Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

So, where were we?  Oh, yeah – talking about gazebos, of course.  This is a subject about which one can never say enough (and I oughta know!).  They originated as rooftop structures that would offer sweeping views of the surrounding landscape; and, apparently, they did that job well.

However, their more noteworthy accomplishment came years later, when people began building them on the ground.  While others may have been washed-up after such a letdown, for gazebos, the curtain then rose on a spectacular second act.  Performing under stage names that have commonly included summerhouses, screen houses, kiosks, pavilions, arbors, grottos, pergolas,  and pagodas, they have played continuously for centuries, to thrilled audiences around the world.

To say that gazebos have enjoyed a long run would be an understatement.  Although no one is certain of the precise date on which they made their debut, 5,000 years ago, they are known to have been playing the gardens of Egyptian royalty.  There, they were so highly prized that many people had their gazebos depicted in their tombs, along with the other possessions that they wished to take with them to the next world.

Also crowd-pleasers in ancient Rome and Pompeii, gazebos were built along the Mediterranean, as summerhouses for the affluent and aristocratic, who furnished them richly.  I guess that means that they had solid gold lounge chairs, porch swings, dining tables, accent tables, and  sofas.

In the East, the gazebo was such a smash hit that it had to add a second floor.  Indeed, in tenth-century Persian gardens, gazebos were elaborate, two-story structures, with cupolas, marble columns, and golden seats.  Often, they were built across pools or streams, in order to be cooled by the water running beneath their marble floors (I guess they didn’t have ceiling fans back then).

China’s gazebos were quite ornate as well, while those in Japan were frequently called teahouses, and used for the sacred Tea Ceremonies.

Everywhere they went, gazebos were getting rave reviews; and they hadn’t even come to America yet (because it was still undiscovered, of course).

Perhaps we’ll have to explore this further in the future.  I’m dying to see how they got their big break, and finally began playing in “The States.”

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: accent tables, Arbors, ceiling fans, cupolas, dining tables, Gazebos, lounge chairs, pavilions, Pergolas, porch swings, sofas

Some people do a lot of entertaining throughout the holiday season. On the other hand, there are those who hesitate to open their doors to large crowds of people. Although there can be many reasons for their reticence, it’s often because they’re not confident in their hosting or cooking skills, or they’re insecure about how their homes look.

Usually, however, they’re worrying for nothing. First of all, Christmas parties are rarely dull, no matter who is hosting them, as the spirit of the season alone can carry the occasion. Unlike non-holiday get-togethers, at these affairs, there’s no lack of conversation, because everyone has something to say about the big day that’s coming up, and how excited, exhausted, frantic, worried, prepared, or unprepared, they are for it.

In the second place, their fears about the appearances of their houses are probably just as unfounded. In most cases, they are fretting about relatively minor things, such as carpet stains, dull wallpaper, scratches on their buffets, dining tables, bars, or other wood furniture, or because they don’t feel that they have enough – or good enough – tableware for bigger groups.

If you are apprehensive about any of these things, relax! As I said before, there are tons of ways in which you can use decorations to make your home look stunning, even if you feel that it’s not exactly a showplace. Besides dimming the main lights, and illuminating the place chiefly with candles and Christmas lights, you can use red and green doilies on your end tables and accent tables to cover up imperfections, or add even more shine by making table runners from foil wrapping paper.

Another attraction that’s a major distraction is food; and a brilliantly-set table will make things look even more smashing. This, too, is easy to do, even if your resources are few. So, in my next blog, I will have some tips and suggestions for inexpensive ways to create a fun and festive table.

Oh, by the way, there’s one other big reason why some people don’t invite anyone over during the holidays – they simply don’t want to.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: bars, buffets, dining tables, table, wood furniture