Before it gets too hot to stay outside for long, consider throwing a sit-down dinner party al fresco with flair. The Siesta tablecloth comes in three zesty striped patterns and is water repellent, mildew proof and soil releasing ($29 to $39). But here’s the clincher: Siesta tablecloths come with fastener strips to hold them in place and an opening for a table umbrella. This brightly colored butterfly and flower tablecloth is summery and celebratory. It comes in a red-and-blue vintage pattern that suggests an Eastern influence – and it’s so visually busy, stains will hardly be noticed (on sale for $40 to $55). Top it off with these coordinating braided placemats ($54); though they look like they were made from more substantial material, they are composed of tightly woven resilient plastic, making them easy to wipe clean. Add an elegant touch with these hand-sewn cotton napkins that can be monogrammed with a single cream initial and come in sand, wheat, spa blue, blue, red, green or celery (set of four $25). Serve garden-fresh salads or desserts on these stylish paisley-patterned plates ($60 for a set of four). If barbecue is on your menu, these red gingham steel plates have an enamel finish with a silver edge (on sale for $24 for a set of four). Or go green with these plates (pictured) of sustainable bamboo without dyes or bleaches and designed to biodegrade four to six months after disposal ($15 for a set of eight) along with matching utensils ($11 for a 24 pieces). Chips and dip would be well-served in this Gracious Goods set with ceramic containers in an antiqued metal holder embellished with scrolls ($215). Serving becomes an art form with unusual tools such as the brass fish lifter set, with a knife long enough and tongs sturdy enough to present even the most delicate grilled fish without flaking ($295), and the King & Queen salad server ($250), also made of hand-forged solid brass with copper inlays and silver plate. This condiment caddy ($39) is hand-woven of a sustainable forest vine and is perfect for transporting flatware, napkins and condiments. Imagine instructing your guests to please throw their trash in the decorative Margate trash can, which is crafted of heavy-duty, weather-resistant polyresin with a galvanized metal liner that lifts out for easy disposal ($240).

If you’ve ever loved a print so much that you wanted to wrap yourself and everything in your house in it, you may go mad for mod Marimekko, the Finnish design house that has produced fashion and life style accessories with eye-catching, large-scale, color-saturated abstract prints since 1951. A young Jackie Kennedy first put the unknown Finnish brand on the fashion map when she wore a simple Marimekko dress in bright pink in 1960 for a Sports Illustrated cover. Marimekko faded away for most of the last few decades but began its comeback when a Marimekko pattern was spotted on the curtains in the apartment belonging to Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw. Just in time for this summer’s focus on retro flower power prints — in housewares, fashion, just about everything — the company has licensed its vintage patterns to Crate & Barrel, which carries this Marimekko print of larger-than-life marigold blossoms you can sleep in ($70 to $90). New this spring is H&M’s Tribute to Marimekko line (pictured), with clothes for women, men and even kids (for more, see New York magazine’s “First Look”). You like poppies? You really like poppies? Then consider Marimekko’s most recognizable print, Unikko. You can get it on this shower curtain ($49), throw pillow ($32), tote ($119), serving tray ($25) and last but never least, Manolo Blahnik shoes (available only at Manolo Blahnik stores in New York and London). Marimekko products are also available from a handful of its concept stores in the U.S., including one in Washington, D.C. If you like the Kaiku print, you can get it on a shower curtain ($59), a tea towel ($13) and a latte mug ($14). This print of cows sprinting through spring fields is also available on tea towels, plates, refrigerator magnets and coffee mugs. Many of the Marimekko prints can be custom made into a wall hanging or you can pick from a ready-made assortment, including “Hetkia Moments” ($375) or “Kassiopeia” ($340). For everything from stationery and office supplies to handbags and socks, check out Alway Mod: Everything Marimekko. Don’t forget the dress that started it all or something like it. This Valamo dress is vintage 1960s Marimekko and so is the Enni tunic ($89).

There’s more than one way to arrive at a cup of coffee, as you know if you’ve ever checked out those little icons on the coffee grinder at the super market. Each represents a different method of brewing and results in a particular grind. Here at Shopperati’s coffee klatch, we decided to investigate a few methods and tell you where to buy the equipment. The basic 10-cup drip coffee maker is the choice of many homes and offices. Procedure: Dump in water, fill up filter with coffee, press start button. For one of the best-rated (and most expensive) of this type, check out KitchenAid’s 12-cup programmable Pro Line ($250). It boasts “professional-level brewing” and convenient features such as a water filter and auto shut-off. Also check out Cuisinart’s new Cup-O-Matic single-serve maker ($199). You control the strength and size of your coffee, plus it has a 60-ounce reservoir, so you can get a piping hot refill whenever you like. Using a French press or “plunger pot” is much more interactive (read: a bit more work), but the coffee it creates is strong and flavorful. Put the coffee in the bottom of the pot and fill with water that has just boiled. Stir and let sit. After a few minutes, attach lid and plunge. The screen pushes the grounds to the bottom. Bodum makes a variety of coffee presses, like the stylish Eileen French press ($60 or $70; pictured) or the double-walled press ($60) . To brew rich, potent Turkish coffee, which takes the finest, powder-soft grind, you’ll need what the Greeks call an Ibrik ($18 to $36 for brass, depending on size). Put in sugar first, then fill with water, and top with coffee. Place on a burner and don’t go away (complete instructions available at How to Brew Coffee). To make cappuccino and espresso at home, try a stainless steel stovetop maker from Espresso Zone ($80). This one has a nine-cup capacity and a frothing wand to steam the milk.

Flower power is back – on dresses, tops, purses, shoes, even in housewares. But these aren’t those dainty, sometimes dowdy Laura Ashley flowers but big, bold, edgy designs with retro themes. Get this take on the 1960s Earth mother maxi dress in a tropical-printed silk from Marciano ($198). For considerably more, this bohemian maxi by Stella McCartney recalls the 1970s ($1,495). You could go from daytime to tripping the night fantastic in this glamorous plumeria silk tunic with elastic cuffs and a drawstring dropped waist ($1,070). Grab this shift dress (pictured) in an eye-popping fuschia pink floral print by Tibi ($192). This Esprit flower top has a vibrant floral pattern, empire waist, camisole stitching, spaghetti straps and hidden side zipper ($49.50). our handbag will be in full bloom with Marimekko’s cheerful Poppies bag ($75). Take a look at Dansko’s floral platform shoes, as comfortable as they get ($49.50). If you really want to go retro, get the real thing at Vintage Swank, where you can get this 1950s purple and neon flower print Hawaiian dress ($125). Back home, you can serve hors d’oeuvres from this 1960s fiberglass serving tray ($65) or cuddle up with the Freckles Flower Power duvet cover and pillow shams ($40, full/queen). Flower-power up your car with Blik’s Flower Power decals ($30 for pack of seven) or even your walls with ADzif ’s blooming orange wall decal ($45).

With origins in Spain, sangria is a wine punch of red wine, sliced fruit, honey or orange juice, and a little bit of brandy or other spirits. It’s a wonderful summer drink to serve at parties and is easy to make. The Internet is full of different recipes, such as this classic version; one with Grand Marnier, lemons and oranges; or this Portuguese sangria, which calls for apples, cinnamon and 7-Up. An easy way to start is with La Tienda’s Real Sangria Red Wine with Fruit Flavors, an excellent base. For an authentic Spanish touch, serve your sangria from La Tienda’s brightly painted ceramic pitcher ($45). Show off your sangria’s brilliant colors with this clear, elegant pitcher from Sur La Table ($18). If you expect your guests to get a little wild, you might want to buy the Container Store’s “unbreakable” clear polycarbonate pitcher ($35). Your guests will love sipping from these handcrafted Spanish sangria glasses made of recycled glass ($30 for set of six). If sangria is Spain’s most famous drink, then paella is probably its most famous dish, and the two pair up well. Spain Recipes has a selection of good paella recipes, as well as sangria recipes. Penelope Casas’ cookbook, Paella! Spectacular Rice Dishes from Spain ($23) will keep you experimenting in the kitchen all summer. Or you could team up your sangria with a Spanish tapas sampler box, which includes ham, cured chorizo, peppers and stuffed olives, along with a mini paella pan ($75).

Foodies are well acquainted with Microplane, manufacturer of a line of graters whose user comfort and effectiveness have made them a must in well outfitted kitchens. But how many gourmets know that their beloved tool was borrowed from a woodworker’s shop? In fact, it goes back even further: In 1990, two brothers who dealt in printing equipment used their scrap metal to craft some razor-sharp rasps that turned out to be ideal for shaping and finishing wood; only years later did a customer point out how good the tools were for zesting oranges, and a new product line was born. Now Microplane has multiple varieties of kitchen hand graters, including a 35000 Home Series line ($14.95 each) whose sturdy plastic-shell housing holds up to over-enthusiastic use in a way my old metal-frame ones don’t. The five-piece (pictured) set comes with four color-coded graters and a grater attachment ($58). They’ve also put their own spin on the old-school box grater ($25), adding a sliding finger protector that takes some of the fear out of shredding. Still, their success with cooks hasn’t made them neglect the workshop crowd. In addition to turning their wood rasps into sets with one handle and shaving faces that can be swapped out, eliminating the need to buy a new tool for every degree of fineness, they also recently introduced an ingenious line of discs that can be attached to orbital sander tools instead of sandpaper, reportedly working five times as fast as paper and lasting seven times as long before going dull. Just don’t try using those to shave garlic.