A backyard is just a backyard—until you turn it into something more. Outdoor living spaces are gaining in popularity and have potential to increase a home’s value and saleability. And there is almost no end to the number of uses they can serve for your family. We asked experts for creative ideas to make the great outdoors a selling point for your home—whether you’re putting it on the market in five years, or next month.

These lighting trends not only will illuminate your home, but make a statement on their own.

KATHLEEN MCELLIGOTT (1) has been appointed to Fontbonne University’s board of trustees.

Gemma Danielle AMINI

What’s under foot is becoming increasingly top-of-mind for homeowners, with a focus on individuality and sustainability when it comes to flooring.

Lighting sets the mood for any room. To create the look that’s just right for you, experts will take into account everything from the style of fixture to the most appropriate type of bulb. We’ve asked them to help us navigate the maze of options.

Opening to the grand foyer, the terrace and the solarium, the living room offers fabulous flow for family living or entertaining, but designer C.J. Knapp explains that multiple openings can present a challenge. “You have to think about a family walking through, but you also have to have seating and room for entertaining. It’s important for the room to be functional, as well as gorgeous.”

If you’re a fan of Upstairs Downstairs or Dawson’s Alley, the soothing palette in the butler’s pantry might look familiar. “I watch a lot of British TV, and I love those shows!” says designer Patrice Munden. “The colors of the kitchens and butler’s pantries remind me of the grays and creams I chose for this space.”

Blending traditional with eclectic, Jeanne Lashmett set out to create a game room that anyone would enjoy. “I really liked that the bones of the space were very generic, so I had a blank canvas to create my own vision.”

Inking a deal…Bravo network executive ANDY COHEN reportedly is getting seven figures for his memoir due out next summer. Cohen, a Clayton H.S. alum, is the host of Watch What Happens: Live and oversees the network’s hit shows like Top Chef and The Real Housewives of Orange County. In one interview, Cohen described the yetuntitled book as a memoir, of sorts. “…from growing up in front of the TV as a kid in St. Louis to my years at CBS News, all the way up to today. The stories I’ve been saving up are funny and improbable and really define who I am today.”

Nothing makes a more dramatic statement—either indoors or out—than setting off your home’s best features with lighting. Some local experts discuss exciting innovations that have caught their attention.

Three local business namesakes recently got together for an afternoon of cocktails at Clayton’s newest hotspot, DeMun Oyster Bar. Arash Amini of Amini’s Home, Rugs and Game Room, Andy Dielmann of Dielmann Sotheby’s International Real Estate and Kirk Stange of Stange Law Firm had a great time talking business and family, decked out in summer’s coolest styles. Even Amini’s darling 7-month-old son, Mack, charmed everyone as he, too, sat on the bar taking it all in from the sidelines. It was a gorgeous day with a great group of guys who just might be making this a recurring afternoon tradition!

Journalist LISA LING will be coming to town sooner than expected. Her Maryville University St. Louis Speakers Series appearance at Powell Hall is now slated for Thursday, Jan. 27. And look for Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan to appear Tuesday, Feb. 22. Ling is host of National Geographic Explorer and field correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her new show, Our America with Lisa Ling, premieres Feb. 16 on the Oprah Winfrey Network.