Photos by Chad Chisholm, Custom Creations
You have plans to play host amongst Mother Nature and your favorite company on the patio; we have the flourish to set a playful, slightly polished scene—plus seven tips from the masterminds behind Affair with Flair that will make putting everything together that much easier. Prepare for pride of place.
Patricia Spratt for the Home floral tablecloth, $124, and geometric tablecloth, $110; Costa Nova Riviera Alchemille leaf plates, $23 each, Riviera charger plates, $38 each, Riviera soup/pasta plates, starting at $21 each, Riviera “vanilla” napkin, $20; Deborah Rhodes New York navy placemat, $18, rattan charger, $20, and white poppy napkin ring, $19; hammered highball glass, $17; hammered stemless glass, $16; Provence white flatware, $66 for 20-piece set, all at T is for Table 
Patricia Spratt for the Home geometric placemats, $20 each, and Rain napkins, $12 each; Deborah Rhodes New York blue and white round placemats, $26 each; Marine marble and wood boards, $70 each; Bijou navy napkin rings, $18 each; Provence white flatware, $66 for 20-piece set, all at T is for Table; silver candle holder, $36; candles, $3.99 each; fresh spray, $3.00, all at Sorelle Home and Lifestyles 
Fireplace furniture, furniture cushions and umbrella, owner’s own; pillows, Seaside Collection rug, Heavenly Hike artwork, Raut dining set and green and white candles all at Veranda Blue, contact store for pricing, Lone Tree, 303.799.9339; Flower arrangements and accompanying vases by Sorelle Home and Lifestyles, Greenwood Village, 303.593.1539; Patricia Spratt for the Home tablecloths; tableware; and Viterra Lava Earth Tones vases, $145 large and $120 small, all at T is for Table, Centennial, 303.347.9988
BIG HELPERS
Leslie Heins and Lisa Cook of Cherry Hills Village’s Affair with Flair know how to throw a great party. They have been orchestrating renowned celebrations for more than 30 years. Here, how they plan to have a good time.
HAVE A RAIN, SNOW & HIGH-TEMP. STRATEGY.
“We all know Colorado weather is crazy. Create an outdoor party room that covers you from the elements with a tent, umbrella, pergola, etc. It’s not just about rain and snow, it’s about shielding the sun and staying cool.”
KEEP THE BUGS AT BAY.
“Put a cap on your glass or opt for patio glasses that come with lids. A festive idea that isn’t completely foolproof, but can certainly help, is to cover the top of your glass with a slice of citrus complimentary to the drink (e.g., a protective slice of lemon for lemonade). Citronella candles are, obviously, a big help.”
LET THERE BE LIGHT.
“Lighting is very important and has to be balanced; a lighting designer can make things just right. In terms of trends, string lighting is still popular. But those strings now have different bulb shapes outside of Edison bulbs, like round multi-colored orbs or metallic gold-leafed vases.”
SET UP IN STATIONS.
“You can have a bug spray and sunscreen station, create a charcuterie board station that runs the length of a table using a big wood board and make a s’mores station with multiple stoves.”
STEP UP YOUR GAMES.
“These parties are all about the experience, so you want to make it fun! Turn your yard, for example, into a life-size chess game, stencil or paint a Twister board on the grass or make your own oversized Jenga tower by cutting two-by-fours.”
BREAK THE ICE.
“Make an icebreaker game out of seat assignments. Create place cards with numbers and have guests draw where they sit to mix people up.”
Affair with Flair
303.770.2200