Last week I visited a friend's home and was delighted to see we shared a passion for Trina Turk's magnificent indoor/outdoor fabrics. They are colorful, exotic and bold - but incredibly tasteful. It's not an easy balance to achieve but the talented Mrs. Turk has this mastered. The patio in question was outfitted with my very favorite of Trina's color palettes: the royal blue & teal combo. I favor this combo because it absolutely begs you to dip your toes in the pool. It epitomizes that refreshing summer vibe and really sets the tone for unwinding with friends. It was such a pleasure to see that my very stylish friend had indeed created an outdoor oasis that was as tranquil as it was thrilling.

With all of the new textiles on the market beauty and durability are no longer mutually exclusive. You can have both. You should have both. And savvy moms are making maximum use of these all-weather fabrics indoors as much as out. Little ones with dirty fingers? Husband with a predilection for red wine? These incredible fabrics can handle every challenge you can dish out. Between Trina's colorful options and my beloved Sunbrella velvets I'm in designer heaven - and you should be too.

More to come on those sexy velvets later. In the meantime, get your lemonade ready... summer is coming!

{Images via Schumacher}