Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

As I was saying, some of the things that people do to keep warm in January include partaking of comfort foods and beverages, sitting by roaring fires, luxuriating in hot tubs, and jetting off to tropical islands.

I also mentioned that sunrooms are great places to stay warm, whether you have one that’s built into your home, or standing separately in your backyard.  But, guess what – they’re not the only garden structures that can shield you from the cold.  No-o!  Gazebos can keep you nice and toasty as well.

Now, I realize that, if you’re picturing the gazebos that stand in town parks, or the ornamental gazebos that are in many backyards, you may be thinking that I’m crazy for saying that; but you would be wrong.  Okay, okay – you’d be half right.  Sure, I may be a bit, well, let’s just say, eccentric (no, you don’t have to be rich to be eccentric!), but I definitely know what I’m talking about when it comes to gazebos!

Believe me, they’ve come a long way over the years.  While gazebos certainly can still be used for decorative purposes, or as shelters for picnic tables, patio chairs, porch swings, gliders, outdoor sofas and settees, or other outdoor furniture groups, these days, they’re available with so many features that people can actually live in them!

If you want proof, just go to GazeboCreations.com.  Right away, you’ll be amazed at our wide variety of cedar, treated pine, and vinyl gazebos, which come in all sizes and shapes.  Then, to further astound you, we’ve enlisted the services of a genuine Gazebo Wizard, who will help you to customize you own gazebo right on the site, by offering you dozens of options, including insulation, storm windows, different kinds of flooring, decorative railings, wiring, built-in benches, ceiling fans, special lighting, cupolas, several types and colors of roofing, and more.

Furthermore, he’ll add each one you choose, instantly, right before your eyes!  Truly!

You know, I really, really hope that you do visit our site now.  I mean, after all that stuff I said about a Gazebo Wizard, if you don’t come and see it for yourself, you really will think I’m crazy!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: cedar, garden structures, gazebo, Gazebos, gliders, outdoor furniture groups, outdoor sofas, patio chairs, picnic tables, porch swings, settees, sun rooms, treated pine, vinyl

It’s interesting, the way that people tend to make associations about things.  Sometimes, it can involve colors; everyone develops ideas about which ones go together, and, before they know it, they have these unbreakable, personal rules.  That’s not really a good thing, because it can get them into a rut.  What’s even worse is when they take the advice of so-called experts who tell them what goes with what, and end up adopting someone else’s senseless views as their own. 

The same is true for food and beverage pairings.  While, undoubtedly, these usually stem from our own preferences, they are also notoriously dictated by self-proclaimed authorities who profess to have educated palates.  Unfortunately, these blowhards are everywhere, telling us, for example, that there’s only one specific wine that simply must accompany a certain dish, and if you serve anything else, you belong in a doghouse.

Sometimes, we relate things to particular seasons, and can’t envision them in any other context.  Garden structures, for instance, have long been connected almost exclusively to the warm-weather months.  While they have always looked spectacular in the spring and summer, covered with colorful climbing flowers and vines, pergolas, arbors, and trellises were often left looking forlorn and lifeless in the winter, standing dejectedly in a corner, entwined with a few dead branches.

Luckily, however, this practice is also becoming out-dated, as millions more people each year are realizing that their garden pergolas, planter benches, trellis screens, arbors, and arbor extensions can be fantastically integrated with their holiday displays.  In fact, in many cases, these structures, as well as planter trellises, garden bridges, and, of course, gazebos, can even be the main attractions, when adorned with strings of lights, holly, tinsel, and other ornaments.

Even beyond the New Year – in the time that’s known as the dead of winter – outdoor structures can bring new life to your landscape and brighten your outdoor décor.  Moreover, there’s no standard way to use them; they lend themselves to creativity, so you can show off your own, individual style.

Remember, the only rule that everyone really should live by is the Golden Rule. 

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: arbor, bridge, gazebo, outdoor structure, pergola, planter, trellis

Every year, millions of people mourn the end of summer; and, while everyone may have personal reasons for doing so, there are also many common causes for this collective lamentation. 

As kids, we all dreaded the approach of September because it meant going back to school.  Naturally, we now have different causes for regret; and, for many of us, the main one is the end of outdoor activities, such as playing lawn games, eating meals at our picnic tables, lying around in our hammocks, or just relaxing on our porch swings or gliders.  Moreover, we bemoan the end of outdoor entertaining, which is another of our favorite warm-weather pastimes. 

However, the autumnal equinox does not have to signal the cessation of our outdoor parties, nor does it mean that we are limited to cooking weenies and roasting marshmallows around a bonfire (although these are eminently enjoyable traditions that will always be a huge part of the season).  These days, there are a lot more options for post-Labor Day backyard get-togethers, partly because we have many more choices in outdoor furniture. 

For example, CedarStore.com has a huge collection that’s made from polywood, an environmentally-friendly material that’s largely comprised of recycled plastics.  While it looks incredibly like real wood, it’s maintenance-free, nearly indestructible, and available in dozens of gorgeous colors.  Besides porch chairs, lounges, rockers, and accent tables, we feature stunning, full-size polywood outdoor dining tables, bar sets, and bistro tables that can withstand even the harshest weather without damage.  We also offer colorful aluminum outdoor furniture that won’t rust, warp, break, or chip, even if it’s left outside all year long.

Furthermore, if you’re entertaining in a gazebo, you won’t have to worry about rain.  GazeboCreations.com has cedar, pine, and vinyl gazebos, in a wide range of sizes and styles, which are perfect for fall parties.  Whether you want the simplest gazebo, or an elaborate one with all of the comforts of home, including, insulation, doors, windows, electricity, built-in benches, ceiling fans, and more, you can customize it right on our site, in just a few, easy steps.

So, you really have no grounds for fearing the end of outdoor entertaining – uh, as long as you have the grounds for outdoor entertaining, that is.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: gazebo, Gazebos, Polywood Furniture

Okay, so we’ve established that gazebos – as well as cabanas, sheds, pool houses, and sunrooms – from GazeboCreations.com are great for use all year long.  In fact, putting one together is a perfect fall weekend project; and you don’t have to be a professional contractor, handyperson, or carpenter to do it.  No-o!  As long as you’re fairly adept at handling a few, basic tools, in most cases, you and an assistant can easily assemble one of our gazebos in an afternoon; or, if it’s a larger, double-roof model, over the weekend. 

To let you know how easy it is to assemble one, I’ll give you a quick description of the process.  Whether you have selected a pre-designed gazebo, or used the Gazebo Wizard to customize one for yourself, it will be delivered, partially constructed, in a gazebo kit that you can build with a screw gun, a level, and a hammer. 

The kit will arrive with the pre-cut sections of the gazebo packaged on heavy-duty pallets, and banded for easy handling.  All of the hardware that you will need will be included, along with detailed instructions.

All you have to do is to arrange the floor sections in the order in which they are marked, toward the centers of the joists.

Then, insert the gazebo’s posts into the pre-cut pockets in the floorboards, keeping in mind where you will put the gazebo’s door.

After that, fasten the railings to the posts, from the bottom, up.  Once they’re in place, secure the skirt board to the posts, and lay the remaining deck boards.

Next, finish the roof by installing and securing the shingle caps (on the octagonal models, the roof panels are interchangeable), then fasten the cupola to the roof.

That’s all there is to it; but, remember, if your assistant makes a mistake, you always have an expert ready to help you, when you call 888-293-2339.

The best part is that, even though the gazebo is already partially assembled, you’ll still have the same feeling of accomplishment that you would have if you had built it from scratch.  Of course, we do offer, when requested and possible, to deliver them fully-assembled.  In such cases, the only way to get that same sense of do-it-yourself satisfaction may be to hit your finger a couple of times with a hammer.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: gazebo, Gazebos

Perhaps this was the year in which you swore that you would finally get a gazebo.  Your intention was to have it up by spring, so that it would be ready for all of your summer entertaining.  Then, Memorial Day came and went, and you hadn’t gotten one yet, but figured that there was still plenty of time left in the season. 

Of course, you were busy every day, from dawn until dusk, and you never got around to it.  So, now that Labor Day, too, has come and gone, you figure that you’ll just have to wait until next year, right?  No-o!  Autumn is a great time to put up a gazebo; in fact, the same is true for sunrooms, cabanas, sheds, and even pool houses, which, like gazebos, can be equipped with all of the comforts of home, and used year-round.

At GazeboCreations.com, you can customize the gazebo of your dreams in just a few steps, with the help of the Gazebo Wizard.  First, you’ll select the shape you wish – octagon, rectangle, or oval – and either a single or a double roof.  Next, you’ll choose the material, which can be cedar, treated pine, or vinyl.

In the third step, you can decide upon the size; and, no matter which style you’re working on, believe me, there is a wide range to pick from here.  Then, the real fun begins, as you’re presented with a menu of great options.  Although these vary according to material, the list of features may include different types of ceilings and flooring, roofing in several colors and materials, standard and decorative railings, posts, and braces, cupolas, ceiling fans, screens, 4-track window systems, extra windows and doors, built-in benches, insulation, and hidden wiring packages with any number of receptacles.     

See what I mean about all of the comforts of home?  Indeed, with all of the options available, you may want to move into your gazebo; and you wouldn’t be the first to do it, either.  All around the country, people are furnishing their gazebos with patio chairs, hammocks, porch gliders, outdoor sofas, and outdoor dining tables, and turning them into guest houses, cottages, home offices, and many other things. 

I actually know someone who likes to spend hours in the gazebo to get away from the hectic happenings in the house, and to catch up on sleep.

Now, there’s an idea.  A gazebo may just be the ideal place to settle down for a long winter’s nap!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: gazebo, Gazebos

Even though people often put in some new landscaping around the dream gazebos that they customize at GazeboCreations.com, they, understandably, do not wish to ruin their existing designs.  Unfortunately, there’s always a chance of that happening during the construction of an outdoor structure; but a few simple preventive measures can minimize the damage.

If you’re facing this situation, the good news – or, rather, great news – is that our gazebos come in kits that are so easy to assemble that, in general, just a couple of people should be able to put them together in an afternoon, using only a screwdriver, a hammer, and a level.  Naturally, the time that it will actually take will depend upon the size of your gazebo and the level – oh, uh, not the tool, but the level of your skills as a handyperson.  

Of course, I’m only mentioning this because the lengths to which you will have to go to protect your garden and landscaping during the project will depend, for starters, on how many people will be involved.  If you’re doing most of the work, the flora will stand a much better chance than it will in the hands – or under the feet – of clumsy contractors who don’t care how many blue ribbons your roses have garnered.  Whatever the case, you should make everyone who will be involved aware of your prized plants and flowers.

Whether you’re building a gazebo, shed, sunroom, pool house, or cabana, you can minimize foot traffic across your lawn by storing any materials that you will need on the pavement, and marking off a specific path with stakes and string, making it as direct as possible, preferably with several access points.  It’s also a good idea to keep your lounge chairs, garden benches, and settees out of sight, so slacking workers won’t make a beeline for them across the grass.

You can use plywood for temporary walkways to help distribute weight evenly and prevent furrows in your lawn.  If the construction takes more than a day, remove the plywood in the evening to give the grass a chance to breathe; then water it thoroughly when the project is finished.  If it will be impossible to sidestep any of your cherished plants or shrubs, you may want to relocate them if they are hardy enough to survive a move.

Luckily, we make it so easy for you to put our kits together that your vegetation probably won’t be in too much danger; but it’s always best to be prepared. This is especially true if your brother-in-law is helping you for the low, low fee of a case of beer. 

Incidentally, too much beer can pose an altogether different kind of threat to your foliage – but we won’t go into that!

Yours Outdoor,

Kathy

Tags: gazebo, Gazebos

Okay.  As long as we’re on the subject of outdoor living rooms, let’s talk about how millions of people are taking it a bit further, and building their own backyard summer cottages.  I’m not talking about contractors, either.  I mean regular people – even those who can barely use a hammer or a screwdriver; and they’re doing it quite successfully.

Their actions are based in some very sound reasoning.  With the price of gas rising, and the economy sinking, more people are vacationing in their backyards, or, rather, in their outdoor living rooms; and, in many cases, these are gazebos that have been furnished with patio chairs, chaise lounges, porch swings, garden benches, and picnic tables.  However, because gazebos are now available with all of the comforts of home, it makes sense to take the extra step and upgrade them from outdoor living rooms, to actual little houses.

That way, instead of traveling to far-off destinations, people can enjoy restful, relaxing getaways in their own backyards.  Furthermore, gazebos are not just for summer anymore, as they are often equipped with electricity and plumbing and used, year-round, as cottages, guest houses, home offices, entertainment areas, home gyms, artists’ and photographers’ studios, hobby rooms, lounges, and whatever else anyone can imagine.  In fact, in one of today’s most popular trends, many people are installing hot tubs in their gazebos and turning them into spas.                   

You, too, can build one of these lovely backyard retreats for yourself, using nothing but the Gazebo Wizard who lives at GazeboCreations.com.  In just a few steps, you can pick the material, shape, and size that you want, then customize it, by selecting from a huge menu of options, including hidden wiring, ceiling fans, built-in benches, skylights, insulation, windows, screens, decorative posts and railings, and several colors and materials of shingles. 

You can even see the gazebo of your dreams being built right on the site, and watch the new features being added as you choose them.  Create as many as you want, change them any time you wish, and save them to your own, personal gallery to browse and compare at your leisure. 

Talk about an easy summer project!  Of course, it will be a different story when our gazebo kit arrives, and things really get technical.  Yeah.  Then you will have to know how to use a hammer and a screwdriver!                                                                                                                                      

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: gazebo, Gazebos

These days, everywhere you turn, someone is getting a makeover and/or competing for some kind of prize.  In fact, these contests have becomes so widespread that they no longer involve only humans, as animals, and even buildings, are getting new looks.  That’s what’s happening now in the world of backyard structures, as they vie for the “Most Popular” title; and, among the contenders, the pool house is making a big splash. 

Although it has been on the scene for years, there is a new wave of interest in it, sparked by a spectacular makeover that has given the structure many extremely desirable new traits.  Now, besides being as practical as it is beautiful, it very deftly combines the best characteristics of its competitors, the gazebo and the garden shed.

Indeed, the pool house is not only as drop-dead gorgeous as a gazebo, but it is available with the same highly sought-after options, such as finished walls and ceilings, screened floors, cupolas, skylights, double-paned, shuttered windows, insulation, and steel doors. 

It also has quite an extensive wardrobe, which includes a rich, luxurious cedar coat, as well as vinyl siding in several luscious colors.  To top it off, the pool house also sports over a dozen colors of durable shingles, as well as a cedar shake roof, and accessorizes with eight shades of trim.    

Another of its many attractive attributes is its willingness to be seen in a less-than-glamorous role, as it performs all of the same duties as a shed, holding safe anything and everything that a person can to stuff into it, without losing its composure.  It also acts as the quintessential cabana, where people can change into and out of their swimwear.  Furthermore, just like gazebos and sheds, pool houses can be furnished with beautiful porch chairs, settees, lounges, and accent tables, and used year-round as spare rooms, guesthouses, home offices, entertainment rooms, or anything else that one wishes to make of them.

At GazeboCreations.com, you can customize your own pool house in a few, easy steps.  You can create as many as you want, dress them up any way you like, and save them to your own, personal gallery, where you can compare them side by side and choose your favorite.  As a matter of fact, you can do the same with their gazebos, sheds, cabanas, and sunrooms.  The best part of all is that, no matter which one you select, you’ll be picking a winner!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy 

Tags: cabana, gazebo, Pool house, shed, sunroom

Gazebos have certainly come a long way since the days when they were found mostly in town parks, and used mainly for Sunday night band concerts.  Even when they started making their way into the realm of mainstream backyard structures, they were largely used for decorative purposes.  Otherwise, people would put a few patio chairs, porch swings, or hammocks in them and use them as places where they could just sit and relax.  

These days, gazebos are taking on important new roles, such as cottages, home offices, guest houses, and fashionable settings for outdoor entertaining of all kinds.  In one of the newest trends, people hold fancy brunches and luncheons in them, setting tables attractively, with lace cloths, centerpieces of freshly-picked flowers, silver or china tea sets, elegant napery, good silverware, finger sandwiches, mimosas, and petits fours.  

Gazebos are also the sites of many extravagant affairs, for which they are lavishly decorated.  Very popular for weddings, they’re adorned with ribbons in the theme colors, white roses, carnations, baby’s breath, candles, and more.  In many cases, they’re also used for the receptions, with outdoor dining sets, bar sets, and picnic tables set up in and around them, and covered with colorful patio umbrellas.  Before the weddings, they often come in handy as places to hold the wedding showers; and afterward (in most cases), the baby showers. 

Another thing that’s HUGE right now, and getting more popular every day, is the use of gazebos as backyard spas.  Yep.  They’re called hot tub gazebos, and they are, indeed, very hot! 

If you’re wondering how all of this is possible, it’s because gazebos are now available with tons of options, including insulation, windows, screens, decorative railings and posts, wiring, built-in benches, ceiling fans, cupolas, skylights, and several colors of shingles. 

If you want to see it for yourself, just go to GazeboCreations.com.  You’ll be greeted by this cool little guy who calls himself the Gazebo Wizard, and magically helps you build and customize your own gazebo.  No, really!  I’m not making this up!  And there’s no one like him anywhere else.  Not only that, but he can show you, step by step, what your gazebo will look like.  Truly.  Then, if you want to make changes, just tell him what they are and they, too, will appear before your eyes.  Seriously.  I’m not crazy!  Er, well, okay, I am – but not because of this!

Just go check it out.  In fact, I think I will, too, because I haven’t visited him in awhile.  Well, I’m off to see the Wizard – which, I’m sure, is no surprise to any of you!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy   

Tags: gazebo, Gazebos, hot tub gazebos

Hello Again!  Most of our customers, at some point in our conversations, ask about the assembly time of our outdoor furniture, gazebos or garden shed kits.  Or, if you haven’t yet asked, you should!  I can assure you, we’re not similar to any Swedish furniture companies, or jigsaw puzzles (you know who I’m talking about!), but since one person’s “easy” is another’s nightmare, we’ll review a few of our most popular products. 

A vast majority of our customers receive the products, such as porch swings, wooden picnic tables or garden bridges in kit form, because shipping assembled can become very costly.  So, how tough is assembly?

Glad you asked.  All of our kits are pre-cut and pre-drilled.  Leave the saw in the shed, and grab the screwdriver!  Most of our outdoor furniture and patio furniture kits arrive partially assembled, as well.  A few years ago, a couple of our guys made this quick video about how to assemble and how to hang a porch swing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igxZQtKPQnE&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecedarstore%2Ecom%2Fcs%5FPopup%2Easpx%3FID%3D2058&feature=player_embedded

OK, they’re not Spielberg, but you get the idea…assembly is simple!  Our garden shed kits and wooden gazebos are a little larger, but the same principles apply; pre-cut, pre-drilled and partially assembled.  In fact, the guy waving to you at the end of the swing video bought his mother a shed (shouldn’t all sons be that good?).  And, of course, we filmed that assembly, too!  The total time it took to assemble the shed, with an annoying photographer (me!) who kept stopping everyone for a better angle, was about 4 hours. 

www.gazebocreations.com/cs_Popup.aspx?ID=2070

If you think you’d rather skip the assembly, we recommend a local handyman, or handyperson.  Often our products can be installed within an hour, so the minimum charge from most professionals is about $75.  If you have a large structure, it will cost only about $400-500 for the installer with an assistant for the entire day.

As always, if you’re unsure if you have the ability to assembly some of our great patio furniture or gazebos, you can call us, 1-888-293-2339.

Tags: furniture assembly, gazeo assembly, swing assembly