All Outdoor Patio Furniture

Among the many indoor projects that people are working on at this time of the year, painting is one of the most common.  This is understandable, as it’s a great way to give a room a whole new look, without the expense of remodeling; and virtually anyone can do it.  For first-timers, however, the myriad choices in paints can be rather confusing.  Heck, it’s difficult enough just to pick from the millions of available colors.  Then, after you make that monumental decision, you have to figure out whether flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, or gloss paint, will best suit your purpose.

So, if you’re not familiar with these terms, remember that flat paint has a matte finish, with no sheen, shine, or shimmer.  Because it doesn’t reflect light, it can hide some minor imperfections; but it’s less durable, more porous, and harder to clean, than glossier types.  This makes it more hospitable to mold and mildew growth, so it shouldn’t be used in high-humidity rooms, such as bathrooms and kitchens, or in backyard structures that aren’t insulated.

Eggshell has just a slight hint of luster, but can add a bit more depth and warmth to a room.  Easier to clean than flat paint, it still disguises small defects, and is less attractive to mildew.

Smooth and somewhat shiny, satin paint is much more durable than flat and eggshell varieties.  Very easy to clean, and resistant to mold and mildew, it’s great for use in bathrooms and kitchens, as well as high-traffic areas.

With its beautiful, sparkling finish, semi-gloss paint is extremely durable and easy to keep clean.  It’s used mostly for trim, doors, and bathroom and kitchen cabinets; but it’s highly reflective, and will draw attention to even the slightest blemish.

Gleaming, glistening gloss paint is mainly for trim, wainscoting, and cabinets; but it can also make a home look stylish and welcoming when used on the front door.  Because it spotlights every imperfection, however, wherever, whenever, and if ever you use it, be sure that whatever you put it on has no flaws whatsoever.

Once you’re done with the indoors, you can start planning a fresh look for the outdoors.  Adding patio furniture to your porch or lawn is a great way to add an entirely new living space to enjoy.   Of course, with the thousands of patio chairs, porch swings, garden benches, swingbeds, picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, chaise lounges, hammocks, accent tables, gliders, outdoor dining tables, garden structures, and ottomans available, there’s practically as many varieties of outdoor furniture as there are paint colors!

Luckily, though, this will cause you no consternation.  Because materials can be easily split into two categories; cedar, pine, oak, cherry, teak, eucalyptus, and cypress, verses aluminum, synthetic wicker, polywood, and vinyl.  Your decision is simple: either you wood, or wood not.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: accent tables, adirondack chairs, aluminum, backyard structures, cedar, chaise lounges, cherry, cypress, eucalyptus, garden benches, garden structures, gliders, Hammocks, oak, ottomans, outdoor dining tables, patio chairs, patio furniture, picnic tables, pine, polywood, porch swings, Swingbeds, synthetic wicker, teak, vinyl

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

Another year is ending, and millions of people are making their New Year’s resolutions; but I am not in that number.  It has never made sense to me.  For one thing, no one ever keeps them.  For another, if there’s something that you really want to – or have to – do, why in the world would you wait until the next year to do it?

Still, the tradition of making resolutions goes back, at least, to 153 B.C., and the Roman god, Janus, for whom the first month of the year was named.  With an extra face on the back of his head, he was the god of beginnings and endings, and the symbol for resolutions.  At midnight on December 31^st, Romans imagined that he was looking back at the old year, and ahead, to the new one.  Many began exchanging gifts with, and asking for forgiveness from, their enemies.  They often gave branches from sacred trees, for good fortune, or nuts or coins imprinted with the image of Janus.

Certainly, no one knows exactly when the first New Year’s resolution was made; but this is believed to be the oldest celebrated holiday, begun by the Babylonians, more than 4,000 years ago.  I’m sure that there were people back then who thought that they could magically quit their bad habits at the stroke of midnight on the first day of the year (which, at the time, was on what would be March 23^rd today).

Still, I say that the best strategy is to just try to improve yourself every day, regardless of the date; and that’s also the philosophy here at CedarStore.com.  We have always been dedicated to enhancing the outdoor living experiences of our customers, by offering the highest-quality wood, metal, and synthetic outdoor furniture, along with garden structures, such as gazebos, sheds, pool houses, cabanas, and sunrooms.

We speak with – and listen to – our customers every day, and work year-round to provide them with everything that they need for comfortable, stylish, and gracious outdoor living.  That’s our resolution, 365 days of the year; and we’ve kept it since our first day in business.

So, here’s listening to you in 2010, and hoping that it’s a great one for us all!

Happy New Year!

Kathy

Tags: Cabanas, garden structures, Gazebos, history, metal, new years resolutions, Outdoor Furniture, pool houses, Sheds, Sunrooms, synthetic wicker, wood

As you may or may not know, today is the Winter Solstice for those residing in the Northern Hemisphere.  Though many believe that the biggest celebration of this week is coming up on the 25^th of December, varied cultures have been celebrating this momentous occasion for several centuries.

The Winter Solstice occurs sometime between December 21 and December 22, depending on the shifting of the calendar, and is commonly known as the shortest day of the year.  No, there’s no need to change your clocks; the sun’s maximum position is at its lowest on the solstice, therefore producing the fewest hours of sunlight.

You may be thinking—Why would so many cultures be celebrating the darkest day of the year?  Well, in truth, most were not celebrating the darkest day… but the return of light.  After the Winter Solstice, the sun slowly starts to increase its arc creating more daylight to each 24 hour period.  World Wide, countless generations have feasted on the Solstice to celebrate the rebirth of the sun and the meaning of hope.  And now, within the Christian age, people celebrate the birth of the Son and a similar sentiment just a few days later!

The importance of the Earth’s phases and astrological cycles have been a central point to a multitude of cultures and societies; making this turning point a vital day across the globe.  Many of the ancient wonders of the world, like Stone Hedge and the Pyramids of Giza, are very intimately connected to astrological happenings. 

Far Eastern traditions see the Solstice and the changing in light as an essential part of their balanced and harmonious Taoist philosophy of the Yin and the Yang.  While Western Slavic cultures saw the Winter Solstice similarly to the way we see Halloween, as a night when evil spirits come out to enjoy the night, but are eventually defeated by the resurrected sun.     From India to Chile, ancient traditions have marked the Winter Solstice as a feast day to celebrate the return of sunlight. 

Now that I have you all excited about the return of lazy summer afternoons where the sun stays out long into the evening… you can start dreaming of outdoor barbeques and quiet mornings with coffee… despite the snowy piles outside your window.  With garden benches available in Western Red Cedar, Synthetic Wicker, and even luxurious Teak, how could you not be ready to pull your whole family outside? 

But, remember, though we’re celebrating the return of the sun… we still have plenty of Winter ahead of us.  But, don’t worry! Cedarstore.com and GazeboCreations.com have Cabanas, Poolhouses, and Sunrooms available with insulation to keep you warm while enjoying outdoor living until the Spring Equinox comes around!

See You Outside!

Hazel

Tags: Cabanas, garden benches, poolhouses, Sunrooms, synthetic wicker, teak, western red cedar