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

As is the case with every holiday, Christmas has many traditions that are shrouded in myth and mystery.  For example, there are many different ideas about where the Christmas tree got its roots (yes, I know, and I apologize!); but, not surprisingly, they all originated in ancient times.  Evidently, a lot of cultures worshipped evergreens, because they continued to thrive in the winter.  Many celebrations that evolved from this apparent phenomenon were held around the time of the winter solstice, and involved bringing some greenery indoors.      

 The Egyptians, for instance, brought green date palm leaves into their homes, to symbolize life’s triumph over death.  During the Roman festival of Saturnalia, named in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture, people would decorate their homes with greens and lights, and exchange gifts.  The Druids used holly and mistletoe as symbols of eternal life, and put evergreen branches over their doors to ward off evil spirits.       

 There are tons more examples of similar festivities, from all around the world.  I don’t know about you, but this information means a lot to me; it means that the trend toward bringing the outdoors inside started a lot longer ago than I realized!  Heck, I thought that it came about when people began enclosing their porches, patios, and gazebos, and decorating them with outdoor furniture!  Wow!  Who knew?      

 Oh, well, so CedarStore.com wasn’t exactly in on the beginning of the trend.  That’s okay, because we caught up so quickly that we’re now on the leading edge of it.  In fact, we’re the premier site for outdoor furniture that’s gorgeous enough to use indoors.  We have one of the largest selections of wood, metal, and synthetic patio chairs, porch swings, gliders, garden benches, picnic tables, outdoor dining sets, sofas, loveseats, and accent tables available anywhere, in styles and colors to complement any décor. 

 Furthermore, if you want to give someone a really spectacular gift this Christmas, outdoor furniture can be the perfect choice.  It’s beautiful, useful, enduring, and quite a welcome change from the same, stale old things that they’re used to getting.  It will also be in accord with the tradition of bringing the outdoors inside, because it will really be a breath of fresh air! 

 Yours Outdoors,

 Kathy

Tags: accent tables, garden bench, loveseats, metal gliders, outdoor dining sets, Outdoor Furniture, patio chairs, picnic table, porch swing, sofas, wood