Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

Families are always looking for ways to spend more time together, and parents are often searching for strategies to pull their kids away from the television and video games.   Many homeowners are creating gathering spaces right in their own backyards, to provide a fun and at-home retreat.  When considering turning your porch or yard into a dynamic living and gathering area, keep to these five tips!

Safety First: More than any other consideration, safety should always be at the top of the list, especially for families with young children.  One trending outdoor furniture complement is the fire pit.  Whether used for cooking, keeping warm or just aesthetics, it doesn’t have to be out of the questions for families. Fire pits should have a protective ring around them to keep the flame contained.  But, also consider how you envision the fire pit being used. The options for fire pits are incredibly varied, so it’s important to consider your maintenance concerns and your intended use before diving into the selection

Furniture Materials: Always look for patio furniture in materials that will stand up to harsh outdoor environments: Red and White Cedars contain naturally embedded oils that resist insect damage and decay.  Teak is a dense, heavy outdoor wood that is fantastic for patios and exudes absolute luxury.  If you’re looking for something synthetic, Polywood is created from recycled milk jugs and plastic bottles originally destined for the landfill.  Fashioned to look and feel like real wood, the plastic construction makes it absolutely indestructible.

Child Size and Kid Friendly: Consider incorporating kid’s outdoor furniture into your backyard space design.  Having their own area, seats and tables will encourage them to spend more time outdoors.  When hosting a neighborhood get-together, the kids will have a place to entertain each other without being constantly underfoot.  A lot of retailers sell child-sized outdoor furniture that match their standard size designs, so your entire outdoor room can have a unified, but still functional, lay out.

Stay on Budget: Balancing a budget with a growing family is no easy task, and creating an outdoor room doesn’t have to break the bank.  Look for outdoor furniture that can serve multiple purposes.  For example, get an outdoor dining set that has patio chairs you can pull away for round-the-fire pit seating.  Picnic tables with detached benches can be used in the traditional way, or you can set out a buffet style meal on the table and use the benches elsewhere for more casual seating. Adding splashes of color is also an simple way to make a big impact.  Plan a color scheme that works with your home and incorporate it into patio umbrellas and outdoor furniture cushions.  Adding indoor comfort and brightening color will make your outdoor space feel more finished and furnished. Then, if you ever get tired of your design, you can simply switch out the cushions for a brand new look!

Carve Out a Space for Just You: Especially for busy mothers, any porch, patio, or outdoor spaces should always leave a section nestled in the corner for solo-relaxation.  Whether you string a hammock, hang a porch swing, or simply pull one of those dining chairs/patio chairs out of the way, having a quiet space to reflect and drink tea outdoors will do wonders for your stress levels.  Creating an outdoor room will give you a great place to entertain, but also a quiet place to escape the every day noises of your home’s interior.

Have Fun!

Hazel.

Tags: fire pit, kids outdoor furniture, outdoor dining set, Outdoor Furniture, patio chairs, patio furniture, patio umbrellas outdoor furniture cushions, picnic tables with detached benches

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

Instead of throwing together a room in our homes with random items, we typically spend days considering the options. From there, we analyze, debate, ask opinions, and finally, come up with what we think best represents us. The same amount of thought should go into designing the interior of our outdoor gazebo. Often times with outdoor spaces however, it’s hard to know where to start.

In most cases, there are a few ideas to try on for size in order to best direct your attention. The first begins with the type of space you’d like to create based on the size of your backyard gazebo.

To get the feel of an austere, rustic style of a gazebo, you may want to outfit it in light, natural wood tones that appear untreated. An example of this might be opting for whole log White Pine or White Cedar outdoor furniture collections. Typically, you’ll find these styles in matching patio chairs, garden benches, and porch  swings that can be purchased individually, based on the size of your gazebo.

If you value the old-fashioned feel of a log cabin with a slightly polished finish, the Red Cedar Adirondack chair or Cypress Adirondack chairs and garden benches offer a traditional approach. Their vertical, slatted backrests come in a variety of finishes from light and natural to shades as dark as night. A quintessential choice for gazebo and patio arrangements, Red Cedar and Cypress Adirondack designs are as recognizable to the world of outdoor seating as Abe Lincoln is to American history.

For a less rustic or traditional spin on wood furnishings, set your sights on a modern set of Teak wood chairs or an Outdoor Dining Set. Each of these lend themselves to a more luxurious feel while still retaining the forest vernacular. Since Teak is known for being hearty and self-reliant, complete your modern gazebo with a deep seating collection and coordinating cushions. Maybe even finish it with set of outdoor lamps to perfect the ambiance. Besides using Teak, the other way to create a modern outdoor gazebo is by creating a dining room. The use of an outdoor dining set or cedar picnic table in various shapes and sizes is another way to make your normal meal a beautiful, outdoor experience.

Gazebos should be designed the way you feel most comfortable enjoying the great outdoors. With that, live vicariously through the rustic or traditional designs inspired by the past, or bring the present into your outdoor space with modern comforts and dining.

Tags: backyard gazebo, cedar picnic table, cypress adirondack chairs, deep seating collection, garden benches, gazebo, Gazebos, modern gazebo, outdoor dining set, outdoor gazebo, patio chairs, porch swings, red cedar adirondack chair, teak wood chairs, white cedar outdoor furniture

For much of the country, the outdoor living season is coming to an end.  But, for the millions of people enjoying warm weather all year long, it is prime time to get started on a fantastic outdoor living area.  Plus, for those that are already hankering for the dawn of spring… now is the time to begin planning large scale outdoor structure projects.  Saving your logistics and design considerations for spring will mean that projects may not be completed until the season is already well underway.

When looking to create a vacation at home, great inspiration can be drawn from hotels, resorts, and destination spots.  After all, they’re the experts in crafting spaces that exude the luxury of a summer holiday.  Whether or not you live in the tropics, you can design an outdoor space fit for relaxation retreats.

Recently, a Bermuda resort created a combined pool structure using a gazebo and two pergolas. The 14x 18 treated pine rectangular double roof gazebo was simplified by removing the floor and railings while larger custom posts were added to create drama.  Two attached treated pine pergolas expand the space while adding a dynamic architectural element to the gazebo. The perfect blend of shade and style, a similar structure would do very well poolside in a residential home as well.  The resort created a small grilling and cooking area, but it could easily be expanded to a full outdoor kitchen.

The resort decked out their structure with an outdoor dining set, two chaise lounges, and some extra patio chairs.  However, adding a swingbed, porch swing, and a deep seating collection would add another level of relaxation for entertaining.

If you’re interested in creating an at-home oasis, don’t be afraid to take tips from the professionals.  Plus, start planning, designing, and thinking now when many outdoor furniture retailers are running discounts and sales so you can start the first warm day of spring in your retreat!

Have Fun!

Hazel

Tags: chaise lounges, deep seating collection, gazebo, Gazebos, outdoor dining set, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor structure, patio chairs, Pergolas, pool structure, porch swing, rectangular double roof gazebo, swing bed, treated pine pergolas

Besides the tablecloth, you’ll also have to choose placemats and napkins for your outdoor dining table; and these, too, are available in huge varieties of colors, patterns, and fabrics.  Moreover, when selecting them, you may have to consider how well they will coordinate with your outdoor furniture cushions, throw pillows, and rugs.

Certainly, this is more of a concern in smaller spaces, where all of the outdoor furniture is close together.  If you have a place that’s large enough for the patio chairs and the outdoor dining set, or picnic table, to be situated well apart from each other, it may not be much of a worry.  Then, again, if your dining area is separated by a pergola or a trellis, or if you’re going to be eating in your gazebo, you may not have to think about it at all.

Whatever the case, you have several options, including using a tablecloth that has designs on it, with solid-colored placemats and napkins, or vice versa.  You can also come up with some interesting combinations in textures, by using various fabrics for the tablecloth, placemats, and napkins; or use something completely different, such as bamboo, for the placemats.

Naturally, for the napery, and even the tableware, for that matter, you can always go the paper route; and it’s not news to anyone that some of it is quite attractive.  However, even though paper can work well for casual get-togethers, if you’re hosting a nice dinner party, it’s best to scrap the idea, and go for a more elegant setting.  Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have to use the good china (unless it’s a really formal affair).  For outdoor dinner parties, the everyday stuff is fine; in fact, on your beautifully decorated table, it will look smashing – uh, perhaps I should make that, gorgeous.

Another alternative is to use plastic; but not the kind that’s on par with paper plates.  These days, you can get thick, sturdy, high-quality plastic tableware that looks just like glass.  Actually, this can be a wonderful choice, because clear, colored glass, not only adds to the resplendence of the table, but heightens the opulence of the occasion as well.  Choose rich, autumn hues, such as red, amber, gold, or burgundy; and make sure that there are plenty of candles on the table, to give the whole setting an enchanting glow.

Undoubtedly, real glass is the ultimate; and you can get colored glass plates, goblets, glasses, vases, salt-and-pepper shakers, candleholders, and serving bowls, at a very low cost, in retail, outlet, and even antique stores.  Although certain antique glass items are very expensive, you’ll find hundreds of them that sell for only a few dollars.

The best part is that they don’t have to match; as a matter of fact, mixing pieces from various sets will add to the charm of your outdoor dining table setting.  If you don’t want to buy a lot of antiques, pick out a few, interesting objects to combine with your other dishes and glasses.  Of course, if you don’t have real glass tableware, the authentic-looking, plastic kind will look just fine, especially in the glimmer of the candlelight.

Indeed, any jewel-toned accents that you can find will lend a warm, luxurious ambiance to your gathering.  For example, you can get some vintage jewelry, or go through your old jewelry boxes and pick out some bracelets and necklaces with broken clasps, and mismatched, clip-on earrings.  You can use the earrings to hold place cards, and the necklaces and bracelets to make sparkly napkin rings, or decorations for wineglass stems, candles, and candleholders.

Aside from making your table shine, this is also a great way to give new purpose to some of your favorite old pieces of jewelry that have been stashed away for years.  Hmm.  I sure hope I’m not the only one who hangs onto things way longer than I should.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: gazebo, outdoor dining set, outdoor dining table, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor furniture cushions, patio chairs, pergola, picnic table, trellis

When you’re setting your picnic table, bedecking it with autumn’s awesome bounty will be a boon, because it will bestow a bedazzling, bewitching beauty that’s beyond belief; and, to be sure, it all begins with the basics.

For starters, you can dress up the chairs for your outdoor dining set, with outdoor furniture cushions that feature fantastic fall colors, such as gold, bronze, russet, red, orange, burgundy, and yellow.  When it comes to the tablecloth, as we’ve established, you have a million choices in colors, patterns, and materials.

Whatever selections you make for your table décor, you’ll surely want to conjure some magic.  Luckily, this is easy to accomplish, because, as is the case with many of the astonishing illusions performed by professionals, it’s done largely with lighting.

There’s no doubt that the proper radiance can make the mood merrier, the meal more memorable, and the milieu monumentally mesmerizing.  Just as the twinkling strands on porches, gazebos, arbors, trellises, and pergolas, invoke an air of enchantment throughout your landscape, the lighting on your table can work wonders as well.  In fact, the same kinds of decorative bulbs that you’re using on your garden structures can lend a lavish look to your table setting.  For example, you can tape a string of them underneath a glass-topped outdoor dining table, then use a thin tablecloth, through which the colors can softly glow.

Certainly, candlelight never fails to captivate; and you can use pillar candles, votives, and tea lights everywhere.  Although you’ll have no trouble finding attractive candleholders, if you want a striking, seasonal touch, hollow out some miniature pumpkins, and let them do the job.  Of course, if you carve designs into them, the flickering flames will create a fanciful effect that will further add to the fabulously festive fall feeling.  Just go to a craft or department store and get a kit that contains the tools and patterns for cutting Halloween figures into larger pumpkins, but use the implements to make simple, autumn shapes, such as leaves and acorns.

If you plan to have a centerpiece, it should be spectacular, but not overwhelming; and, once again, the most ordinary ingredients can make something magnificent.  For instance, you can fill a basket with apples, grapes, gourds, nuts, acorns, and berries, then carefully tilt it onto its side, and arrange the contents to appear as if the abundant harvest is spilling out onto the table.  Then, add some mums or sunflowers, and accent the display with a few candles.

If you’re using small pumpkins as candleholders, you may want to craft a complementary, pumpkin-themed centerpiece.  You can even make a vase out of a pumpkin, by hollowing it out, filling it with florists’ foam, which you can get at any craft store, and inserting fall flowers into it.  While you’re at it, pick up some artificial leaves; you can use them in arrangements, or place a few, randomly, around the table, to give the impression that they’ve fallen from the trees.

For a bit of sparkle, sprinkle shiny, multi-colored, leaf-shaped confetti over your main tablecloth, then cover it with a clear, plastic one.  Use your imagination, and you’ll come up with many other ways in which you can be-leave your outdoor dining table.

Truly, when you use fall’s harvest to embellish your décor, you can be sure that your table will be set with a bounty that’s befitting of royalty; and you’d better believe that the guests that will be coming will be saying that it’s a beauty to behold.

But right now, I’d better be going.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Arbors, garden structures, Gazebos, outdoor dining set, outdoor dining table, outdoor furniture cushions, Pergolas, picnic table, trellises

It’s about that time again.  The beauty of the sunset has passed you by, the natural lighting is nearly behind the horizon, and you and your guests are not ready to stop the party.  And (alas!) your township does not permit bonfires in your neighborhood.  So, how will you keep the fun going after the sun goes down?

If you think I’m about to suggest you call one of those expensive landscape lighting companies to empty your bank account… you’re on the wrong track!  As outdoor rooms become, at once, the most sought after vacation spots and poured over designer spaces… outdoor lighting has become more fashionable and more affordable than ever.

But you’re no lighting expert.  With so many options available, how do you pick which kinds of outdoor lighting options are best for you?  We’re always here to help!

Walkway Lights: Walk way lights are downward pointing lights that attach to the walls surrounding a walkway.  This will make sure that everyone is safe on stairs, garden bridges, or uneven paths.  Many walkway lighting designs come with color options; not only for the decorative encasing of the bulb, but walkway lights can shine a slightly blue or pink hue.  Imagine coordinating the color schemes of your outdoor rooms, patio umbrellas, and outdoor furniture cushions to the color of your lighting!  If you want to use your outdoor lighting to keep your porch, gazebo, or outdoor living space lit up at night… walkway lights will probably not be enough.  While they provide an important safety measure and can add some brilliant colors, you’ll want to consider adding other kinds of outdoor lighting as well.

Post Cap Lighting: Decorative post caps are a fantastic way to add lighting and style to your outdoor room.   They are designed to attach to the railings on steps or fences, posts of a porch or garden bridge, or any other outdoor structure with posts.  One great part of post cap lighting is that it adds wonderful accents to our outdoor living space during the day, while lighting up the area at night.  Most post caps are either low-voltage electrically powered or solar powered.  Electrical lights will likely be more dependable and may provide more light, but they do require a skilled electrician to install the wiring and ensure safety.  Solar powered lights use a completely renewable resource to “power-up” during the day, and then shine bright all night!  Certainly the green and sustainable option, they also boast the easiest set up.  Just attach and you’re done!  Though, some might find them less dependable.  It all just depends on your preference! A long line of post cap lights across an entire porch or backyard structure will likely provide enough light for a party or get together.  Though, if you wanted to use lighting to highlight a certain spot, like the outdoor dining set, you’ll want to augment this lighting option with accent or hanging outdoor lights.

Outdoor Ceiling Fan Lights: If you thought the post caps were the ultimate fusion of fashion and function, you haven’t even begun to be amazed!  If you haven’t jumped on the outdoor ceiling fan trend yet, do yourself a favor and take the leap!  Outdoor ceiling fans will allow you to enjoy your porch or outdoor living space when the heat is high.  Especially on those humid, still days, your outdoor ceiling fan can provide cooling breezes to keep you comfortable.  Plus, a ceiling fan creating air flow will be the most natural deterrent to flies and mosquitoes!  Flying insects prefer still air that allows them to lazily buzz and land on innocent food and people.  But, a cooling breeze to us can be a wind that makes their tiny wings tire quickly.  You can simply wave goodbye as they fly to easier areas! Plus (of course), a lot of modern outdoor ceiling fans now feature light options as well.  Perfect over your picnic table, you can simply flip on the light to illuminate your evening meal or midnight snack!

Hanging Outdoor Lights: A hanging light will truly up the style of your outdoor room.  While many choose to string lines of hanging lights, like Japanese paper lanterns, you can also choose to make a dramatic lighting statement by creating focused pools of light over your favorite spots.  Whether you do this with an outdoor pendant light or even an outdoor chandelier, it will give your outdoor space a bit of height both spaciously and fashionably.  The closest to indoor lighting, you can create truly luxurious outdoor spaces that create both comfort and class with hanging lights.

Outdoor Table and Floor Lamps: For those who favor ambient lighting instead of overhead lighting, but still want the comfortable appeal of indoor-style lighting, outdoor table lamps paired with outdoor floor lamps might be your best bet!  Available in nearly as many styles as indoor lighting, you can certainly stick with your design scheme while creating your lighting scheme! A lot of lines contain short table lamps and tall floor lamps that match each other, which will give you a more holistic pattern.  While, mixing and matching styles can certainly create interest.  Plus, outdoor lamps can be moved to wherever you need more lighting.  If you split your outdoor table and floor lamps between your outdoor seating area and alfresco dining room, you can move all of the lighting toward the outdoor dining set when the family is gathered there for an intense game of Scrabble.  After all, you’ll want to make sure nobody is substituting a “Q” with an “O” because the low lighting lets them get away with it!

So, while the sun is a plenty beautiful and certainly functional lighting element during the day, you definitely have your options cut out for you when it comes to keeping the party lit after the sun has gone to sleep.  I suggest mixing and matching, keeping your options open, and always making sure you can see the faces of the family and friends creating those wonderful summer memories!

Tags: backyard structure, decorative post caps, garden bridge, hanging outdoor lights, outdoor ceiling fan, outdoor chandelier, outdoor dining set, outdoor floor lamps, outdoor lamps, outdoor lighting, outdoor pendant lights, outdoor structure, outdoor table lamps, picnic table, post cap lighting, post caps

Are you feeling a little overwhelmed with Earth Day? Perhaps you feel pressured to fly up to Northern Canada to personally save a baby Polar Bear today… or completely renovate your roof to be one of those green-roofs you saw in photos from Europe.

Believe it or not, you don’t have to wrestle down global warming with your bare hands to celebrate Earth Day. Relax.  Today should be fun! Here are 10 ways you can celebrate Earth Day today without making over your whole life.

Use a Reusable Bag, or Reuse a Plastic Bag:  Heading to the store?  Even if you’re just picking up a quart of milk or even going clothes shopping, using a reusable tote bag really cuts down on the waste you’re producing today.  Don’t have a reusable tote yet? Don’t be afraid to grab a plastic bag you got with another purchase earlier this week.  Then, at least, you’re getting more than one use out of it! And, if all else fails, really consider whether you NEED a bag or not.  Have you ever noticed that if you just get one small item, they always give you a full bag?  If you can simply carry the item in your hand, or even stick it in your purse, just say “no” to another plastic bag!

Have a Picnic: Your Earth Day picnic can be as expansive or as simple as you want.  If you have an outdoor grill, picnic table, or outdoor dining set… have at it!  Invite friends over, cook outside, skip the paper plates in favor of reusable ones, and celebrate how great it is to be outdoors.  If you haven’t created an outdoor room, don’t be afraid to spread a blanket out on the grass, cook your food indoors, and just enjoy it outside.  Working all day? Do what I’m doing: make your lunch (in my case, that’s heating up a can of soup and grabbing a yogurt) and take it outside to eat!  No matter how you do it, just enjoy one of your meals outside today.

Plant Flowers: Not everyone has the time and space for a full garden.  Heck, some people just don’t like it!  But, try it out, just for today.  You can get already blooming flowers that just need to be put in the dirt.  Or, you can go get a pack of seeds and spread them.  No yard? Try putting them in a planter or even just cutting the top off an old plastic soda bottle, filling it with dirt, and putting the seeds in there!  Today’s the perfect day to get your hands a little dirty and plant something that will grow.

Get Out Your Patio Furniture: If you haven’t done it yet, today’s a great day to get all of your patio furniture out of storage.  Remove those outdoor furniture covers, dust off the outdoor furniture cushions, and get your porch swings, porch chairs, and garden benches back to their favorite spots.  This will not only get you working outside today, it will open up opportunities to enjoy the outdoors for the rest of the summer.

Fill a Birdfeeder: Help out a fellow creature today by filling a birdfeeder.  Hanging a birdhouse or birdfeeder will help the birds get ready for the summer and give them plenty of nutritious food.  You’ll feel good helping out your local wildlife, and will probably learn something too.  Make sure you can see your birdhouse or birdfeeder from a window or a favorite piece of outdoor furniture.  You’ll be amazed how many kinds of birds and birdcalls you learn just by casually observing them.  And, remember, the first step to saving our earth is learning about it!

Go to a Farmer’s Market: Ditch your usual go-to super market today, and hit up the farmer’s market.  Buying fresh and locally grown fruits and vegetables is good for your health, good for your local economy, and good for the earth as it reduces the amount of fossil fuels used to transport food over long distances.  You’d be surprised how much of your usual foods you can pick up at a farmer’s market, and usually for not any more money that you’d pay normally.  It’s an extra stop, but it’s a stop that makes a big difference!

Go For a Walk: Adopt a lower impact form of entertainment this afternoon.  That’s right, turn off your television, turn off your computer (After you finish reading this blog post, of course! … or not, you can click out and shut off your computer now if you want.) , even leave your cell phone at home (can you do it?) and go for a walk.  And, don’t bring that ipod either!  Listen to the birds and the wind in the trees.  Focus on the smell of the air and the colors of spring.  You’ll be glad you did.

Use Water Bottles and Travel Mugs: Still reading? Okay, good.  But, seriously.  Go for a walk and have a picnic after you’re done reading this post! Don’t you dare grab a one-time-use bottle of water to take on your walk, in fact… don’t do it all day! If you stop for coffee on your way to that farmer’s market, bring a travel mug with you.  You won’t believe how many plastic bottles and paper coffee cups people throw out every single day.  Changing to a reusable water bottle or travel mug will reduce your impact a ton.

Hang Clothes Out to Dry: Did you know that people cooked, cleaned dishes, and washed laundry before modern appliances? It’s true!  There were no clothes dryers on the frontier.  Reduce your use of electricity by doing things in a more “old fashioned” way.  Hanging your clothes out to dry instead of throwing them in the dryer will reduce fading, make them smell fresher than any dryer sheet, and uses absolutely no electricity whatsoever! Run a line in your backyard, or even just pull your clothes rack out on your back porch.  If it’s sunny, it won’t take very much longer than a dryer anyway.

Make Earth Day Resolutions: Doing things like using water bottles and travel mugs, going outside instead of watching TV, hanging your clothes out to dry, going to farmer’s markets, and using reusable bags are all great things to do today.  But, imagine if you adopted some of these practices into your everyday life?  You don’t have to revolutionize your daily routines overnight, but just make one or two commitments for the rest of the year.  Will you change all your light bulbs to the Compact Fluorescents? Will you always remember to keep a travel mug in your car? (FYI: If you’re driving through a Starbucks and hand them a dirty mug, they’ll gladly rinse it out for you before filling it backup), how about opting to hang-dry your clothes all summer?  Little changes can make a big difference!

Happy Earth Day!

Hazel.

Tags: bird house, birdfeeder, earth day, garden benches, outdoor dining set, Outdoor Furniture, Outdoor Furniture Covers, outdoor furniture cushions, outdoor grill, patio chairs, patio furniture, picnic table, planter, porch swings

A lot of our themed outdoor spaces have been fairly well traveled.  Tuscany, Far Eastern Asia, and the Tropics have all served as inspiration.  But, let’s take our designs a bit closer to home.  The Adirondack Mountains are a large mountain range located in Northeastern New York on Lake Champlain and Lake George.  Full of rich history for both the Algonquian and Mohawk Native Americans and European settlers, the Adirondacks are a wonderful region completely dependent on the gifts of the land. Connect with the outdoors in your area by creating an Adirondack retreat!

Connect with Water: A mountain range connected to two large lakes with countless streams, rivers, and ponds takes a connection with water very seriously.  If you have a lake on your home, fantastic!  But, most people don’t.  You can create an artificial pond fairly easily, but there’s another body of water you may get more use out of.  A pool or (even better) a hot tub will give that closeness to water while providing relaxing functionality. Unlike the tropics, the Adirondacks have harsh winters and lots of snow.  So, a hot tub is a perfectly appropriate facilitator of outdoor living even when the temperatures a cold!

Build a Wood Structure:  The Adirondack Mountains were a hub of fur trapping and hunting during the beginnings of this nation, and are still a gaming destination for many.  Hunting cabins are a staple of this region, so re create that feeling by erecting a small wood garden structure.  A gazebo over your hot tub would be ideal, but a gardening shed, backyard cabana, or partly enclosed gazebo will give the same façade. You can, of course, fill your structure with patio furniture or an outdoor dining set.  Or you can simply use it for storage.

Use New York Plants and Flowers: The Adirondacks have rich foliage, expansive forests, and beautiful flowers.  While deeper research will determine the best plants for your home, Heartleaf foam flowers, Northern Spicebushes, Northern Tree Clubmoss, American Fly Honeysuckles, and many varieties of Dogwood will all lend Adirondack greenery, while Black Bugbane, Blueflag Iris, and Rose Pogonia will bloom beautifully.   Plant them around your home to grow rich wilderness.

Arrange Adirondack Chairs: Did you think I forgot? Adirondack Chairs are perhaps the best kind of patio furniture for this style of outdoor living space.  You’ll need plenty of Adirondack Chairs for relaxation and family time.  But, don’t feel boxed in!  Adirondack Porch Swings, Adirondack Tete-a-tetes, Adirondack Settes, and Adirondack Rockers will allow you to create a varied and visually interesting group.  Adirondack patio furniture now comes in rustic, traditional, and more contemporary styles and in materials as diverse as Cedar, Polywood, Eucalyptus, and Teak!  Circled around a fire, overlooking a lake, or simply arranged in a group, these time-honored patio chairs will create a wonderful seating area.

Remember to Vary your Patio Furniture: Adirondack chairs are great, but don’t overdo it!  Too many Adirondack chairs will overwhelm your outdoor room.  This is a great time to decide if you want to take a more rustic direction to your Adirondack retreat, of if you want a more refined appearance.  A lot of White Cedar Patio Furniture uses wood that still has a log-like appearance.  Intermingling this with your other patio furniture will give your entire outdoor living space a more rustic appearance.  While using more finished looking Western Red Cedar outdoor furniture will allow a more polished area.

If you live in a cooler climate, creating an Adirondack retreat may be a more realistic choice for a themed outdoor room.  Embrace more native plants and give yourself a place to curl up when the weather gets cooler.  And, when the weather is nice, bring your whole family into the back yard, pitch a tent, and pretend you’re deep in the wilderness!

See You in your Adirondack Retreat!

Hazel.

Tags: adirondack chairs, Adirondack Porch Swings, Adirondack Rockers, Adirondack Settes, Adirondack Tete-a-Tetes, backyard cabana, garden structure, gardening shed, gazebo, outdoor dining set, patio chairs, patio furniture, western red cedar outdoor furniture, white cedar patio furniture

One barrier many outdoor livers run into is the problem of using color with their patio furniture sets.  It’s often thought that too many Cedar and Pine pieces will overwhelm any space with a brown, wood tone.  But, adding color to your outdoor living space will spruce up your patio furniture and allow it to be holistically designed and stylish.  Though, take caution, too many colors and patterns will make your porch or gazebo look too busy.

Use Paint: The most obvious choice is to use paint on your patio furniture.  Cedar outdoor furniture won’t take paint well, so it’s best to just stick with a stain sealant.  But all varieties of pine and cypress work well with paint.  If you’re creating both a sitting and outdoor dining area, try painting both sets of patio furniture different colors to create more separation between the two living areas.  Though, if possible, consult with a paint expert at the store to pair colors that have a similar tone or richness to make sure the contrast isn’t too jarring.

Put Up Patio Umbrellas: Though this isn’t the best option for those creating outdoor dining areas under porches or inside gazebos, anyone with patio furniture out in the open should consider a patio umbrella.  Not only does it provide protection from the sun’s harmful rays, it is also a wonderful opportunity to add some corresponding color.  Modern patio umbrellas come in nearly any combination of colors and patterns, so choose carefully.  You want an outdoor umbrella that coordinates with the rest of your decorating scheme, so it’s important to have ideas in mind before you start looking around for one.

Coordinate Outdoor Furniture Cushions and Throw Pillows: Have you read this far and are still thinking, “Well, I have Cedar patio furniture and I’m using it in my gazebo.  Don’t you have anything for me?” Yes, I do!  Outdoor furniture cushions and throw pillows will create instant colored accents to your outdoor seating group.  If you’re worried that your cushions will become ruined sitting outdoors, you can breathe a sigh of relief.  Most modern outdoor furniture cushions use special soft-woven techniques to create incredible durability and mildew resistance without sacrificing style or comfort.  Outdoor throw pillows are a great way to add some exciting patterns to your patio furniture.  Matched with a solid colored outdoor furniture cushion, a striped or patterned throw pillow that coordinates with the surrounding colors works well to add interest. As long as you brush off any dirt and put them away in the winter, your outdoor furniture cushions should serve you well in both comfort and style!

Accent with Table Cloths and Outdoor Dishes: A picnic table or outdoor dining set is a great place to add some soft color.  Something as easy as a table cloth or placemat can be changed easily to mix things up for a special occasion or holiday.  If you already have special dishware for outdoor dining, it can be fun to match one of the colors or designs in your dishes to a new table cloth.  If you haven’t yet invested in picnicking dishware, shop for table clothes, place mats, and outdoor dishes together to make sure to create a well-designed and well-balanced set.  Bringing the entire area together will make it look as refined as your indoor dining room!

Grow or Pot Colorful Flowers: Of course, the most natural way to bring color to your patio furniture group is through flowers.  Whether you choose yellow and white daisies, red tulips, or green foliage… the natural coloring is sure to compliment almost any design scheme.  Plus, living and growing color adds a certain depth that even fabrics cannot match.  Try using windows boxes, planters, or planter tubs and arrange them on the steps of your porch or surrounding your patio furniture.  It can either continue your garden onto your porch, or create a garden if there never was one!

Using color in your outdoor rooms is as important as the porch swings, picnic tables, and other patio furniture that invite everyone to come together.  And, having an outdoor living space that’s as colorful and masterfully decorated as your interiors does not require a lot of maintenance or incredible design expertise.  Outdoor living is about leaving the anxiety of everyday life at the door; don’t let it become drab and certainly don’t let it become stressful!  Relax.  Have fun!

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