff supported only on the ends, or invest in a saw-horse to put in the middle, too.

Look around your home for options, too. What can you take outside for use? Take the drawers out of desks and chests of drawers, and cover with butcher paper or sheets for "table cloths." People can sit on an otoman. No law says you can't take actual furniture outside if the weather is good-- you might want to put "bags" on the legs of furniture to keep damp from the lawn out. These options require you have someone to help move furniture, though...that may be difficult to arrange if you are on your own..

Another option - your church might be able to lend you tables for a small donation, and they might even be able to help you with the pick-up and return.

How to make my small apartment porch less plain?

luvalwyz

I have a first floor apartment. The porch is small with a glass door. Which connects the porch to our living room. Other than that no windows. We are not aloud to plant flowers in the ground. Our porch is made of cement, and right in front of the cement is mulch and stepping stones to our porch. We have two plastic chairs, and a plastic table. I want our porch to be more inviting and less boring. What could I do?! We want this to be fairly cheap.

Answer
The plant idea and flowers is a good one. Maybe, if money allows, a little bistro set with wrought iron legs would look nice. A small colorful outdoor rug under the table and something like an outdoor butterfly candle holder on the table would warm it up. Maybe some small outdoor pillows for the chairs or cushions. Something unique like a large metal water can by the door with a plant or flowers in it. A hook with a hanging plant or chimes. A large pot with a tree in one corner. Just throwing ideas out there, hope it helped.

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What great places/ restaurants are there in San Diego area?

outdoor bistro table image

Jennifer

Me and some friends are planning on spending the weekend in San Diego and will be visiting the zoo and the Wild Animal Park. In the evenings, we want to have a good time and visit some nice places in San Diego. Does anyone know of some great restaurants and other places we can visit? Does anyone have any suggestions/ comments about the zoo and wild animal park also? Thanks in advance for your help!

Answer
Both the zoo and the Wild Animal Park are great.

I'd recommend driving to the top of Mt. Soledad in La Jolla for a panoramic view of the coastline and the city skyline.

Georges Outdoor Terrace Bistro in La Jolla has the best view. Make reservations so that you are at a good table and time it so you are dining during the sunset. It's truly spectacular.

Also...have a bonfire on the beach. Roast marshmallows.

For more info on these and other San Diego things visit http://www.sandiego-romantics.com

HOW do I decorate my room, for cheap?

brandihoo

Im about to move into an apt, and my room is a large, square space with nothing on the walls and outdated carpet.. its basically empty and void of decor.. how can i make it simple, fun and pleasant to inhabit, for cheap? Im open to wild suggestions, I'm even considering a tent, or some kind of silly theme

Answer
Backgrounds first.

If you aren't permitted to paint your walls (paint is nearly magical in its affect on a room) you can tack large-prints bedspreads or 'glue' them on with liquid starch to your walls. . It won't harm the walls and can be washed off. You don't have to do every wall-make one wall the focal point.

Get an area rug. This will anchor the furniture in that area (like a conversational grouping of chairs/sofa).

Establish a focal point. If you already have one built in, like a fireplace or a window with a great view then build around that. If not, create one with a large piece of art or a poster. A lot of rooms with nice furnishings seem to wander because they don't have a focal point.

Bring in a mirror, especially effective opposite a window. It will reflect the light.

Get everything on the cheap by going secondhand. Thrift stores, garage sales, consignment shops,newpaper ads and off the curb. I have found mirrors, armoires, round metal dining tables, carousel style horses and other treasures by the side of the road. Another advantage is the quality of older pieces will be better. Most new dressers you purchase will be a piece of junk. The back of the piece, the backs of the drawers, and sometimes even the sides of the drawers will be cheap composition board. The sides and fronts will be particle board. This counts for more expensive pieces also. I used to sell $3000.00 bedroom sets and when a corner chipped off a bed I was stunned to find pressed wood under the beautiful veneer. If you buy a dresser from the seventies or older, chances are it will be all wood (including the back and all the sides of the drawers) and possibly have dovetail drawer construction.

Don't look at a piece for what it is. See it for what it can be. Like the shape? Paint it. Want a purple dresser? Paint it. Use an outdoor bistro table for your dining set. Think outside the box.

Have patience. You won't find everything all at once. Allow yourself time to build it. Go to the library and look through shelter (interior design) magazines for inspiration. The more you expose yourself to this the more you will develop your taste and see what is available beyond what you grew up with.

New retail: Go with Target for the cool stuff. They are on the cutting edge of colors and design and a good source for basic furnishings (kitchen and accessories.) Walmart is white Corningware with a blue cornflower design. Target is the newest colors in a modern shape.

Have fun.

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Planning a very large backyard picnic, I need tables but don't want to buy or rent, any creative ideas?

outdoor bistro table image

professor

I have 1 picnic table, 2 bistro's, 2 8x10 folding tables and a card table. I have plenty of chairs. There may be about 60 people, so far I have seating for 30. I have asked people to bring lawn chairs and blankets because I am planning an outdoor movie night. The problem with rentals is the pick-up and return. Hope you can help!

Answer
I was featured in the Chicago Sun Times in 1999 for my creative Thanksgiving ideas including using a door as a table!

All you need is your card table and a flat panel door (lightweight is best). Take the door offf the hinges and remove all of the hardware. Set the door directly on the card table, centered. Cover it with your table cloth of choice. Just make sure people on the ends know that they can't lean on it to get up.

An 8 foot door should seat 9 or 10 people. If you have friends who can donate 2 more card tables and you have 2 more doors, you can get the rest of your guests seated!

Have fun!

Planning a very large backyard picnic, I need tables but don't want to buy or rent, any creative ideas?

professor

I have 1 picnic table, 2 bistro's, 2 8x10 folding tables and a card table. I have plenty of chairs and benches. There may be about 60 people, so far I have seating for 30. I have asked people to bring lawn chairs and blankets because I am planning an outdoor movie night. The problem with rentals is the pick-up and return. Hope you can help!

Answer
Go to a "resale" shop and get some used flat doors for a couple of dollars each. With saw horses, these make really good "tables." Modern saw-horses fold for pretty compact storage. You can re-donate the doors if you have no other use for them. They also store pretty easily.

Plywood works,but be sure to get a thick enough grade that the sheet will be stiff supported only on the ends, or invest in a saw-horse to put in the middle, too.

Look around your home for options, too. What can you take outside for use? Take the drawers out of desks and chests of drawers, and cover with butcher paper or sheets for "table cloths." People can sit on an otoman. No law says you can't take actual furniture outside if the weather is good-- you might want to put "bags" on the legs of furniture to keep damp from the lawn out. These options require you have someone to help move furniture, though...that may be difficult to arrange if you are on your own..

Another option - your church might be able to lend you tables for a small donation, and they might even be able to help you with the pick-up and return.

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