Flower Garden Gate

Glamour, romance, and a magical atmosphere - all terms that come to mind when one thinks of caf s lined up along the sidewalks in Paris, packed with people looking for that unique French experience. Whether you've been to one yourself or have only imagined going, you can re-create the highlights of a Parisian sidewalk caf in your own backyard, front yard, or even small spaces like balconies. Even if you've only got a patch of dirt outside your door, you'll find that it's easy to put together a romantic caf setting with minimal effort.

If you've already got a deck, concrete slab, or other type of outdoor flooring, you're off to a great start. Otherwise, consider laying down an outdoor rug, some stepping stones or pavers (all found at any home and garden superstore) to set the scene. Then, you'll need a table and chairs - a bistro set is the perfect solution. Bistro sets normally come with a round table and two to four chairs, perfect for an intimate meal or coffee break. For a personal touch, you can purchase bistro tables separately and pair them with benches, bar stools or whatever seating strikes your fancy. You'll get the most authentic Parisian-looking effect with wrought iron or other metal designs.

Next, choose lighting that will lend a romantic ambiance - candles and garden torches are wonderful choices. One creative and beautiful lighting solution is to wind a string of white lights around a garden trellis, placed in the ground or in a planter. Plant some ivy or flowering vines around the base, and soon you'll have a stunning custom piece with a designer look. Tabletop garden torches, European style patio lamps and planter lamps can also provide a touch of Paris.

Now comes the really fun part: decorating! Nothing makes more of an impression for any outdoor space than gorgeous, colorful plants. Window boxes spilling over with trailing foliage or flowers, topiaries, climbing vines, and multihued plants in ceramic pots will go a long way in providing beauty and atmosphere. If your caf area is covered, you may want to hang a few French tapestries, black and white photos of Parisian landmarks, vintage posters or other artwork on the walls. Colored glass bottles, elegant cloth napkins, and a chalkboard menu are lovely, inexpensive finishing touches - you can create your own chalkboard menu using a regular children's chalkboard and a picture frame. A great way to display your potted plants, glass bottles and other decorative accents is on an outdoor baker's rack. To top it all off, get an outdoor fountain to hang on the wall, sit on a shelf, or place among the plants in your garden - it will provide a relaxing flowing water sound.

Once your little piece of Paris is complete, all you'll need is some sparkling water, delicious food, and good company to enjoy it all with. You'll find yourself wanting to sit there every day of the year for meals, entertaining, nighttime cocktails or just to relax. To make the process of creating your caf setting even easier, look to an online home and garden resource such as SpecialtyLiving, which has a high quality selection of most of the items mentioned.

Stephanie Gottschalk writes the blogs 'Picnic Fun - Tips and Recipes' () and 'The Joy of Water Fountains' () for Specialty Living Inc., an Asheville, North Carolina-based company that aims to share their love of people, nature and life through high quality water fountains and picnic baskets.