Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

Before long, children in costumes will be roaming the streets in search of candy.  With all of the craziness in the world, however, parents are becoming increasingly concerned about the safety of this tradition.  Therefore, instead of letting their kids go trick-or-treating, they often choose to have Halloween parties. 

Although the themes of these get-togethers will naturally be scary, for those who choose to host them, the most terrifying part is all of the destruction that may be wrought by a houseful of little gremlins. 

If you’re debating about having such an affair, remember, you can still hold the party outdoors; in fact, that’s the best place to evoke the, uh, spirit of the occasion.  Furthermore, there’s a lot more room for playing games; and if anything gets spilled, it will be on the ground, instead of on your carpet. 

Halloween decorations are also a lot spookier under the moon and stars.  You can string trellises and pergolas with orange lights, and hang a ghost, a spider, a bat, or even a “dead body” from an arbor.  Planter trellises and planter benches with lattice also look wonderfully eerie when decked out with twinkling lights. 

Use orange and black disposable cloths on your picnic table or outdoor dining set, and use jack-o-lanterns or candles as centerpieces.  Additional picnic table benches, folding chairs, and patio chairs can be used for extra seating, as well as for a game of “musical chairs.”       

If you have a gazebo, you’ve really got it made.  Gazebos are great places for outdoor entertaining, all year long, especially if they’re enclosed with screens, doors, and windows, and have some extras, such as built-in benches and hidden wiring.  They also look spectacular when they’re decorated, with lights, scarecrows, pumpkins, and bales of hay.

So, you see, there’s nothing to be afraid of; you can host your Halloween party without destroying your house.  You’ll also be very popular with the little neighborhood boos and ghouls, who will think you’re the ghost with the most!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: arbor, bench, Chair, gazebo, Outdoor Furniture, pergola, table, trellis

As I mentioned before, many people are turning their yards, porches, decks, patios, and gazebos into outdoor living rooms; but they’re not stopping there.  No-o!  They are also creating outdoor kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms, game rooms, and many other types of rooms.  Moreover – and I’m sure that I’ve mentioned this, too, at least once before – our stunning variety of outdoor furniture makes it possible to decorate them as comfortably, appropriately, and fashionably as any room in the house.

Of course, it’s just as important to furnish them tastefully.  Because these areas come in all different sizes, you should devise at least a sketchy plan of the layout and the motif of your outdoor room-to-be before you shop for furniture.  Knowing the dimensions that you’re working with, and coordinating colors, will help to keep it from looking over-crowded and disorderly. 

These schematics are even more important if you’re going to design more than one room, because, without specific design ideas, things can really get jumbled and confused; but you can solve this problem by using trellises, arbors, pergolas, and lattice enclosures as walls, ceilings, archways, and entryways.  Not only are these fantastic ways to define your spaces, but they add beautiful color, texture, and depth, and afford privacy and shade, while allowing air to circulate.  Planter benches with lattice backs will provide seating, flowers, and a wall, all at once; and you can instantly create a spectacular, secluded haven with two- and three-paneled garden trellises.   

No matter how much – or how little – space you have to work with, you can use these attractive, versatile, and durable garden structures to design striking outdoor rooms.  CedarStore.com offers cedar, pine, vinyl, and wrought iron arbors, trellises, and pergolas in all sizes, as well as magnificent gated arbors, and arbors with built-in benches and swings.

Of course, they’re not just for building outdoor rooms.  Any one of them, standing alone, covered with bright, gorgeous flowers, will be a breath-taking sight; and, you can’t deny, it will make a lot of scents!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy  

Tags: arbor, Outdoor Furniture, planter, trellis

Garden design has come a long way since rabbit fences and gazing balls!  If you’re the serious green thumb sort, you’ve learned how to find enjoyment in weeding and tilling.  For most of us though, the garden is meant as an area of relaxation and tranquility.  Also, there is a coupon code at the bottom for those of you who make it all the way through!

One of my new favorite additions to garden design is the red cedar Marquis Arbor from CedarStore.com.  What better way to relax in your garden than on a cedar porch swing supported by a Cedar Arbor.  Water the tomatoes then sit back with a good book and a glass of wine.  Or, if you really have the time, a trashy novel and two glasses of wine.  It’s all good! 

Another option is the White Cedar Planter Bench w/ Lattice, also available at CedarStore.com.  Extra room for flowers meets relaxing bench in this little gem.  Add your favorite plants to the boxes, and sit in between.  Or, use the boxes as storage!  The white cedar is also a nice touch, as it weathers well, and has a smooth finish.  The unit makes a nice boundary to your garden and is attractive, too. 

Potting benches, Planters and a few really decorative bird feeders can also add much to your design.  They are good ways to break up a monotonous layout and attracting birds is always a nice touch.

A few of our customers who have wanted shaded relaxation near their garden have opted for a small gazebo.  Cedar gazebos start at just $2779, Treated Pine gazebos at $2199, and Vinyl gazebos kick off at $3699.  The added comfort of a roof makes the gazebo a great place to relax, have coffee and chat with friends.  You can view a few of our customer’s finished gazebo projects here!

Garden Design isn’t just for those who have high end gardens.  It’s for everyone who enjoys getting out of the house, feeling the sunshine and doing more than watching Jerry Springer!  Hopefully, a few of the products at CedarStore.com will enhance your experience.  Now, here’s your coupon code: BLOG20.  This discount code will entitle you to $20 off your next purchase of $200 or more.

I hope you have an amazing day!

Shari

Tags: arbor, gazebo, planter

If you’re looking for the next project, or one that will really add value and space to your home, we recommend outdoor kitchens!  By adding an outdoor kitchen, you instantly have a gathering place for guests or large parties, a family area and a picnic area.  It’s just more relaxing to cook and eat outside!  

A little while back, the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) television show, Indoors-Out, featured a few of our Outdoor Kitchen Furniture Products on their shows.

A Grand Entrance

The first step in building an outdoor kitchen is to create an impressive entrance.  A beautiful walkway, highlighted by a cedar Mayfield Arbor was unfortunately left out of the picture, but it provided a beautiful entrance.   Many of our other customers have opted to cover their outdoor kitchen with a Pergola, which is a really impressive look. 

Planning your Outdoor Kitchen

Planning and building your outdoor kitchen is really all about preference and budget, but it’s tough to go wrong with either choice.  Several of our customers in cold weather climates have even opted for a gazebo to cover their kitchen, so it could be used year round.

Outdoor Kitchen Appliances

After impressing guests with your “entrance”, the next primary part of your outdoor Kitchen is your grill and preferably an outdoor sink.  It’s easy to transition the sink to a bar, or counter space, and it’s handy to avoid running in and out, and in and out of the house (admit it, you can hear your parents yelling, “You’re letting the air conditioning out!”). 

Wood Furniture for your Outdoor Kitchen

The completed project showed our Red Cedar Trestle Table.  They also used Adirondack Chairs.  CedarStore.com offers many patio sets, picnic tables and outdoor furniture options, from wrought iron and polywood to cedar and pine to complete your Outdoor Kitchen project.

You can build an outdoor kitchen on stone, concrete, a wood deck or even the bare earth. As always CedarStore.com is available to help, 1-888-293-2339.

Have a wonderful day!

Shari

Tags: adirondack chair, arbor, Outdoor Furniture, pergola, picnic table

Setting up for an Outdoor Wedding is one of our favorite projects.  Typically, a bride’s parents call us months in advance to plan their daughter’s big day.  Many moms have always dreamed a picturesque gazebo in the backyard, or a quaint bridge over a small creek.  Adding a gazebo or bridge to an outdoor wedding is a nice touch of class that includes excellent functionality!

What Gazebo is Best?

Let’s begin with which gazebos are best.  Octagon gazebos are the most traditional—add decorative braces, turned posts and decorative railings and you have a little piece of Victorian Heaven.

For larger outdoor wedding parties, and larger amounts of guests, I’d recommend a longer rectangular or oval gazebo.  We can increase the width of the opening, creating a stage-like entrance for the big day!  The material you choose should match your house and surroundings…in other words, a white vinyl siding house can easily add a white vinyl gazebo. 

I remember one project—A mother called us on a Tuesday, wanting a large gazebo for her daughter’s wedding on Saturday!  And she needed it built on site by our crew…No problem! (Well it was a problem, but she was so frantic, we didn’t have the heart to tell her we moved Heaven and Earth!).  So, our crew drove 12 hours to her house Friday night…and finished the gazebo just before noon Saturday morning, as the caterers were setting up and guests were arriving! 

No one can ever say we’re not dedicated! 

Outdoor Bridges

Another popular outdoor wedding accessory that has served families well is a simple pedestrian bridge.  As you can see in the picture above, it creates a unique landscape and creates a nice separation of the activities.  The pedestrian bridges are so easy to build that a couple people should take no longer than a couple hours to complete the project…though we don’t recommend waiting until the morning of the wedding to start! 

Other Outdoor Wedding Options

Some families who don’t want a large gazebo have opted to use a pergola entrance to the wedding area.  Our Kingston Arbor just seems to fit well.  It’s wide enough to fit most red carpets and bridal trains, but decorative enough to instantly set a tone of elegance and class.  

The outdoor additions make a unique setting for wedding photos and create a unique environment, all at a cost less than many couples must spend on large halls!  Call CedarStore.com for assistance, 1-888-293-2339.

Tags: arbor, bridge, gazebo, pergola