Sarah Vickers, an entrepreneur and style blogger from Rhode Island, recently used Sunbrella fabrics to give her New England backyard a summertime refresh. The brains behind Classy Girls Wear Pearls and co-founder of Kiel James Patrick, Sarah lives in a colonial farmhouse built in 1815 with her husband, Kiel; their son, Harry; and four pets.
Sarah partnered with Sunbrella to outfit her newly renovated poolside patio area last fall, but for this year, Sarah notes, “This space was under construction all of last summer and I’m thrilled to be able to enjoy it all season this year.” This seasonal refresh has her pool patio ready for a long summer of family swims, cookouts, and outdoor movie nights.
Poolside Patio
The pool area is a favorite space for Sarah and her family. The renovation last year included a new fence, replacing the concrete with bluestone, and adding stairs going across the front of the pool. Custom cushions in Canvas Natural updated the existing pool chaise lounges.
For this summertime refresh, Sarah added Frontgate Tallulah Vine Fringed Indoor/Outdoor Pillows in Gingko and the Frontgate Solid Indoor/Outdoor Square Pillows in Moss to the pool loungers. This quick and easy pillow update brings in pops of fresh summer color, perfectly suited for the season ahead.
Cozy Outdoor Lounge
The poolside patio features three of Sarah’s must-have items. The Pottery Barn Raylan Teak Outdoor 78” Sofa and Pottery Barn Raylan Teak Outdoor Lounge Chair make a perfect space for guests to gather and relax. The Phoebe Scallop-Edge Patio Umbrella in Green Stripe from One Kings Lane serves as the focal point of the space and ties in all the green and white throw pillows on the sofa, namely the Thalia Fringed Indoor/Outdoor Pillow from Frontgate.
The green and white stripe is a theme in Sarah’s home decor, used throughout the pool patio area and her front porch, also outfitted with Sunbrella fabrics. “I’m really pleased with the summertime aesthetic of our pool patio,” she said, “from the classic teak furniture to the green and white color scheme combined with splashes of pink geraniums, roses, and petunias.”
Designing with Sunbrella
“White is always a bold color choice,” speaking of the sofa and lounge chair cushions, “but in this case, it was a good base to allow the striped umbrellas and throw pillows from Frontgate to pop.”
With two pups and a four-year-old, Sarah was initially hesitant to outfit the space in white. However, her experience with Sunbrella fabric put her mind at ease. “Sunbrella fabrics are always easy to clean whether you are dealing with muddy feet or a spilled drink. I maintain mine beautifully through quick touch ups or a light wash depending on how dirty they become.”
Family Dining Area
The patio dining area is a wonderful place for the family to enjoy dinner from the grill. Tying in perfectly with the lounge seating area, the dining area features white Sunbrella fabric seat cushions, namely the Pottery Barn Piped Outdoor Dining Chair Cushion.
Sarah and her family love enjoying pool days, pizza Friday nights, family cookouts, and dinners on the patio, making easy-to-clean Sunbrella fabric the perfect pairing for her outdoor space.
“While I love the wide range of beautiful fabric selections that Sunbrella offers, I especially love that each fabric is fade resistant. Our umbrellas, pillows, and cushions look just as vibrant as the very first day we brought them outdoors for the season. I love investing in furniture and decor that I know our family can enjoy for years to come.”
Advice from Sarah Vickers
Sarah’s tip for renovating a space? “For my poolside patio area, I thought about what I was looking for in terms of entertainment and comfort. I tried to get a sense of how I envisioned us living in the space and what furniture would make the most sense for us.”
Sarah’s family spends a lot of time outdoors and in the pool during the summer. This well-loved space is the perfect spot for them to enjoy one another as a family without worrying about stains, spills, sticky fingers, or muddy paws. “These are memories we will always cherish and hope that our son, Harry, will one day look back on.”
Discover Sunbrella
Looking for more inspiration for your outdoor living areas? Check out Sarah’s front porch makeover, more Designer Spotlights, or learn about Sunbrella for Outdoor Living.