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Light up your life
As warm-weather nights approach, outdoor-lighting options abound
BY GENEVIEVE RAJEWSKI

Although we’re enjoying more and more daylight these days, there’s still precious little left after working a full day. Fortunately, those greedy for more fresh air can cheat nature, thanks to outdoor lighting for all tastes and budgets.

Candles are the easiest and least-expensive way to bring light to deck railings or tabletops. Economy Hardware has a large selection, including coconut-scented candles in miniature coconut shells ($4.99), wine-colored mesh luminaria ($8.99), and green or blue glass mosaic tea-light lamps ($8.49). Meanwhile, Crate & Barrel offers Kobi lanterns ($16.95), blue glass Sanibel hurricanes ($9.25), and mesh globe lanterns ($5.95). C&B also has umbrella candles ($14.95/set of six), which come in a metal ring that will fit around a table’s umbrella base, and bistro lanterns ($4.95/small; $6.95/large), which look like jelly jars with metal loops for hanging.

String lights can help brighten your yard, your roof deck, or the underside of table umbrellas. At Economy Hardware, you’ll find Mission-style string lights with mesh or mica shades ($10.85 and $15.99, respectively). Crate & Barrel has strings of light-bulb lights ($12.95), while Restoration Hardware offers more formal Scarborough lantern string lights ($39) and Italy-inspired string lights with galvanized shades ($39 and $169).

If you’re seeking the ambiance of an outdoor living room, Restoration Hardware sells galvanized floor lamps ($159) and table lamps ($129); both have curved galvanized poles that won’t rust or tarnish. Restoration Hardware’s metal and frosted-glass Hamstead outdoor table lantern ($149) has all-weather wiring; leave it outside to let it weather to a deeper antique-bronze finish.

If you don’t have a deck or yard of your own, use lighting to bring the outdoors in. At Bread & Circus, you’ll find an Aunt Sadie’s " Fresh Cut Grass " candle tin ($12.24). Meanwhile, you can incorporate electric flora by choosing a floral paper lantern ($5.95) from Crate & Barrel, or flower-shaped string lights ($24) from Urban Outfitters. Lastly, mimic the night sky with a star-shaped paper lantern ($16) from Urban Outfitters or sparkle-star string lights ($10.85) from Economy Hardware.

Where to find it:

• Bread & Circus, various locations; www.breadandcircus.com.

• Crate & Barrel, various locations; www.crateandbarrel.com.

• Economy Hardware, 219 Mass Ave, Boston, (617) 536-4280; 438 Mass Ave, Cambridge, (617) 864-330.

• Restoration Hardware, various locations; www.restorationhardware.com.

• Urban Outfitters, 361 Newbury Street, Boston, (617) 236-0088; 11 JFK Street, Cambridge, (617) 864-0070; www.urbanoutfitters.com.



Issue Date: May 2 - 8, 2003


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