On a picturesque summer morning, we grab our cup of coffee and the daily newspaper before stepping outside to enjoy the start of a new day. From here, the many almost perfect options might feel a bit cumbersome. Garden benches, picnic tables, a few steps down, or perhaps a swimming pool chaise lounge – nothing feels quite right for the intimate morning air until you find an outdoor bistro table or patio bar set.

Similar to an outdoor dining table, an outdoor bistro table offers an alternate, cozy solution to the expansive tabletop and bench seating of a picnic table. A bistro table comes in a lower height and with a round- or square- shaped, elegant design that is paired with matching dining chairs. Perfect virtually anywhere due to its small stature, the patio bar sets and bistro tables resemble European restaurant seating. Use it on a balcony overlooking your property, on a roof or backyard deck, or even in the midst of a blooming garden.

If a higher table setting with barstools is more your cup of tea, consider a corner deck placement or in a nook on your terrace somewhere. Based on your personal preference, a stylish patio bar can be outfitted with two or four higher barstools that can be accompanied by outdoor furniture cushions for an extended stay adding both charm and comfort to the mix. If you opt to add more zest to your outdoor bistro tables or patio sets, consider the inclusion of a colorful patio umbrella that can both block direct sunlight and cover you from raindrops.

Whether you’re out to sip a coffee or have a chat over a glass of wine with friends, the addition of a cozy, outdoor bistro table or patio bar set on your porch can liven up your backyard design.

Tags: bistro table, bistro tables, chaise lounge, dining chairs, garden benches, outdoor bistro table, outdoor dining table, outdoor furniture cushions outdoor bistro table patio sets, patio bar set, picnic table, picnic tables

Why is it that on those warm nights we imagine the perfect table for dining to be one on a patio of a restaurant? Perhaps your very own backyard could serve up the same upscale or romantic charm if you just went for it. This is a question many of us ask ourselves when we cook for our family, friends, spouse, or when we bring take-out food home and decide that a serene dining experience is more what we’re in the mood for. To transform your picnic table into an outdoor dining set, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Start by making your dining area more upscale with a quick consideration of how many people might be spending time in your outdoor eating space. Once you determine whether it is you and your spouse, your family of six, or maybe large gatherings for groups of friends, the list of options will narrow to a more selective group of outdoor dining sets.

The next step might be to realize how a picnic table is perceived on your deck or patio area, in comparison with how a dining table set – with detached dining chairs instead of bench seating – might appear. The inviting appearance of larger dining room chairs with backs and armrests invites guests to sit down and enjoy their time at the table instead of hunching over to finish eating before running off to another game of bocce ball.

Another way to ensure your outdoor dining table and chairs appear luxurious instead of rustic comes down to the materials used. Clearly, a cedar, teak, or oak wood table will look and seem more elegant to the touch. Include the use of durable wood tables and chair sets instead of less hearty woods prone to chipping and water damage to extend its beauty and its lifetime as a piece of outdoor furniture.

In the end, the accent pieces you add to an outdoor dining set are the staging key to a creating an upscale dining experience in your very own backyard.

Tags: outdoor dining set, outdoor dining sets, Outdoor Furniture, picnic table, picnic tables

Although a mental image of eating a hot dog at your neighborhood picnic table may still flood in at the mere mention of outdoor dining, there are more options than a simple, splintered wood design to dress up your backyard or patio. To streamline the time you spend updating your idea of what the outdoor furniture market offers, check out the following examples of traditional, trestle, or walk-in designs of picnic tables that can compliment any patio or landscaping design.

The traditional, A-frame picnic table is the quintessential understatement in outdoor furniture design. It may or may not have been the reference point from picnic memories past – in its attached bench-to-table glory – but its durability is a great choice for anyone looking to use a classic silhouette for a summer afternoon barbeque.

Unlike the contour lines of the A-frame, the trestle picnic table style is split into separate units. This makes it the ideal option for smaller spaces or for families and commercial properties that place value on spatial efficiency. The shape of the table is typically round or rectangular, and the benched, backless seats or dining room seats (with backs) can actually slide completely under the table to make more room.

If both of the above tables are enticing, consider a popular style among commercial properties that fuses the best of the A-frame and trestle worlds into one. It’s known as a walk-in picnic table, and it comes in octagonal or rectangular shapes, with attached benches and spaces open for maneuvering in and out of its connected parts. Unlike the other designs, the walk-in picnic table requires no unfortunate truss-straddling or young ones tipping over detached benches. These tables can come wheelchair-accessible and in a variety of sizes.

Although the A-frame picnic table, trestle picnic table, and walk-in picnic table come in a wide variety of materials, shapes, and sizes, their purpose remains to serve your outdoor patio as a congregative seating area for outdoor eating, games, or star gazing. Therefore, although they are similar in the grand scheme of things, understanding three of the most popular picnic table designs is the difference between a disjointed patio and a cohesive outdoor dining area.

Tags: a-frame picnic table, Outdoor Furniture, picnic table, trestle picnic table, walk-in picnic table

Get 15% off plus FREE SHIPPING on

our outdoor dining sets and picnic tables!

Simply Enter TABLE03 at the checkout

A small patio is one of the most charming additions to a home.  And yet, many people have trouble furnishing small outdoor spaces.  It’s true that most outdoor furniture retailers don’t provide a ton of options for the small space outdoor liver.  The most luxurious patio dining sets need a lot of space to be fully functional.  But, today we’re toasting one of the best outdoor dining options for those without acres and acres of land: the trestle picnic table!

A trestle picnic table is a picnic table specifically designed so the detached benches slide completely under the table.  It takes up less space when it’s not in use, so it’s perfect for a corner of a patio that you use for more than just entertaining.  Working on your container gardens? No problem, there’s plenty of room to work with the benches tucked under the table.  Having friends over for lunch? You’re ready to go!

When using a trestle picnic table that is a rectangle or square, you can push right up against the wall of your porch for a quaint two seater.  Stash the bench under the picnic table, so the whole set is ready to pull out to accommodate more guests at a moment’s notice.

The versatility of a trestle picnic table means that it can also be used indoors. Perfectly tucked away in a kitchen nook or even a family area, it can be easily accessed for games and meals without taking up too much space. Plus, trestle tables have one of the most coveted traits often looked for in picnic tables: detached benches!  Pull the benches to where ever you need them: extra seating indoors, sideline seating for a pick-up soccer game in the back yard, or just grab a spot to read your favorite book.

The trestle picnic table is a great and versatile piece that can truly be used in any size space, indoors or out!

Have Fun!

Hazel.

Tags: Outdoor Furniture, patio dining sets, picnic table, trestle picnic table

Okay, excuse the lame pun.  The truth is, the U.S. Women’s Open was held right here in our home town, Pittsburgh, Pa.  And, as a big event in need of outdoor furniture, they of course turned to us for traditional A-frame picnic tables with 2″ umbrella holes at the center.  So, there was actually a hole in all 50 of them, but I certainly couldn’t title this post “Our Picnic Tables have a hole in 50!”

This past weekend, the U.S. Women’s Open returned to the Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh, Pa for the first time since 1992.  A thrilling and beautiful outdoor event, the more than 125,000 spectators enjoyed the gorgeous surroundings right along with the steep competition.

But, with so many fans gathering to witness the historic contest, Oakmont knew they would need local support to create the most hospitable environment possible.  Thankfully, the Pittsburgh region is home to one of the nation’s most highly sought after outdoor furniture retailers… us!

Supplying 50 treated pine picnic tables to Oakmont for the U.S. Women’s Open, each featured a two-inch umbrella hole to accommodate patio umbrellas to help block the sun.  The Oakmont Country Club used the picnic tables around the concession area and throughout the course. Both athletes and spectators had a comfortable place to dine outdoors, as well as sit to relax and socialize.  “Going to the Women’s U.S. Open isn’t like attending other sporting events,” said a snacking spectator. “It’s as much a cultural and society event as it is an athletic competition.”

Think of these picnic tables as Paula Creamer’s polo shirt.  Sure, you can get a collared short sleeve tee shirt nearly anywhere.  But, golfing events call for elegant sportswear… a casual mindset with luxurious features.  The treated pine picnic tables feature the traditional A-frame design with attached benches, but still boast smooth, rounded edges and countersunk hardware.  It’s actually one of our best selling styles,  thanks to that classic silhouette paired with high-end quality.

Our owner, Tim McTighe was happy to make the donation.  “I was excited to get our company involved for so many reasons,” Tim commented. “I love to golf and was thrilled to help out the event.  But, as another local business with a global reach, partnering with Oakmont Country Club was a wonderful experience.”

The picnic tables had such an overwhelming response of phone and online requests, Tim actually left the office today to head down to the country club to sell them directly from Oakmont at a first come, first served basis. If you missed your chance to get one of the U.S. Women’s Open originals, you can still get the same style the famed golfers used.  Visit AllPicnicTables.com today or simply call us up at 1-888-2339.

Have Fun!

Hazel

Tags: Outdoor Furniture, picnic tables, treated pine picnic tables

Now that Memorial Day weekend is almost upon us, visions of grills, picnic tables, burgers, and hot dogs are dancing in our heads.  This long-anticipated holiday marks the unofficial start of summer; and, because, in many regions, it’s the biggest season for outdoor living, people are going to be having as many picnics as possible, between now and Labor Day.

When you think about it, picnics are among the greatest social events ever devised.  Perfectly blending food, family, friends, recreation, entertainment, and merriment, they’ve been bringing people together since long before Yogi Bear ever swiped his first “pic-a-nic” basket.  In fact, they’re viewed by many as the ultimate, all-American way to celebrate our national holidays.

However, even though many consider the picnic to be red, white, and blue, its beginnings are actually more bleu, blanc, et rouge.  Making its first appearance as a new word in the 1692 edition of Origines de la Langue Françoise de Ménage, the word, pique-nique, is believed to have been derived from a combination of the French word, piquer, meaning to “pick” or “peck” and nique, an obsolete word, which meant “trifle” or “little pieces.”  In the book, it was described as a potluck gathering, to which everyone brought a dish; and the food, which was packed and carried in the first picnic baskets, was set out for all to “peck at.”

The word, picnic, was introduced in English in 1748.  Then, in the 19th century, a group of wealthy Londoners formed the Picnic Society, promoting it as a fashionable social affair, to which each attendee was expected to bring food, and contribute some form of entertainment.  It wasn’t until the middle of the century that it became associated with the outdoors, and the first picnic blankets appeared; soon afterward, its rapid rise in popularity led to the invention of the picnic table.

These days, while picnics can still be grand occasions, they are usually more on the casual side, and can take place in backyards, public parks, or on small, out-of-the-way patches of ground.  Furthermore, it doesn’t take a lot of people to make a picnic; in fact, you can have one all by yourself.

Of course, this weekend, there will probably be a lot more of the large gatherings; so you’d better be prepared.  Besides having an ample food supply, make sure that you have enough patio chairs, Adirondack chairs, outdoor rocking chairs, garden benches, and extra picnic table benches, so that everyone has a place to sit.

Oh, yeah, and don’t forget that everybody will be looking forward to playing some all-American outdoor lawn games, too.  Hmm.  Let’s see.  Uh, how about croquet and quoits?

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: adirondack chairs, croqeut, garden benches, outdoor rocking chairs, patio chairs, picnic table benches, picnic tables, Quoits

Certainly, style and color will be key issues when you’re shopping for a picnic table, whether you want it to complement the décor of an enclosed porch or gazebo, match your outdoor furniture, or just look good standing in your yard.  Even so, there are many more factors to consider before you make a decision.

For one thing, figure out what size you need, based not only upon the amount of space that you have for it, but the number of people who will be using it regularly.  If you have a large family, or if you do a lot of entertaining, you’ll need a bigger picnic table, or outdoor dining table.  If you don’t have room for a long, rectangular picnic table, a round, oval, square, octagonal, or hexagonal picnic table may fit in nicely.  An outdoor bistro set, or even a bar table with stools, can work well in a tight spot.  Kids’ picnic tables can also solve many seating problems at large get-togethers.

Extra-wide picnic tables are great for entertaining as well, because they offer more space for food and place settings.  They also keep things within easy reach of everyone, and are conducive to conversation, as people can sit on all four sides, in comfortable benches with backs.  Naturally, these styles usually require roomier areas.

Size also comes into play if you’re going to put your picnic table away for the winter.  If you have limited storage space, you might want to get a picnic table with detached benches, which can be put on or under the table, stacked, or stored separately.  If you don’t have a storage shed, a garage, or any other outdoor structure in which to place it, there are some other ways to keep it in good shape during the months of harsh weather.

First of all, outdoor furniture covers can provide wonderful protection, as long as they are of good quality, and can withstand temperature extremes.  This is especially important for wood picnic tables, which should also be coated with a UV-resistant stain/sealer, if they’re going to be left outside in the winter.  Actually, they should be shielded in the summer as well, because the sun’s powerful rays can hasten the fading of the wood; and that’s why patio umbrellas are as good for picnic tables as they are for people.

The material that you choose can also make a big difference in the way that your picnic table fares over the winter.  For example, polywood picnic tables, which look amazingly like natural wood, are maintenance-free, impervious to the elements, and, in fact, virtually indestructible.  The same is pretty much true of high-quality aluminum picnic tables, which can also endure severe conditions, without breaking, bending, chipping, or rusting.  Another advantage that these types of picnic tables offer is that they are available in tons of colors.

Weight may also be a concern in some cases.  If you’re going to be moving your picnic table around, or putting it on a deck, make sure that you don’t get one that is too heavy.

Yep!  That means that you’ll have to worry about weight before you even sit down to eat!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: aluminum picnic tables, extra wide picnic tables, gazebo, outdoor bistro set, outdoor dining table, Outdoor Furniture, Outdoor Furniture Covers, outdoor structure, patio umbrellas, picnic table, picnic table with detached benches, picnic tables, polywood picnic tables, rectangular picnic table, storage shed

Well, another season of barbecues and outdoor celebrations is about to begin.  Memorial Day is only a few weeks away, and people all over the country are eagerly getting their grills and picnic tables ready for action.  Now, there’s certainly nothing new about the excited anticipation and preparation for the upcoming get-togethers; it’s a May tradition that goes back a long way.

Undoubtedly, though, there are a few things that have changed lately.  For example, there was a time when it seemed that everyone had the same rectangular wood picnic tables.  Sure, some had attached benches, while others had detached benches; but, for the most part, they all looked pretty much alike.  Furthermore, when they were worn out, they were usually replaced with nearly identical models.

Over the past several years, however, outdoor living has risen to another level.  These days, because people are spending more time than ever in their backyards – relaxing, eating, and entertaining – many consider them to be outdoor living rooms.  At the same time, millions of people are enclosing their porches, patios, and gazebos, in order to create indoor/outdoor rooms that can be used year-round.  In any case, they want to be able to furnish these spaces as stylishly as the rooms in their homes.

Because of this trend, patio chairs and other pieces of outdoor furniture have gotten drastic makeovers in recent years.  Even the humble picnic table has been elevated to such a prominent role, that there has been a major evolution in the shapes, materials, colors, and sizes, in which it is available.  With all of these choices, shopping for one is more fun than ever; but, because it’s also somewhat more involved, it’s good to know how to select a picnic table that will fit your needs, budget, space, décor, and lifestyle.

Naturally, a lot will depend upon how you’re going to use your picnic table.  Do you want one that’s strictly utilitarian, one that’s integral to your décor, or one that’s fairly inconspicuous?  If you have wood walls, a closely-matched wood picnic table is more likely to blend into the background.

On the other hand, if you want to make a bold statement, create a festive atmosphere, or complement your motif, you’ll have no problem in doing so, because you can find picnic tables in just about every color and style imaginable.  The huge variety will also allow you to duplicate inside colors, which will not only establish a smooth transition from the indoors, to the outdoors, but can make an area appear larger as well.  Outdoor dining tables are great, too, and you can get them with outdoor furniture cushions that come in scores of colors and patterns.

Indeed, there are countless factors to consider when buying a picnic table.  Of course, even with all of the fun, new options, millions of people will still stick with the old, ubiquitous picnic table that we all remember from childhood.  Uh, not that there’s anything wrong with that!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Gazebos, grills, outdoor dining tables, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor furniture cushions, patio chairs, picnic table, picnic tables, wood picnic tables

As August fades away into the sunset, try to remember there’s still time in September to enjoy outdoor living. Even though the Labor Day weekend has come and gone, heralding the unofficial end of summer, the season isn’t really over until close to the end of the month. So don’t put away your porch furniture and picnic tables yet! You can still get plenty of use out of them, even into October and beyond.

Another thing that you’re not through with is yard work. Besides mowing the lawn a few more times and raking up the leaves, there’s a lot to do before your garden closes down for the winter. For example, this is an ideal season for planting perennials, trees, and shrubs, so that they will have the entire winter to establish their roots. By the time spring arrives, they’ll be strong and healthy enough to expend the energy necessary to produce flowers and foliage.

Beginning around this time, and over the next couple of months, when the soil cools down to less than 60º, you can also plant the spring-blooming bulbs of tulips, anemones, daffodils, and hyacinths. Make sure that the soil is well-drained, and put the bulbs in three times deeper than their diameters. To create eye-catching, thick groups of tulips, you can put up to 20 bulbs into a single hole that’s one foot in diameter; just make sure that they’re not touching.

This is also a good month to plant and divide early-blooming perennials, which should be given a generous watering in their new locations. If you want some patches of fall colors, put in some winter pansies, mums, and flowering kale and cabbage. Pull out dead annuals and throw them onto the compost heap, or use them as mulch for over-wintering plants. Take cuttings from geraniums so that you’ll have flowers indoors this winter.

Visit nurseries to find new trees and shrubs that you can plant in the fall. Water them thoroughly right away, and their roots will be well-established by springtime. Many varieties will have foliage that’s already beginning to change, so you’ll have lovely fall colors instantly when you put them into the ground. You may also want to find some that produce edible berries that will feed wildlife. In many regions, September is the perfect month for planting heathers and evergreens. Cut down on the amount of water that you give to your long-standing shrubs and trees, as they need time to harden before winter.

With temperatures getting cooler, this can be a very pleasant time of the year to work outside. In fact, sometimes it’s even more enjoyable than it is in the summer. Furthermore, as things begin to slow down a bit, you’ll have more time to relax, which is why this is also a great time to shop for new porch furniture at CedarStore.com.

Tags: Outdoor Furniture, picnic table, picnic tables, porch furniture