String Lights
I’m a sucker for string lights both indoors and out. I just find them completely irresistible. One of the prettiest spaces I’ve seen that’s decorated with string lights is the rooftop at the Gramercy Park Hotel:
The food’s not bad but it’s the atmosphere that makes it so special.
And my other favorite spot is Freemans which is also in New York:
It’s been years but I still think that entrance at the end of an alley is one of the cutest in the entire city.
I’ve always fantasized about having a garden all lit up by hundreds of lights. The closest I ever got was wrapping a tree at our last house like this:
But what I’ve always had in mind is something more like this:
No, no one’s getting married in our backyard but we don’t need a reason to make things more festive, right?
The tricky part about string lights, of course, is the wiring. The part of our garden that I want to light up is not close to the house or any electrical outlet and I don’t want a huge cord running all the way across the yard.
But I recently stumbled on these solar string lights from Grandin Road:
I also found these on a site called LampLust:
They’re nylon and supposed to be okay outdoors year round but I don’t know if I trust that.
Anyway, they’re both so much cuter than the usual solar lighting so I’m thinking about giving one of them a try. Have you tried any solar lights? Do you have any recommendations?
So what fun things do you have planned for this first weekend of summer? We’ve got back to back concerts (including Norah Jones – love her!) and other than that, I’m looking forward to relaxing at home with the pups before we hit the road next week. Have a good one and I’ll see you all Monday!
(Photos: 1, 5-9.via Pinterest as linked 2-3.Gramercy Park Hotel 4.Freemans)
we’re soul sisters on this one. we went to an outdoor party a few weeks ago and the lights (strung casually from tree limbs) were one of the great elements. gonna pin a few of these, thanks. donna
I absolutely love that shot of Freemans. What a romantic setting. And at the end of an alley? Perfect. Had to pin that one, but excellent collection.
Completely agree – lights make a garden magical. But I am afraid I have not had good experiences with solar lights. They are usually far too dim (unless you live in a tropical climate, I suppose, so they can charge up well during the daylight hours) and do not create a cosy atmosphere, but a rather cold, bleak blue light. I have put candles in little containers (even in coloured paper bags – although you have to be careful with that, of course!) and dotted them all around the garden paths. That looked far more natural and cosy.
I so miss having a garden just for putting the lanterns out each night! But love the fairy lights as well. Have a great time at the Norah Jones concert–whoa! Very fun!
these are missing in my life – ireally think i should get onto that before summer gets here! x
I actually wouldn’t reccomend solar string lights. I used them outside this past Christmas and they just don’t get as bright as plug ins even though my spot charged all day in full sun. You loose some of that sparkle factor. I was kinda disappointed. You can give them a try, and maybe a larger bulb would work better.