Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

Once reserved for the poolside soirees of the most elite, the pool house has really stretched its legs and expanded its reach.  A pool house is now perfectly at home in any backyard, large or small, even if there’s no water nearby.  Used for entertaining, relaxing and even working, the pool house can transition seamlessly to a functional extension of your home.

But, before you can gain the biggest potential out of your backyard pool house, you have to infuse some design sense into your structure.

Determine your Function: Before you can pick your outdoor furniture, you have to pick your function.  Are you hoping to create a party-central that will keep guests and entertainment centralized to one section of your home?  Having a backyard pool house for hosting parties will focus your cleaning and “prep” efforts to one place.  And, of course, after everyone goes home, all the mess will be in one spot as well!  Pool houses also do well as home offices, exercise spaces, game rooms, and even (most traditionally) as a place to change in and out of swim suits, grab towels, and store pool toys.  Whatever you decide, map out how you envision using your ideal space.

Design your Layout: It’s important to dedicate space before you start decorating.  What kinds of areas do you see being utilized within your pool house?  If you’re installing an indoor hot tub, be sure to leave plenty of room around it for climbing in and climbing out, as well as spots that won’t be damaged by wet feet.  Evaluate your square footage and be sure to maximize your space by mapping out your areas and not simply cramping too much furniture.  Start with the basics: a place to sit, a place to eat, a place to set down drinks.  Then, get creative and keep your main function at the center of every design decision.

Find your Fashion:  Once you have outlined the skeleton of your floor plan and layout, you can dive into colors, textiles, and textures.  To make a space look larger, color the ceiling a lighter shade than your walls and direct your color pallet toward light-hued neutrals.  For more drama, pick darker, more stark colors that will make immediate impact.  Mix soft, plush furnishings like mission style outdoor sofas and deep seating collections with harder surfaces like patio dining tables.  Keeping your colors and furnishings in balance will lend considerable comfort to the space.

Take a calculated approach to design and decorating to ensure you get the most out of your space.  Backyard pool houses can be customized for everything from meditation to poker night, so don’t let any pre-conceived notions of the structure attempt to hold you back!

Have Fun!

Hazel

Tags: backyard pool house, deep seating collections, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor sofas, patio dining tables, Pool house

Everywhere you look, you can see the unmistakable signs of the end of summer.  For one thing, all of the retail stores, and even the supermarkets, are loaded with autumn outdoor décor, such as scarecrows, fall wreaths, Indian corn, pumpkins, and the like.  However, those are not the things that I’m talking about, as I never take my cues from retailers.  Heck, they’re always well ahead of the actual seasons; in fact, before the end of this month, they’ll be completely decked out for Christmas!

No, I’m referring to the natural indications, which include cooler temperatures, the goldenrod that’s blooming, the leaves that are just beginning to drop, and the woods, which are starting to smell like fall.  Mind you, I’m not complaining, because this is my favorite time of the year, as it is for many others.  The only thing that some people dread about it is that the weather will soon be turning much colder, which means that they have a lot of chores to do, in order to prepare their homes and yards for the months ahead.

For those who live in regions where the winters are harsh, these tasks may include putting their outdoor furniture into their garages and garden sheds for storage.  If you’re in this group, remember that, while this is an important step in protecting your patio furniture, you shouldn’t rush into it.  After all, summer’s not quite over, and there’s still plenty of time left for outdoor living.  So don’t tuck those porch swings, picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, grills, and outdoor sofas away under outdoor furniture covers just yet.  They can actually help you to enjoy the grandeur of the season.

Sure, the best way to experience nature’s full splendor is to get right out there, into the heart of it all, and immerse yourself in autumn’s magnificent shades of gold, crimson, russet, and orange.  Indeed, there’s nothing like taking a brisk walk in the woods, inhaling the crisp, cool air, and being dazzled by the awesome foliage, or enveloped in a shower of brilliant leaves.  You can also take a ride in the country, pick a pumpkin from a patch, build a bonfire on a chilly evening, or dive right into a pile of leaves.

Of course, for most people, these aren’t exactly everyday activities; they’re more along the lines of weekend adventures.  That’s why it’s a good idea to leave outdoor furniture in place for as long as possible.  Whether in your backyard, or on your porch, deck, or gazebo, it can provide prime seating for the spectacular show that’s going on all around you.

So, take advantage while you can.  Have your morning coffee at your outdoor dining table or bistro set.  Pretend it’s still July; throw some burgers on the grill and eat dinner at your picnic table.  If you’ve been taking in the sights and scents of your garden from your porch glider or garden bench for the past few months, continue to do so; it takes on a whole, new beauty in autumn, especially if you’ve planted some fall-blooming flowers.  On a warm afternoon, lie in your hammock, where you can look directly up and see the sun gleaming through the multi-colored leaves.

Truly, if you want to get the most out of this breath-taking, yet fleeting, display, wait until the last bit of color has vanished before putting your porch furniture away.

Now, if you live in a place where the weather stays warm and sunny all year long, I’m sorry, but you’ll just have to deal with that!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: adirondack chairs, garden bench, garden sheds, grills, hazebo, outdoor decor, outdoor dining table bistro set, Outdoor Furniture, Outdoor Furniture Covers, outdoor sofas, patio furniture, picnic table, picnic tables, porch furniture, porch glider, porch swings

Certainly, the more you investigate the assortment of outdoor furniture that is available, the more you realize just how many options you have for decorating your outdoor (or indoor/ outdoor) living spaces.  When you get right down to it, you probably have just about as many as you do when you’re selecting indoor furniture.

Yesterday, in comparing the two types of furniture, I mentioned the huge variety of patio chairs, outdoor sofas, loveseats, settees, porch swings and gliders, garden benches, and outdoor rocking chairs, which can be used to create spectacular outdoor living rooms.  Of course, there are also millions of outdoor kitchens and bedrooms to be furnished as well; and, luckily, porch furniture, once again, stacks up favorably against its indoor counterparts.

Naturally, there are several pieces that can cross over from room to room, just as daybeds, pull-out sofas, and chaise lounges do in our homes.  In fact, the outdoor chaise lounge is a good example, as it can be used for sitting, reclining, or sleeping.  Undoubtedly, lounge chairs are as important to outdoor furniture collections as they are to living room suites; and they are just as comfortable, as they have adjustable backs, wide armrests, and seats that are raised in the middle, to keep knees elevated.

When it’s time to lie down and take a snooze, truly, hammocks rival the comfort of even the softest beds.  Among the most popular pieces of outdoor furniture, they come in all colors, and can be made of canvas, rope, or mesh; and many of them have attached pillows.  They can be used anywhere, because, if you don’t have a place to hang one, you can always get a hammock stand; and the same goes for hammock chairs.  Swingbeds are also great for sitting, swinging, or napping.

As in indoor rooms, end tables are integral to the décor of all outdoor rooms; and they’re available in choices that are nearly, well, endless.  You’ll find an array of accent tables, such as outdoor coffee tables, terrace tables, and conversation tables, in cedar, pine, oak, cherry, teak, and polywood, in all colors and styles.

As for the eating arrangements, there’s no denying that, in most homes, picnic tables have always ranked right up there with kitchen tables.  Furthermore, because they have undergone such impressive changes over the past several years, they feature more styles, sizes, colors, and shapes than ever.  Along with the traditional rectangular picnic tables with attached benches, you’ll find hexagonal, octagonal, trestle, and extra-wide picnic tables with backed benches.  If you want something a bit more contemporary, you can get an outdoor dining table or a bistro set.

Indeed, whether in an open area, or an enclosed porch, patio, or gazebo, you can create any motif imaginable, as today’s patio furniture comes in such a wide range of materials, styles, and colors.  Moreover, the countless colors, color combinations, and patterns available for outdoor furniture cushions, patio umbrellas, and outdoor throw pillows, give you even more artistic opportunities for your outdoor décor.

It’s no wonder that we’re so crazy about outdoor living!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

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Tags: accent tables, bistro set, chaise lounges, garden benches, gazebo, gliders, hammock chairs, hammock stand, Hammocks, outdoor chaise lounge, outdoor coffee tables, outdoor decor, outdoor dining table, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor furniture collections, outdoor furniture cushions, outdoor rocking chairs, outdoor sofas, patio chairs, picnic tables, porch furniture, porch swings, swing beds

So, last week I did some problem solving for small porch design.  But, I can hear you southern belles of the large, wrap around porches calling out!  After all, decorating an expansive banquet hall is just as, if not more, difficult than creating a functional closet.  Sometimes you just don’t know what to do with all of that space!

Many people give up all together, thinking that they either cannot afford enough patio furniture to do the space justice, or wouldn’t know what to do with it once they got it anyway. Don’t feel overwhelmed or pressured, because some simple tips for outdoor furniture arrangement can help you get the most bang for your buck!

If there’s a section of your porch that has a better view than other parts, you can still use the facing-out technique (for those who missed the last porch post, arrange your outdoor seating to face out toward the view, instead of facing in toward each other like most indoor living rooms).  But, for the widest sections, group your pieces together for a more “interior-room” look. Using outdoor deep seating collections, I would still position your largest piece with its back against the house so it can face out.  Mixing areas with facing out seating and spaces that have seating grouped to face each other will add a dynamic element.

If you’re worried about overspending, look for outdoor furniture that can serve multiple purposes. Double or triple-duty pieces can transition between different kinds of get-togethers, so you don’t have to buy a separate piece for every occasion.  Outdoor ottomans can also serve as side tables, and picnic table benches can be pulled out for additional seating elsewhere.

You likely have enough to room to section off different areas into different uses.  Map out “rooms” where they best fit.  Outdoor furniture designed for sitting and talking can easily be arranged to face outward to survey views during quiet pauses in conversation. While, dining areas will be focused on what is sitting on the table… so views need not play a factor!

Group your seating areas and dining areas together separately to create division; for example, put the backs of your outdoor sofas and loveseats to the dining area.  That way, each section looks like a completely separate space.  Also, try adding outdoor rugs to give each space definition.

But, while defining separate areas is good, you’ll still want to keep color schemes coordinated to bring the entire area together. Three different outdoor spaces on one porch using three completely opposite color schemes might make people think they’re on a movie set with changing scenes.  Each area of your porch may have a different use, but its all part of your home.  Fabrics are the easiest way to coordinate colors.  Table cloths can work with throw pillows and outdoor rugs can certainly complement outdoor furniture cushions.

Don’t forget that you still need a secluded section for your own peace of mind, as well!  When decorating any part of your home, certainly consider your guests, but never forget yourself! A spot for a secret alcove will probably be a bit easier to find on a larger porch instead of a smaller one.  So, be shameless with your private nook! Add a big, deep, swing bed with a plush, comfortable cushion that you can truly stretch out on.  And, of course, make sure you have an outdoor coffee table or patio accent table for newspapers, books, lemonades, and sandwiches!  If you really want this area to be yours and yours alone, try facing it away from the rest of your porch.  That way, it will be difficult for parties to spread themselves out to the space.  Don’t feel guilty; every person needs their own section of outdoor bliss!

So, come on! Go out and make yours!

Have Fun!

Hazel

Tags: outdoor coffee table, outdoor deep seating collections, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor furniture cushions, outdoor ottomans, outdoor seatings, outdoor sofas, patio accent table, patio furniture, picnic table benches, swing bed

Any home on the market today absolutely must have curb appeal.  If it doesn’t, its owners may be in for a lot of drive-by viewings.  However, getting people to stop for a better look is just the first step.  The next is even more significant.  They have to get out of the car; but if the yard is unattractive, they may not even go that far.

Indeed, the landscape of a house can make all the difference in potential buyers’ decisions about whether or not to take those first steps, and then, to continue to the front door, for the full tour.  The problem is that there are so many aspects of it to consider, that it’s difficult to get everything right.

Sometimes, home sellers are so wrapped up in getting the insides of their homes show-ready, that they don’t give the exteriors all of the attention that they need.  Certainly, they’ll cut the grass, prune the hedges, and weed the garden beds; but it takes a lot more than a lush, well-kept lawn, neatly-trimmed shrubbery, and beautiful flowers, to entice people to explore further.

Of course, they want to see a place that’s charming, inviting, and picturesque; and they want to be able to put themselves into that picture, living the good life.  Outdoor furniture can contribute greatly, in that regard.  Porch swings, gliders, outdoor sofas, lounge chairs, and hammocks can really make a house look warm and welcoming.

Other outdoor décor items can influence people as well.  While a few birdfeeders, birdhouses, and some planters are fine, yards that are cluttered with too many garish lawn ornaments, such as plastic deer and geese, gazing balls, and the dreaded gnomes, can be repellent.  It’s best to let the interested parties see the gorgeous greenery.

Actually, though, even if the grass, plants, and trees all look spectacular, there can be other elements that people find disturbing.  One thing that can instantly detract from the impression of a meticulously-maintained landscape is the sight of weeds or grass growing in the cracks of pavement, or between the bricks of patios and walkways.  This can be taken as a sign that the inside of the house may not have been kept up properly, either.

On top of that, if the cracks are in the concrete, instead of between separate, solid sections, it shows, without a doubt, that the property is in need of some repairs, and, apparently, the pavement is not the most pressing issue.  This will get people thinking about all of the other things that they may have to fix; so, it’s definitely worth it to replace broken or cracked driveways and walkways.

After working so hard to get people moving toward your front door, don’t let them step on a crack on the way there.  It may not break anyone’s back, but it could break the deal.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: birdfeeders, birdhouses, gliders, Hammocks, lounge chairs, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor sofas, Planters, porch swings

Every year, millions of people get married outdoors.  Some take their vows in their own backyards, as they stand in beautifully-decorated gazebos, or beneath arbors or pergolas, while others choose public places, such as parks or beaches.  No matter where the ceremonies are held, however, those who are planning outdoor weddings must be prepared for every eventuality.

For example, I once attended an outdoor wedding in Minnesota, during the second week of October.  Naturally, when I first heard of it, I was worried that the event could be ruined by cold temperatures, rain, or, considering the location, even an early snow.  Instead, there was a freak heat wave, and it was 94º on the big day!

Now, even in August, that would have been a bit uncomfortable; but it wouldn’t have been the nightmare that it was for the out-of-towners who had packed for chilly weather.  So, if your ceremony is going to be outside, stay abreast of weather conditions, and e-mail your local forecast to long-distance guests a few days in advance.

Remember, their comfort is key to the success of your event; and, aside from the weather, seating is one of the most crucial considerations.  For the actual ceremony, of course, you’ll probably have to rent some wood outdoor folding chairs.  If you want to dress them up, you can use ribbons, or, for a more formal look, go to any event planner and get some of those white outdoor furniture covers that are designed to slip right over the chairs.

Afterward, during the period when people will be mingling, make sure that they will find patio chairs, garden benches, outdoor sofas, settees, porch swings, and porch gliders, in all areas where they are welcome to wander.  Don’t leave anyone without a place to sit.

Wind is another thing that can blow your plans; and it can kick into high gear on any day of the year.  Therefore, it’s best to avoid light fabrics, such as chiffon or silk, for bridal, and bridal party, gowns.  Likewise, long trains and veils may prove to be injudicious selections if it really gets gusty.  You should also plan for wind when you’re getting your hair done for the occasion.

Of course, even more substantial materials will be tossed around in very high winds; so, for good measure, you may want to use fishing weights, which can be spray-painted to match any color, to hold down veils, dresses, and tablecloths.  You can also use the weights on ribbons, and attach them to place cards, to keep them where they belong; or put the cards into decorative photo frames, which will be your favors.  Moreover, be sure that the patio umbrellas on your outdoor dining tables and picnic tables are held down firmly with heavy umbrella stands.

Indeed, there’s an endless list of details to tend to, in order to be certain that your outdoor wedding will go off without a hitch.  Uh, I’d better make that, in order to be certain that everything will go smoothly.  After all, if there’s not a hitch, it won’t actually be a wedding!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Arbors, garden benches, Gazebos, outdoor ceremonies, outdoor dining tables, outdoor folding chairs, Outdoor Furniture Covers, outdoor sofas, outdoor weddings, patio chairs, patio umbrellas, Pergolas, picnic tables, porch gliders, porch swings, settees, umbrella stands

It’s no surprise that outdoor weddings are more popular than ever; in fact, it seems only logical.  After all, millions of backyards have been turned into luxurious exterior rooms, complete with outdoor sofas, loveseats, lounge chairs, outdoor dining tables, and other comforts.  Furthermore, many people also have gazebos and pavilions, which are perfect settings for weddings and receptions.  With all of these amenities, who wants to go anywhere else?

The trouble is that insects also enjoy hanging out in these backyard havens; and they wouldn’t think twice about crashing an outdoor wedding.  So, if you’re planning one, take all possible measures to prevent them from ruining the occasion.  You can begin by spraying the area the day before the ceremony.  Using citronella candles is also a must; and, fortunately, they’re much more attractive than they used to be.  No longer available only in big, silver buckets, they now come in all colors of votive candles, which can easily be worked into any centerpiece, or used separately, in decorative holders.

Of course, taking steps to reduce the insect population is a good move anyway, because, aside from being mere annoyances, they can sometimes even be deadly.  Such is the case with mosquitoes, which can carry the West Nile virus.  Luckily, you can control them by eliminating their favorite breeding grounds, which are pools of stagnant water.

Don’t leave anything lying around outside that will collect water, such as empty buckets, flowerpots, planters, wheelbarrows, sandboxes, sandbox covers, wading pools, waste receptacles and lids, or old tires.  If you’re not using these items for their intended purposes, bring them inside, put them in your garage or shed, or get rid of them.

If you have any low spots in your yard, where puddles remain for days after a heavy rain, build them up with topsoil.  If there are sunken areas on hard surfaces that cannot be raised, put a few drops of dish detergent into the puddles.  This will make them uninhabitable by mosquitoes, and kill their eggs as well.

Keep wasps away by destroying their nests, which are usually found under the eaves of houses, sheds, and garages.  Just wait until dusk, when all the wasps are tucked in for the night, and squirt them with wasp and hornet spray; it shoots a steady stream that travels 20 to 30 feet, and kills on contact.

To get rid of maverick wasps, fill some margarine containers halfway with sugar water, cut tiny holes in the lids, and set them around the outskirts of the yard.  The wasps will go into the holes, and get stuck inside the containers.  Yellow jackets often nest in the ground; so, wait until after dark, pour boiling water down the hole, and you’ll wipe out the entire colony.

As for flies, well, they’re really tough to control.  I mean, they can certainly be trapped on fly paper, but it’s never a pretty sight.  So, I guess you’ll just have to do something creative, like having fly swatters for favors.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Gazebos, lounge chairs, loveseats, outdoor dining tables, outdoor sofas, pavilions, Planters, shed, Sheds, waste receptacles

Those who have spacious backyards can fill them with all sorts of wonderful outdoor furniture.  Along with their porch swings, patio chairs, and accent tables, they may also have room for outdoor sofas and loveseats, outdoor coffee tables, rocking chairs, ottomans, garden benches, face-to-face gliders, grills, and even gazebos.

Most people, however, either have smaller backyards or patios, or only terraces, porches, or balconies; and, in many cases, they feel that these spaces are too dull or cramped for entertaining.  If this is your quandary, you probably have more options than you think, because even the most lackluster area can be turned into a beautiful outdoor living room.  Beyond getting the right outdoor furniture, which you can find in sizes, styles, and colors to grace any space, you can do things to make it more accommodating, while playing up its coziness aspect, which is very appealing.

If you don’t know where to start, try going from the bottom, up.  Truly, the floor can have just as much of an impact on the look of an outdoor room, as it does on an indoor room.  Paint a slab of concrete, or old, worn-out decking, with paint that’s made for porches and decks.  You can also use marine paint, designed for the hulls of boats, which is available in several bright, bold colors.

Choose a solid color, or add stripes, or geometric shapes, to create the illusion of a larger space.  To make it even homier, put down some colorful area rugs, just like the ones that you use indoors.  Toss in some cushy outdoor throw pillows in vivid, mix-and-match colors, and people will be comfortable sitting right on the floor.  For extra seating, put a picnic table bench along a wall, or off to the side.

You don’t have to worry about having your outdoor living room completely packed with furniture and accessories all of the time.  On special occasions, you can bring out some indoor pieces, such as serving carts and end tables, and even hang some art on exterior walls for the duration of the party.  Even a small outdoor dining table will look spectacular when you set it with your good china and silverware, crystal wine glasses, and cloth napkins with napkin rings.

Naturally, lighting is very important as well; and, while candles always spark a festive atmosphere, they’re not the only things that can light up a party.  There are several styles of outdoor table lamps, outdoor floor lamps, and outdoor lanterns that will get glowing reviews.  Other great choices are hurricane lamps, LED candles, paper lanterns, and strings of white Christmas lights, wrapped around trees, railings, planters, arbors, trellises, and pergolas.  For a really magical touch, you can even place candles inside your planters, as long as they’re in spots where they won’t set anything on fire.  Just don’t forget to extinguish all of the candles when the party’s over.

Of course, if someone breaks one of your good wine glasses, it may be over sooner than you had planned!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: accent tables, Arbors, face-to-face gliders, garden benches, Gazebos, grills, ottomans, outdoor coffee tables, outdoor dining table, outdoor floor lamp, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor lanterns, outdoor loveseats, outdoor rocking chairs, outdoor sofas, outdoor table lamp, patio chairs, Pergolas, picnic table bench, Planters, porch swings, trellises

Right now, millions of people are preparing for summer, and their upcoming backyard parties, by setting up their outdoor furniture, picnic tables, and patio umbrellas, and making their yards, gardens, and outdoor décor look spectacular.  While that may seem like an awful lot of work, in many cases, it’s the easy part.  After all, once porch swings, patio chairs, outdoor sofas, and accent tables are in place, they’re good to go.

Grills, on the other hand, are a different story, because cooking on them – safely and successfully – requires some know-how, and even a degree of finesse.  No matter how fantastic a grill is, or how many wonderful features it has, if the person who is cooking does not know how to use it correctly, the food can still turn out to be, well, disappointing, to say the least.

The first thing to be aware of is that all grills are different; so, if you’re getting a new grill, whether it’s your first, or your fifth, read and heed the manual that comes with it.  Actually, the more experienced you are, the more you realize how important it is to become acquainted with your grill’s specific characteristics, and that it takes some time to do so.  For example, only after using it for awhile will you find out whether it has hot spots, where they are, and how long it takes to heat to proper cooking temperature, especially on windy or chilly days.

Indeed, weather is another factor, as it will affect cooking times, not only on charcoal grills, but on electric and gas grills as well.  While your manual may offer tips for using your particular grill in various climates and conditions, there are some general rules that apply in every situation.

For one thing, even though you should never use the grill indoors, it should be placed where it will be shielded from the wind; otherwise, neither it, nor the food, will stay as hot as necessary.  Food will cook faster on charcoal grills on warm, calm days, than it will on windy and/or cold days, when you will need more coals, which will take longer to heat.  Even gas grills will take a bit more time to heat, and you may have to use higher heat settings.

Like everything else, in order to obtain top performance from it, you must keep your grill clean.  One easy way to do this is to prevent foods from building up on the grill rack, by coating it with a non-stick cooking spray, or brushing it with vegetable oil, before you use it.  After cooking, remove any remaining bits of food from the grill rack with a wire grill brush, or a piece of aluminum foil (unless your manual says otherwise).

Usually, you can clean the racks in electric and gas grills by closing the covers and turning the burners on to a high setting for about 15 minutes.  If you line the bottom of the firebox with heavy-duty aluminum foil, shiny side up, it will catch any drippings (and, if it’s a charcoal grill, ashes), and act as a heat reflector.  Then, after everything has cooled off, you can just bundle up and discard the foil.

Truly, there are dozens of fine points to learn about outdoor cooking; and I will be touching on many of them in upcoming entries.  So don’t worry; before you know it, you’ll be able to thrill with your grill!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: accent tables, charcoal grills, gas grills, grill, grills, outdoor decor, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor sofas, patio chairs, patio umbrellas, picnic tables, porch swings

As you know, our blog usually focuses on design advice, decorating ideas, and practical safety tips for outdoor living.  And, of course, our fabulous guest bloggers write about their area of expertise as well!  But, today we’d like to use the blog to answer one of the questions that have been buzzing around lately.

“What is CedarStore.com doing to positively affect the environment?”

Let’s start with the harvesting of our materials.  Our most obvious ecological products are our lines of Polywood outdoor furniture.  Polywood is made from 100% recycled plastics and polyresins, then crafted to look and feel like real wood.  Just think, you’ll be enjoying your garden thanks, in part; to the empty milk jug you just crushed and threw into recycling!

But, a lot of our materials are wood, as well.  All of our Red Cedar products are sourced in California and Oregon, our Pine wood is from Louisiana and Georgia, and our White Cedar originates in Michigan.  We are committed to only using Cedars and Pines found and processed in the United States. We do this not only to support our nation’s economy, but because it significantly reduces that amount of fossil fuels that many other companies use to ship cheaper wood from overseas.  Plus, in accordance with Forestry Preservation initiatives, we only work with lumber suppliers that plant at least FIVE trees of the same species for every ONE they cut down.  So, we’re using the bounty of our earth, but we’re making sure that future generations will be able to enjoy her gifts as well.

After our shops receive the materials, we continue to encourage sustainable practices.  The majority of our shops are in the process or already using alternate energies to power their buildings; in the form of solar panels, wind mills, and increasing the use of man-powered labor (instead of electrical equipment), our craftsman are dedicated to using sustainable energies over any other kind.

In any craft, there’s a lot of potential for wasted materials.  But, we do our best to recycle or reuse all of our left over resources.  For example, all of our sawdust is turned into mulch for flowerbed, trees, and pathways.  This not only ensures that the sawdust is used instead of wasted, it is also a much less expensive and more sustainable mulch.  Providing the tools for gardeners and farmers of all financial standings to grow their own food is important, and we’re happy to be part of the solution.

Most of our Treated Pine products are treated with a low impact preservative that allows them to be defined as “Green Spec Environmentally Preferable Products.” Older treating methods are often chemically toxic and bad for the environment.  However, our natural preservatives work with the wood without using any harsh synthetic materials.  Using wolmanized wood, or wood that has been treated to preserve its life, allows the wood to last much longer.  And, of course, wood that lasts longer naturally doesn’t need to be replaced as often, reducing the demands on forests for replacement timber.

So, now that we have the materials, treated the wood, crafted the patio furniture or outdoor structure, and recycled any leftover materials… we’re ready to send it to you.  The boxes we use for shipping are made from 50% Post Consumer Waste cardboard, and can be recycled after you unpack your new patio furniture.

Since we judge our products from cradle to grave, we have considered where your outdoor furniture will go if you decide you can’t use it anymore.  We hope this will be very far in the future!  But, when that time comes, the wood fiber created from our worn out porch furniture is used to create such diverse products as fuel pellets, insulation, pressed logs, decorative landscape mulches, home building materials, and other goods.

We’re not claiming that we’re saving the world or completely revolutionizing the outdoor living business.  But, we’re doing what we can to make sure that our children and our children’s children will be able to enjoy the outdoors in the same way, or perhaps even a better way, than we do.  So, whether you’re looking to install a gazebo or pergola, use one of our picnic tables to create an outdoor dining area, design wonderful outdoor seating with garden benches, porch rockers, and outdoor sofas… we just want to make sure your products are helping, not hurting, the earth.  We hope you join us in our pledge to always consider ways to promote more sustainable practices.

Hazel.

Tags: garden benches, gazebo, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor sofas, patio furniture, pergola, picnic tables, polywood outdoor furniture, porch furniture, porch rockers