Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

As the weather turns colder, I can not help but be moved by the harvest season. Just as summer pushes me to be eternally nestled in an ocean-side château, autumn always seems to sweep my mind to the farmlands of the Appalachian Mountains.  A basket full of sweet corn would catch my senses as I pull a sweater over my shoulders and head to the kitchen.

In both interior and outdoor design, materials and colors can tell stories.  Even if you can’t have your dream cabin or beach resort, well chosen furniture and colors can transport your mind there anyway.  This week, I’m aching to hear tales from wicker furniture and wrought iron patio furniture.

When paired together, the hard and soft of these two materials interact to create a shabby-chic ideal that is neither too bold nor too bland. They work for both indoors and out, but I can’t help but lazily envision a sunroom or other enclosed outdoor living area set for casual gatherings and quiet moments.

Wicker patio furniture does fabulously with colorful outdoor furniture cushions, throw pillows, and blankets.  Warm up the space with oranges, burgundies, and reds.  Pull the pieces closer together than you might normally do in a living room or conversation area. Because wicker is a softer material, it has fewer tendencies to weigh down a room.  Plus, pulled closer together, the whole area will feel a bit more “snuggly.”

I find wrought iron and aluminum is best for patio bistro sets.  Even though it’s used in an enclosed outdoor living area, outdoor furniture and patio furniture are still well suited. While an outdoor furniture cushion will make the seats more comfortable, try not to go overboard with textile layering.  The exposed iron is industrial and appealingly so. Set next to your wicker conversation collection, it will keep the room well balanced.

Rustic outdoor furniture does not need to look tired.  You can create spaces that are simple, yet still luxurious by coordinating materials and colors. As harvest season seeps into our souls, warm up enclosed outdoor living spaces with wicker and wrought iron.

Have fun!

Hazel

Tags: enclosed outdoor living area, enclosed outdoor living spaces, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor furniture cushions, patio bistro sets, patio furniture, rustic outdoor furniture, sunroom, wicker conversation collections, wicker patio furniture

Certainly, you’ll want to create the perfect atmosphere for your outdoor dinner party, as well as the ultimate experience for those attending it; and the food, the outdoor décor, and the company will be integral to your achieving that goal.  In fact, there are times when putting together just the right combination of these ingredients can almost guarantee success.  However, when you’re planning an outdoor affair, especially at this volatile time of the year, there’s another force that can undo all of your efforts at the drop of a hat; er, rather, let’s make that several drops – of rain.

Indeed, sometimes, Mother Nature can get mighty testy when she is not included on the guest list; and if she decides to crash your party, there’s not a thing that you can do about it.  Moreover, in some cases, rain may be the least of your worries, because she does not simply have the element of surprise – she has many of them; and if she’s really angry, she may show no quarter.

Therefore, your first consideration should be keeping your guests out of her path, as well as her wrath.  Luckily, there are steps that you can take that will prevent everyone from being entirely at the mercy of Mother Nature’s capricious nature.  These precautions can also help to preserve the food, the tableware, and the decorations.

Of course, the ideal situation would be to have a gazebo or a pavilion that’s large enough for all of the guests, the picnic tables, and the patio furniture.  In the absence of either of these garden structures, a patio that’s covered by a roof, awning, or even a pergola, will afford some level of protection.

Even if you have a small gazebo that won’t accommodate the entire party, you may want to, at least, keep the food in it, on an outdoor buffet.  Then, make sure that whatever picnic tables, outdoor dining tables, or bistro tables that you will be using are equipped with patio umbrellas.  You can get them in beautiful fall colors, such as burgundy, bronze, plum, red, orange, gold, and russet.  Another option is to put a large market umbrella over the outdoor serving table and the outdoor bar.  Naturally, if you have any other kind of outdoor structure, such as a garage, pool house, cabana, sunroom, or shed, or even an enclosed porch, you should use it to house the food.

Otherwise, it might be wise to rent a tent or two; but if you don’t, just be certain that you have some kind of backup plan, in case things get nasty, and the party has to move indoors.  Wherever you intend to take refuge, you must provide adequate seating for everyone; so, if you don’t have enough outdoor furniture, get some extra folding chairs.  If there’s not adequate room to fit a picnic table inside, you can use a folding table, some outdoor accent tables, or even bring in just the picnic table benches.

The key is to make arrangements for dealing with unfavorable circumstances, and have everything set up in advance.  That way, you, your guests, and your party, can continue the revelry, unscathed.

On the other hand, there is always the chance that your foresight will irritate a certain, spiteful entity, who may feel cheated that she didn’t get to have her revenge; so, just be careful, as she may be waiting to launch another assault the minute you step back outside.

After all, it’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: cabana, garden structures, gazebo, market umbreall, oudoor accent tables, outdoor decor, outdoor dining tables, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor structure, patio furniture, patio umbrellas, pavilion, pergola, picnic tables, picnnic table benches, Pool house, shed, sunroom

Ask a hundred people, and you’ll get a hundred different ideas about what elements constitute the ultimate patio.  Some want theirs to be grand entertainment areas, while others prefer theirs to be cozier spots where they can hang out with their families, and, once in awhile, a few friends.

In many cases, people dream about turning theirs into snug little hideaways that will give them some much-needed solitude; and, naturally, even similar visions will have endless variations.  Then, there are those who have no idea what to do with their patios, beyond putting a few outdoor chairs on them.

Yes, it’s a shame, and it happens for a number of reasons, that many perfectly good patios are unused, or, at least, underused.  In certain instances, it’s because people figure that they just don’t have a flair for decorating; so, they simply set up a couple of porch chairs or folding chairs, for the occasions when they want to sit outside.  Sometimes, people feel that their patios are too small to have any real potential; or, their outdoor areas become unbearably hot in the afternoon sun.  Some folks have even been known to avoid using their patios because they don’t afford enough privacy.

No matter what circumstances lead to the neglect of patios, the results are the same – a bunch of wasted space.  It doesn’t have to be that way, however, because, for one thing, you don’t have to be an expert designer to put together some spectacular outdoor décor.  Furthermore, there are several easy ways to fix, or compensate for, most of the obstacles that stand between you, and your ideal patio.

When you’re decorating a patio (or a porch, yard, gazebo, deck, or sunroom, for that matter), start by thinking of it as one of the rooms in your home.  Just as they each have their designated uses, your outdoor room will serve a specific purpose; or, if it’s large enough, perhaps, more than one.  Either way, it’s up to you.

Whether your goal is to divide your patio into sections, or to gain more privacy or shade, you have several options from which to choose.  For example, trellises, multi-paneled garden screens, and planter benches with lattice, all make wonderful partitions that will allow air to continue to circulate.  (Outdoor ceiling fans will keep cool breezes blowing in roofed garden structures.)

If nothing else, people often like to separate their cooking and dining areas.  This minimizes traffic around their grills (which is especially important when kids are running all over the place), and keeps smoke from wafting directly toward picnic tables and patio furniture, where their friends and family members are socializing.

Of course, as is the case with the rooms in your home, you’ll have to decide on a color scheme – and, perhaps, a theme – for your patio.  Luckily, that’s easier than ever, as, these days, the variety of outdoor furniture and accessories is as wide as it is for the indoors.

Okay, so, maybe that doesn’t exactly make it easier.  In fact, it may actually make things more difficult, or even drive you crazy; but, in the 21^st century, that’s the price we all have to pay for having so many choices.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: garden structures, gazebo, grills, outdoor ceiling fans, outdoor chairs, outdoor decor, Outdoor Furniture, patio furniture, picnic tables, planter benches with lattice, porch chairs, sunroom, trellises

As I believe I’ve mentioned a time or two (hundred!), every year, millions of people turn their yards, porches, decks, patios, and gazebos into outdoor living rooms.  This has been going on for quite some time now; and it doesn’t appear that the trend will ever end.  In fact, it’s reaching new heights, as these exterior spaces are also being made into outdoor kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms, game rooms, guest rooms, and just about any other type of room you can name.

If you’re trying your hand at this kind of landscaping, and you have a large area to develop, it may be difficult to know where to begin.  That’s no wonder, because it’s like trying to decorate a house that doesn’t have walls or ceilings.  Wait a minute.  Like that?  No.  It is that!  After all, without walls and ceilings, it’s not a house; it’s a yard.  So, there you are.

Still, you can approach the task as if you’re remodeling the inside of your home.  All you need is some structure; or, rather, structures, as in, the garden varieties.  Yes, you can use garden structures, such as trellises, arbors, and pergolas, to define your outdoor rooms, and then work on each section as a single, manageable project.

Start by determining how much space you have, and how many outdoor rooms you want.  Make sure that they will all be large enough to suit the functions that you have in mind for them.  Otherwise, you may have to give up a room, or design one for dual purposes, as you don’t want things getting too crowded.

A dining area should be spacious enough for, at least, a grill, a picnic table (or outdoor dining table), some patio chairs, and a few accent tables.  To add more privacy or shade around a pool, place some trellises in key locations, leaving an adequate expanse of grass open for playing lawn games.  If you want just a quiet little retreat, you may need only a remote corner of your yard.

If you already have a gazebo, pool house, cabana, or sunroom, use it as a focal point, and build around it, tailoring the other areas to specific uses.  You can use anything, from a simple trellis, to a paneled garden screen, depending upon the degree of isolation, and the style, that you desire.  Even if you have limited space, one carefully-chosen piece, such as a gated arbor with a swing, or a double planter bench with a lattice back, can instantly become a miniature haven.

Actually, you can have a lot more fun – and a lot more freedom – designing rooms in your backyard, than you do when working within the confines of your house.  For one thing, having trellises as walls lets you change the size of an area any time you wish.  Moreover, with patio furniture now available in so many styles and colors, there are tons of decorating options as well.

Of course, you’ll also be able to select from thousands of varieties of gorgeous climbing flowers, which will surround you with color, and bring your outdoor rooms to life.  So, I guess that would make them living rooms, in the truest sense.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: accent tables, arbor with a swing, Arbors, cabana, double planter bench, gazebo, grill, outdoor dining table, paneled garden screen, patio chairs, patio furniture, Pergolas, picnic table, Pool house, sunroom, trellis, trellises

As we march toward March, cabin fever is at fever pitch for those of us who live in areas where winter is winter.  With spring about to spring, we long for the long, sunny days, when we can garden in our gardens, plant plants, and picnic at our picnic tables.  Now, those in frozen regions may say that things won’t melt ‘til Memorial Day; but, land agoshen, that’s a scary notion!  All of this cold has really gotten old, and May may be too long a way away to wait.

Of course, if you live in a warm climate, you don’t have to worry about winter; and if you have an enclosed porch, sunroom, or gazebo, at least, you can use your patio furniture all year long.  Otherwise, relax in the knowledge that spring is but a few weeks away, and get your outdoor furniture ready.  Make sure that it’s up to another season of heavy use and abuse, especially if it’s old and worn.

You may have a faded favorite that holds cherished memories of family gatherings, and has held cherished family members who are no longer around.  It’s well broken in, and, perhaps, broken down; but you still don’t want to part with it.  However, if any piece of porch furniture is questionable, safety-wise, you’ll have to decide whether or not it can – or should – be repaired.  For example, an old rocker that’s off its rocker, and has to be propped against a wall to be kept upright, is a lost cause; but a porch chair with a loose rung or two may just need a bit of glue.

Before you take the patio chair apart, make sure that you will remember which pieces fit where, by stretching a length of masking tape from the leg to the end of the rung that goes into it, and labeling it with corresponding letters or numbers at each end.  When you pull the rung out of the leg, just tear the tape in two, so that you can simply match ‘A’ to ‘A’ or ‘1’ to ‘1’ when putting it back together.  The masking tape should peel off easily, without damaging the finish; but if you’re unsure, either test an inconspicuous area, or use painter’s tape.

Loosen and remove the old glue by brushing hot vinegar onto the joints.  This should work in only a few minutes, but if the old glue is very thick, it may take up to an hour to completely dissolve the build-up.  Get all of the old glue off, or the new glue won’t attach properly to the wood fibers.  White or yellow wood glue will work beautifully; epoxy or permanent glue will ensure that your outdoor furniture will never come apart again.

Don’t use nails or brackets to put the patio chair back together; and use screws only if they were there in the first place.  To make certain that everything sets properly, clamp the joints together until the glue dries thoroughly.

Indeed, sometimes, the sentimental value of an old patio chair or porch swing makes it well worth the effort it takes to fix it.  And sometimes, the comic value of something like, say, that backward-tipping rocking chair, makes it priceless to keep around, even if it’s irreparable.  I know I’ve had some real laughs with mine!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: gazebo, Outdoor Furniture, patio chair, patio furniture, picnic tables, porch chair, porch furniture, porch swing, rocking chair, sunroom

This is the time of year when our thoughts are preoccupied with comfort foods, hot beverages, sitting around fires, taking vacations to tropical islands, and anything else that will help us to get warm.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that coffee houses, which are usually pretty lively anyway, are even more crowded now, as they also serve hot cocoa and tons of decadent desserts.  Naturally, in the winter, people also prefer to spend more time in their homes, where their sunrooms are the hot spots.  These two places are so popular, in fact, that many people are actually turning their sunrooms into coffee nooks.

If you want to try this, it’s really easy to do; and you can re-create the tranquil charm of an old-fashioned, mom-and-pop shop, rather than the jam-packed chain establishments that are so prevalent.  To get the atmosphere of a traditional café, furnish it with a wood or aluminum bistro set, accessorized with checkered or floral print placemats and napkins (with napkin rings), sugar bowls, creamers, fresh flowers, candles, and containers with individually-wrapped biscotti.  Make it really authentic by producing colorful menus on your computer, then fold and stand them upright on the table.

Create a lounge area by adding synthetic wicker chairs and sofas with soft cushions in colorful patterns, as well as coffee tables, end tables, and accent tables, topped with magazines.  If the sunroom is big enough, you may want to put in a partition, and have a dining set on the other side, for larger gatherings.  If you prefer a rustic décor, choose cedar or pine furniture; for a more elegant motif, consider a teak or cherry dining set.  Put up shelves and stock them with mugs and cups of different sizes and colors.

Of course, you’ll need the main attraction, too, so get a bunch of brightly-colored containers and fill them with an assortment of specialty coffees and teas.  You won’t even have to worry about being an expert at making coffee, because, with the great coffee, espresso, and cappuccino makers that are available, along with the wide variety of coffees, you’ll soon be whipping up concoctions that are every bit as good as (or even better than) anything you’ll find at even the most popular coffee franchise (not mentioning any names, of course!).

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: accent tables, aluminum, bistro set, cedar, chairs sofas, cherry dining sets, coffee nook, cushions, pine furniture, sunroom, Sunrooms, synthetic wicker, teak, wood

Although it’s important to winterize your home before the weather gets cold, life often gets so hectic that, before you know it, the year is over, the world is frozen, and you’ve already paid a fortune in heating bills.

The bad news is that the worst is yet to come.  The good news is that you can still do something about it; and the bitter cold and snow can give you a good idea of what needs to be fixed.  Now, you won’t have to search for gaps and cracks that let air in, because the bone-chilling gusts of wind that whip through your living room will help you to easily pinpoint them.  Just get some weatherstripping, caulk, or heat-shrinking plastic, and seal them.

A substantial snowfall can also tell you a lot.  If it melts rapidly from atop your shingles, and icicles form quickly, without a thaw, it means that heat is escaping in the exact direction in which your heating bills have been heading – through the roof.  Check your attic floor to see that it has adequate, evenly-distributed, gap-free insulation, of uniform thickness.  If you have to add more, be sure that the side with the vapor barrier is facing down, toward the rooms that you want to keep warm.

Break up any ice dams that form along the eaves, as they can cause melting snow to puddle and leak through your roof.  Wherever possible, sweep snow off roofs that have shallow angles, on your house, garage, gazebo, carport, cabana, pool house, shed, or sunroom.

If you have not taken measures to prevent your pipes from freezing, do it now.  You can use foam insulation sleeves, or electric heat tape, but don’t use the latter on plastic pipes.  If a severe cold snap is imminent, turn the sink and bathtub faucets on to a slow trickle, and cover exposed crawl space vents with plywood.

If your porch chairs, gliders, swings, and picnic tables are still outside, and they’re not the synthetic or metal types that are impervious to the elements, either store them, or put outdoor furniture covers on them.

Do this even if outdoor furniture is the last thing on your mind right now.  It may not happen today, or even tomorrow, but, believe it or not, the sun will come out again!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: cabana, cold, furniture covers, gazebo, gliders, picnic tables, Pool house, porch chairs, shed, snow, sunroom, Swings, winterizing

If you’ve taken any time to look through Cedarstore.com, you know that it makes you feel like the proverbial kid in a toy store. Porch Swings, Garden Benches, Adirondack Chairs, Accent Tables, and Hammocks all set up and waiting for you to give them a home.  But, then you start to think, a doll without a dollhouse? How would she live?  Worry not, we have all your perfect Gazebos, Cabanas, Sunrooms, Pergolas, and Pool Houses too.

Well, now that we’ve gone down a fine stroll down memory lane… you have to remember the little ones in your life!  Sons, Daughters, Nephews, Nieces, and Grandkids are all looking for their own slice of perfection.  While you may have thought that Cedarstore.com was only filled with “toys” for adults… we have plenty for kids too!    

Cedarstore.com is running a ton of holiday specials—many of them on kids’ furniture.  Our Treated Pine Kid’s Picnic Table is the perfect size for the youngsters to pile into for crafts, meals, and fun.  And at the end of the day, our Ash Kid’s Rocking Chair is a great place to page through a picture book with a favorite teddy bear or doll.  Need a place for storing all those toys? Our Stained White Pine Toy Chest with a Hand Painted Eagle Design is also on sale.  And though… we can’t guarantee that it will keep all the toys and games off the floor, it will absolutely be a step in the right direction! Don’t forget the really little ones!  We also have a Select Pine Kid’s Swing great for letting your child fly high, while staying safe!

Now, before you start to lose your child-like wonder by imagining the disaster of trying to fit all of these great pieces into your child’s bedroom… don’t forget the doll house part of the equation!  We also offer custom playhouses.  With a porch, railings, windows, door and big enough for your kid AND her toys… the Barbie Dream House has nothing on it! A playhouse is a perfect place for children to engage their imagination and create their own world where everything is just their size. Don’t forget, a kid in his playhouse is a kid not underfoot while you’re trying to get dinner together! And, available in three different styles, over thirty sizes, and countless customizations—it’s a one-of-kind, not-available-on-the-shelf, absolutely fantastic gift.

The best thing about Cedarstore.com is that after you’re finished getting all the great toys for your kids… there’s plenty of great toys for you too!

Now hurry up and order; make time for shipping!

 See you Outside (in the playhouse!)

Hazel.

Tags: adirondack chair, gazebo, Holiday Specials, kids' furniture, Outdoor Furniture, patio furniture, pergola, Pergolas, picnic table, Pool house, porch furniture, porch swing, sunroom

While your gazebo can be integral to your backyard Halloween party, if you have a pool house, a cabana, an outdoor sunroom, or even a shed, don’t let it stand idly by during the festivities; any one of these garden structures can also figure into your celebration.

Although they may be useful for many things, just as with the gazebos, the number of ways in which they can serve will depend upon their sizes.  For example, the smaller ones may be perfect for setting up a few folding tables for a buffet, while the larger ones may be roomy enough to hold picnic tables, outdoor dining tables, bar sets, or bistro sets, where guests can sit down and eat. 

Many people also like to turn their outdoor structures into haunted houses.  In these cases, the degrees to which they can be used as such will vary not only according to the buildings’ sizes, but to the ambitions of their owners as well.  Obviously, not everyone wants to go to great lengths for an elaborately staged production, where people walk through in the dark, being scared by others wearing horrifying costumes, while wielding bloody axes and chain saws.      

More often, the gazebos, sheds, cabanas, and pool houses are adorned with spooky decorations, and equipped with eerie lighting and sound effects.  In order to make things as chilling as possible, many people also like to roll out a little fog.  Unfortunately, fog machines have always been too expensive and impractical for most to consider buying; and the alternative, dry ice, is not only a hassle, but can be costly, and dangerous, if it comes in direct contact with skin. 

However, because they have become much more affordable, compact, and easy to use, fog machines are quickly increasing in popularity.  These days, all you have to do is to pour a little fog fluid (usually a solution of glycol and water) into the machine, to instantly create the perfect atmosphere.  Many of the newer ones even have remote controls, and will turn off automatically when they’re low on fluid.  Furthermore, they’re often small enough to be concealed behind an arbor, trellis, pergola, or even a planter.    

So, there you have some more ideas about how you can use your outdoor furniture and garden structures for your outdoor Halloween parties.  And if you are considering getting one of the aforementioned machines, I really hate to say this, but, I guess that could literally be called a foggy notion!  (I’m sorry!)

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: cabana, garden structure, gazebo, outdoor structure, Pool house, shed, sunroom

If the thought of winter has you wanting to run for the sun, you won’t have to book a trip to Florida.  You can always escape to the comfort of your “Florida room.”  Okay, if you’re thinking that you don’t have one of those, remember that that’s just a fancy name for a sunroom.  So, good, that’s settled; you can spend your time there instead.  What?  No sunroom either?  All right, now you’re just making things difficult.  No wonder you want to go to Florida. 

Wait. Just kidding.  You still don’t have to leave home.  You can have your very own sunroom, before you can say, “What?  I’m not building an addition onto my house!  Are you crazy or somethin’?”  If you are, indeed, asking that right now, I’ll have to answer, somethin’, because it’s true.  These days, the fashionable – and very sane – thing to do is to put up a separate sunroom in the backyard.  And if you ask that last question again, I’ll have to reply, somethin’ again, because you really can!

Furthermore, you won’t be the only one doing it, because sunrooms from GazeboCreations.com are charming their way into backyards all over the country; and it’s easy to understand why.  For one thing, they’re the perfect way to bring the outdoors inside, and vice versa, as they provide the best of both worlds.  In a sunroom, you can be surrounded by a breath-taking winter wonderland, while being sheltered from the cold, wind, and snow.  It can also be a blessed backyard retreat, where you can go for some rest, recreation, rejuvenation, and reinvigoration.     

You can use our Sunroom Designer to create a spectacular sunroom right on our site, choosing from dozens of options, including several colors of vinyl siding, shingles, and trim, as well as finished interiors, insulation, ceiling fans, cupolas, window boxes, and more.  Besides adding these features, people everywhere are filling their sunrooms with outdoor furniture, such as synthetic wicker sofas, loveseats, dining sets, accent tables, rockers, swingbeds, gliders, and lounges, and turning them into spare rooms, entertainment rooms, family rooms, home offices, guesthouses, studios, and tons of other things.  Many are even installing hot tubs and creating their own backyard spas.

Now, is that a great way to spend the winter, or what?  No, the answer is not what.  In fact, our sunrooms are REALLY somethin’!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: sunroom, Sunrooms