Summertime in Colorado comes pretty close to perfection—particularly for the aspiring hostess in me. There’s a casualness to this time of year that makes throwing a party as easy as string lights, roses from the garden, and farmers’ market peaches. At our house, the wicker outdoor sofa becomes an extension of the family room (far, far away from the television), and pretty much all our cooking happens on the grill.

As I flip through this edition of 5280 Home, I can’t help but get even more excited for summer. We look inside two new garden and home-decor stores where you can find gorgeous accessories for entertaining (“A New Leaf,” page 32, and “Eclectic Treasures,” page 44). Denver Dirty Girls—a mother-and-daughter gardening duo—teaches us how to put together container gardens for the front stoop (“Perfectly Contained,” page 36). The florist-owner of Bloom by Anuschka in Cherry Creek plans an easy and whimsical summer fete (“Party Tricks,” page 40). And in “Classic Beauty” (page 72), we peek inside a perfectly appointed Cherry Hills home where the colors of the season (green, ivory, chocolate brown) rule.

I’m hoping you, too, will feel inspired to get outside and entertain. With a Front Range summer setting the scene—and a new issue of 5280 Home on the coffee table—you can’t go wrong.

This article was originally published in 5280 Home Summer 2013.
Cheryl Meyers
Cheryl Meyers
Cheryl Meyers is a contributing writer to 5280 Home, which means she gets to spend her days writing about Colorado’s most beautiful indoor spaces.