Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

Okay, so it doesn’t seem fair that, deep into August, you still have to do yard work.  I mean, after all of the toil and sweat that you’ve already put into your garden, you should simply be able to relax in your favorite porch chair and drink in the intoxicating colors and scents – and whatever you have in your glass – until the sun sets, and all has faded into blackness (including you). 

Everyone deserves that luxury; but, instead, most of us end up with but a few, fleeting moments in which we can enjoy the sheer contentment of lazing in our porch swings or gliders, and reveling in the glory of our gardens.  Fortunately, however, it doesn’t have to be only morning glory; if you plant a moonlight garden with white and night-blooming flowers, the show will actually begin at twilight. 

You may even have a head start on this one, if you already have white flowers planted.  If you don’t, you should, because they are invaluable to any garden.  During the day, they add depth and dimension, by brightening shady areas, and bringing out the hues of the other flowers.  At night, when bathed in moonlight, they fairly radiate loveliness beyond description. 

It’s no accident of nature that many night-blooming flowers and vines are white or light pastel colors; nor is it a fluke that they possess some of the most intoxicating fragrances.  Since the bees and other insects that pollinate flowers in the daytime are fast asleep (or out partying, sipping some hard nectar, or doing whatever they do at night – it’s none of my business), these nocturnal beauties have to rely on moths and other night-flying insects to do the job; and when moonlight is scarce, it’s the flowers’ intensely sweet perfumes that draw them.       

A moonlight garden can be truly spectacular, and gazing upon it is an experience that engages all of the senses.  In fact, it’s so extraordinary that it merits a special seat from which to view it; and, luckily, CedarStore.com has just the thing.  It’s called a swingbed, and it’s just like a porch swing, except that it has an unusually expansive seat that is roomy enough for you to lie down upon; and when you add one of our cozy, colorful cushions, it’s comfortable enough for sleeping. 

With one of these magnificent swingbeds, you can float away to Cloud Nine, surrounded by the heavenly aromas and the dreamlike beauty of your midnight flowers, luminescent in the moonlight.  This may just be the ultimate way to relish your garden.  With the heat of the day gone – along with most other people – you can sway serenely on your swingbed, steeped in pure, peaceful pleasure, and the picturesque pulchritude of the pearly petals.

(Yawn!)  Sorry about that – but I’m starting to get sleepy just thinking about it!  G’night! 

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

There’s no doubt that porch swings are among the most popular pieces of outdoor furniture that ever lived.  Of course, I’m aware that they’re not really alive – BUT sometimes, it seems that they are – AND they certainly can bring houses to life.  In fact, just as the kitchen is said to be the heart of the home, the swing surely must be the heart of the porch – or patio, or deck, or gazebo, or yard, or wherever it is located. 

Porch swings possess and undeniable, intrinsic charm that never fails to draw people to them.  Those who own them rarely go a day without taking some time out for relaxing visits with them, and often regard them as trusted friends who can somehow ease their burdens when something is weighing on their minds.  Porch swings are also the most sought after – and sometimes, fought over – destinations of guests who attend parties at homes where swings “live.”  This is especially true of kids visiting grandma’s house for a big family get-together.  At least, I know that it sure was true of me, my siblings, and our cousins; but, luckily, my grandmother also had a porch glider and a hammock, which are right up there on the list of favorites.

Indeed, porch swings bring a lot of happiness and joyful memories to people’s lives, and can even last for generations, IF they’re constructed from high-quality, durable materials.  Luckily, you won’t have any trouble finding one that fits that description, because, at CedarStore.com, we have scores of swings that are designed to last for decades; and some are even built to outlive everything – and everyone – around them. 

Here, you’ll find gorgeous swings made from red and white cedar (not to be confused with red-and-white cedar!), select and treated pine, cherry, oak, teak, cypress, polywood, and synthetic wicker, available in several sizes and colors. 

We also feature an incomparable range of styles, including traditional, Adirondack, highback, heartback, crossback, rollback, scrollback, curveback, starback, and fanback; and, whichever you choose, there’ll be no going back – no ifs, ands, or buts about it. 

Uh, then again, there will be plenty of butts, because, well, what would a porch swing do without ‘em?

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: porch swing, porch swings, swing, Swings

Porch swings have been front and center on our porches, and in our hearts, for centuries.  If you want proof, just look through your family’s – or anyone else’s – old photo albums, and count the number of pictures that are taken on porch swings. 

The porch swing has also been featured prominently in countless movies, plays, and television shows.  The quintessential swing scene is one in which a young couple sits there, obviously ill at ease, as the guy fidgets nervously, either trying to find the words to tell the gal how he feels about her, or working up the nerve to ask her to marry him.  As she breathlessly waits for him to marshal his courage, her parents make it even more difficult for him by anxiously peeking out the window every few minutes, ready to flick the lights off and on at the first sign of inappropriate contact; and if they fail to foul things up, there’s always a pesky little brother or sister who won’t go away.

When not involved in romance, the swing is often the setting of conflict, where underlying feelings of tension that have festered between two people are finally aired, and everything comes to a head.  There are other times in which it has a single occupant, usually someone who is at a crossroads, or in a crisis.  Whatever the case, the individual is invariably facing a monumental decision, and the porch swing always manages to guide her or him toward making the right one.     

While all of that heavy drama is great for movies and TV shows, in real life, the porch swing enjoys its role as the center of attention at gatherings, as well as its reputation for providing a quiet respite from the rat race, where stress is relieved, jangled nerves are soothed, and tranquility is restored. 

Apparently, there’s a lot hanging on the porch swing (sorry!), as it has to be sturdy enough to hold its own – and yours, too.  That’s why CedarStore.com provides not only the most durable wood, metal, and synthetic swings, but the best equipment on which to hang them as well.  Because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, we take that factor out altogether, by offering ultra-tough stainless steel chains and hardware. 

Nothing else can give you the feeling of complete confidence that comes with knowing that your swing is secured with stainless steel chains and hardware.  With its superior resistance to corrosion, it will endure the harshest elements for years, even if you live near the ocean, where the air is thick with salt spray.  Just like those nail-biting movie scenes, it will keep you in suspense for a long, long time – so, hang in there!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: porch swing, porch swings, stainless steel chain, stainless steel hardware, swing, Swings

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