A backyard cabana is the definition of casual sophistication.  If you’re not sure, exactly, what the modern cabana looks like… let me take you on a small and abbreviated tour of this fantastic backyard fixture.  Originally a Spanish word, a cabaña is a tropical shelter resembling a cabin. Over the years, it has become a structure encompassing vacationing relaxation; a hip and current bungalow embracing the laid-back attitude of the Tropics.  Now, almost all seaside and luxury resorts boast cabanas for socializing, relaxing, and enjoying the island atmosphere.  But, you don’t have to shell out the cash for a week long vacation of jam-packed cabana enjoyment… you can create your own backyard oasis to enjoy the sun for as long as you like! Here are five steps to consider when planning your backyard cabana.

1. Quality: Though your cabana will be a place to leave your cares at the door, make sure to take plenty of care when choosing how your cabana will be constructed.  Using substandard materials, building professionals, or designs will just lead to a disaster and a huge headache.  A cabana that has to be worried about is a complete failure of the entire purpose, after all. The old photos of cabanas constructed of rotting drift wood may look romantic, but you won’t feel so dreamy when it collapses during a rainstorm!
2. Materials: The materials you choose for your cabana is a vital and important decision; the aesthetics, durability, and cost of your structure all very much depend on your material choice.  Western Red Cedar is the most traditional option.  The rich wood with its aromatic qualities will completely transform your mood.  Western Red Cedar also contains a high deposit of natural oils that act as preservatives against wood decay and insect damage.  If you’re looking for a cabana that calls back the spirit of yesterday, Western Red Cedar may be your best choice.  Northern White Cedar is a similar material and possesses the same impressive durability.  But, White Cedar does carry a hint of pinkish white that sets it apart from other materials.  The eye-catching hue creates interest and a certain hint of whimsy.  Dura-Temp is an economical choice that will last over twenty years.  The plywood-based panel siding has a smooth surface that looks natural, but resists moisture, dents, checks and cracks.  It also holds paint incredibly well if you’re looking to add a bit of color to your backyard project.  Pine is another material that will take paint without any problems.  With minimal maintenance and still enduring beauty, Pine is a fantastic choice for someone looking for value and beauty.  Finally, Vinyl is the most untraditional choice that might be perfect for you! It will protect your structure from any kind of weather and is virtually maintenance free.  If you’re looking for a cabana with a bit more of a substantial and house-like look, vinyl will do the trick!
   

   An Oval White Cedar Cabana

3. Shape:  Did you think cabanas only came in four-sided squares (I don’t think there are any other kinds of squares…)?  Nope!  Octagons, rectangles, ovals, hexagons and elongated hexagons with belle roofs are all viable and interesting choices for your backyard cabana. Many rectangle cabanas can have porches attached to them for a more dramatic entrance way and belle-roof cabanas give a wistful silhouette.  You will want to consider how many people will be using your cabana on a daily basis and what kind of atmosphere you’ll want to create.  Rectangular and Elongated Hexagon shapes are more likened to indoor rooms, and therefore more apt to traditional furniture arrangement.  But, Octagons, Ovals, and Hexagons will make you feel truly removed from the ordinary.                                                                                                                                                                                   
4. Use: Don’t let anyone define how your cabana should be used for you!  A backyard cabana should be a personal retreat; so just think of the perfect place to retreat to after a long day… and decorate accordingly!  Light some candles, bask in the sun streaming through your skylights, and enjoy an exercise and meditation area.  Install a flat screen for a dynamite place to watch football games and enjoy the grill right outside the front door!  Your designs will reflect your intended use, so whether you are planning to create a serene and quiet retreat, or a neighborhood destination for get-togethers and parties, your backyard cabana can and will be a complete reflection of your style and personality!                                                                                                                            
5. Décor: Now that you’ve decided how to use it, you get to decorate it!  Remember, the materials you use in your décor will define its style of relaxation.  Try wicker, red cedar, cherry, and teak for sophistication and elegance.  Polywood, vinyl, and coated metal all boast maintenance free properties that will keep you feeling relaxed if upkeep is just not on your to-do list.  But, no matter the material, your options are nearly endless.  For tranquil and calm get-aways, use a natural and soothing rocking motion to propel you toward peace.  A porch swing, porch glider, or a classic rocking chair all provide the proven restful motion that will naturally guide you toward more quiet thinking.  There’s a reason your mother rocked you to sleep… it’s a calming motion enjoyed by almost everyone.  Chaise lounges, though stationary, provide the same feeling of ultimate repose and pampering.  But, of course, if your heart is already set on that flat screen TV, try patio groups, outdoor sofas, comfy patio chairs with ottomans, and (of course) coffee tables and end tables for drinks and snacks! A backyard cabana is also a fantastic structure of an outdoor dining room.  Are you tired of traditional dinner parties and mediocre barbecues?  Go upscale with sophisticated outdoor dining sets, picnic tables, and even bistro sets.  Go the extra mile with a Teak Monarch Bar and high bar tables with bar stools.  You’ll wonder why people feel the need to “go out” when you can simply waltz out your backdoor to the swankiest place in town.

The materials and shape of your cabana, as well as the type of outdoor furniture you use to decorate it will define your retreat.  But, such a versatile structure is sure to fit your needs because you can design it to be EXACTLY what you want!  Doesn’t it feel fantastic? What do you have in mind; have you started planning yours yet?

See you in your Cabana!

Hazel.

There are tons of projects for us to do, in and around our homes; but, at least, we get to work with houses that already exist.  Imagine the monumental challenges that our earliest ancestors faced, when, surrounded by wilderness, they had to construct various forms of shelter from whatever was at hand.

Many of those who weren’t lucky enough to find caves to live in (the “high society” crowd), made huts from wood and branches, while others draped animal skins over wooden frameworks, or used the bones of mammoths for the skeletal (literally!) structures, then covered them with the skins.  In any case, it took a lot of effort to build even the most makeshift abode.

Even so, it wasn’t long before people began adding on rooms to these modest dwellings, and furnishing them with chairs and tables that had been crudely fashioned from rocks, wood, and branches.  Outdoor furniture, I guess, was anything that was found lying around on the ground.  Perhaps a felled tree could have been used as a lounge chair, a smooth rock, as a garden bench (or, if it teetered on an uneven surface, a rocker), and an animal pelt tied between two trees, as a hammock, a hammock chair, or even a porch swing.

Naturally, people quickly began accumulating more possessions, in an attempt to keep up with the Joneses – or, the Oggs, as the case may have been.  Then, because of the apparently innate compulsion of the human race to hoard things, even when there’s no place to put them, the first storage sheds were created; and, like many homes, and some inhabitants thereof, they were nothing but skin and bones.

Throughout the ages, they have really fleshed out, appearing in many forms and materials, in virtually every culture, evolving into the good old backyard structures that we’ve all come to know.  In the 21^st century, however, apparently unsatisfied with being used only for storage, the shed has once again changed the way it is perceived in society.

Today, there are several styles of sheds, made from vinyl, cedar, and pine, available with features that include skylights, insulation, window boxes, and dozens of colors of siding and roofing.  Along with their impressive, new looks, garden sheds are taking on daring new roles, as home offices and gyms, studios, playhouses, guest rooms, and hobby rooms.  In fact, because they have proven that they can successfully serve all of these purposes, and many more, sheds have become almost as popular as gazebos.

It just goes to show that great things can happen when you’re courageous enough to shed your old image.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

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

As I was saying, some of the things that people do to keep warm in January include partaking of comfort foods and beverages, sitting by roaring fires, luxuriating in hot tubs, and jetting off to tropical islands.

I also mentioned that sunrooms are great places to stay warm, whether you have one that’s built into your home, or standing separately in your backyard.  But, guess what – they’re not the only garden structures that can shield you from the cold.  No-o!  Gazebos can keep you nice and toasty as well.

Now, I realize that, if you’re picturing the gazebos that stand in town parks, or the ornamental gazebos that are in many backyards, you may be thinking that I’m crazy for saying that; but you would be wrong.  Okay, okay – you’d be half right.  Sure, I may be a bit, well, let’s just say, eccentric (no, you don’t have to be rich to be eccentric!), but I definitely know what I’m talking about when it comes to gazebos!

Believe me, they’ve come a long way over the years.  While gazebos certainly can still be used for decorative purposes, or as shelters for picnic tables, patio chairs, porch swings, gliders, outdoor sofas and settees, or other outdoor furniture groups, these days, they’re available with so many features that people can actually live in them!

If you want proof, just go to GazeboCreations.com.  Right away, you’ll be amazed at our wide variety of cedar, treated pine, and vinyl gazebos, which come in all sizes and shapes.  Then, to further astound you, we’ve enlisted the services of a genuine Gazebo Wizard, who will help you to customize you own gazebo right on the site, by offering you dozens of options, including insulation, storm windows, different kinds of flooring, decorative railings, wiring, built-in benches, ceiling fans, special lighting, cupolas, several types and colors of roofing, and more.

Furthermore, he’ll add each one you choose, instantly, right before your eyes!  Truly!

You know, I really, really hope that you do visit our site now.  I mean, after all that stuff I said about a Gazebo Wizard, if you don’t come and see it for yourself, you really will think I’m crazy!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy