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

With this nation’s love of outdoor living, it’s no wonder that so many people are reluctant to make complete retreats to closed quarters when the weather gets cold.  It’s also no surprise to find that, each year, millions more are refusing to relinquish their summer lifestyles.  This accounts for the huge resurgence in the demand for sunrooms, as well as the growing practice of enclosing porches, patios, decks, and gazebos.

These indoor/outdoor rooms allow at least a semblance of being in the open air, and help to keep us in touch with nature, and prevent us from getting full-blown cases of cabin fever.  Because of the popularity of these rooms, as well as the increasing trend toward turning our yards into outdoor living rooms, where we spend much of our time during the warmer months, outdoor furniture is no longer a seasonal thing.  These days, people are shopping for porch swings, porch gliders, Adirondack chairs, and accent tables, year-round.

Furthermore, in keeping with the meticulous décor of these living spaces, patio furniture is also available in more styles, colors, and materials than ever.  Of course, there are some kinds that are perennial favorites, such as wicker porch furniture.

Indeed, wicker outdoor furniture has been around since, at least, 3,000 B.C., when it was used in Egypt.  It is also known to have been common in ancient Rome and Greece.  In fact, it arose from one of the oldest recognized crafts, which is basketry.  Apparently, soon after they began using pieces of reeds, rattan, willows, osiers, twigs, and bamboo, to make baskets, people realized that they could weave these materials around stiffer rods, shaped into various forms, and create furniture.

The first piece of wicker outdoor furniture in America actually came over on the Mayflower; but the wicker furniture industry didn’t get started in this country until sometime after 1850, when a young grocer came across large quantities of rattan on the docks of Boston.  Having never seen the likes of it, he made some inquiries, and found that it was a climbing palm that is native to Southeast Asia, and was used in ships that had been to that region, to keep cargo from shifting on the return voyages.

Shortly thereafter, this entrepreneur sold his grocery store, and established his own rattan company.  Before long, his business was booming, and he had his own fleet of ships that he used for importing rattan, which was highly sought-after by basket and furniture makers.  After starting his own furniture business, he enjoyed quite a bit of growth for a good part of the mid-to-late 19^th century, and had nearly cornered the market, until many other companies began making wicker furniture.

Before the turn of the century, the Victorian style, with its ornate curves and intricate patterns, was quite popular.  However, in the 20^th century, people started looking for simpler designs with cleaner, straighter lines.  Although manufacturers changed their styles to accommodate the public’s shifting tastes, the demand for the furniture declined over the next few decades.

In the 1960’s, however, wicker patio furniture began its comeback.  Today, along with authentic wicker, you can even find synthetic wicker pieces that are nearly indestructible.  Available with outdoor furniture cushions that come in every color and pattern imaginable, wicker remains among the most popular outdoor furniture in existence, and is central to the décor of millions of indoor and outdoor rooms.

Don’t you just love a happy ending?

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Okay, so you’ve determined what purpose your patio will serve.  The next step is to settle on a color scheme; and, if you wish to add a theme as well, figure out what it will be.  For the former, you may have fewer decisions to make, as you’ll simply (yeah, simply) have to choose some hues.  In the latter instance, however, you will further be committed to finding supporting accessories; and that can be quite time-consuming.

On the other hand, it can be a lot of fun; and, besides, you’ll be searching for the definitive items for your outdoor décor, no matter what.  It’s just that your selection will be somewhat broader if you’re not limited to things that must tie in with a specific subject.  Of course, if you declare your theme to be eclectic, you can throw in anything you like, and no one will question it.

One potential advantage of featuring a particular topic is that it is sure to be one of your passions.  Therefore, you may have already collected many related pieces; and many of them may be sitting in closets, collecting dust.  If so, this is the perfect opportunity to display them.  For example, if you spend all of your vacations at the beach, it’s likely that you’ve picked up lots of shells, beach bags, and other maritime-associated souvenirs, in your travels.

Well, now they can be part of your patio décor; and they’ll fit in splendidly with a beach, or a tropical, theme.  Furthermore, you can use them as creatively as you like, as you’re not bound by any rules.  For instance, there’s no law that says that arbors, trellises, and pergolas can be covered only with flowers.  No-o!  You can drape them with fish netting that’s filled with shells and sea glass, or hang starfish, and multi-colored (fake) fish from them.

Place potted flowers into upside-down beach hats, old beach bags, and pails, and use them as planters.  Then, for a nice, finishing touch, push some little, plastic shovels into the soil, just far enough so that they’ll stand at a slight angle.

If you’ve managed to acquire any bar or restaurant memorabilia, such as menus, glasses, signs (chairs, tables, kitchen sinks), or anything else, by whatever means (I know nothink! I see nothink!), incorporate them as well.  Not only will they look great on your outdoor dining table or patio bar set, but they’ll be sure to spark some interesting conversations and stories (like the ones about how you got them!).  Top off your outdoor tables with cheery patio umbrellas, and use beach umbrellas or market umbrellas in other spots, to provide more shade – and atmosphere.

When it comes to finding outdoor furniture, you’ll have another wealth of choices.  Wicker patio furniture with outdoor furniture cushions in bold patterns or stripes, and some wicker accent tables, will really complement the beach theme.  To make things even more festive, you can add some polywood Adirondack chairs and ottomans, in various colors.

Naturally, lighting is important, too; and there are dozens of fun styles and types available.  You can string your garden structures with twinkle lights, put torches around your patio and yard, set citronella candles on picnic tables, and use outdoor table lamps, lanterns, pendant lights, tree lights, solar lights, and decorative post caps.

So, how can you find all of these wonderful outdoor décor items?  Just do a little surfing on the ‘net, of course!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

We’ve been to Tuscany, Japan, and Paris.  But, perhaps we should veer our travels to a more exotic climate.  Imagine an outdoor living space in your own backyard that likens itself to the Brazilian or Caribbean Tropics.  Drinking out of the ordinary cocktails and snacking on pineapple and guava, you’re sure to feel complete and total escape from the daily grind of temperate climates.  But, you might be thinking that you just live too far north to feel such equatorial repose.  You’re in luck!  I can show you how to recreate a tropical paradise no matter where you live.

Recreate Tropical Vegetation:  Even if you don’t live in a tropical climate, you can recreate a tropical feel by planting foliage in layers to mirror natural growth patterns.  Mix and match broad-leaf greens of different hues, shapes, and sizes with vines and ferns to create a holistically wild feel.  Then, add tropical-style flowers in vibrant colors.  The kind of flowers will depend on your gardening zone, location, and maintenance time… but hot pinks, purple orchids, fiery reds, and striking yellows will give the warm and close look of the rain forest.  Have fun, and don’t worry too much about everything going together perfectly.  You’re not paying homage to the manicured gardens of English royalty; you’re mirroring the untouched wilds of the rain forest!

Use Wicker Furniture with Teak and Eucalyptus Accents: Allow your outdoor furniture to mirror your tropical garden with inspired furnishings.  The deep and natural coloring of wicker patio furniture is a perfect choice, and the softness creates the rustic ideal of a hidden retreat.  Teak, a material harvested in the rain forest, is also a wonderful pick; whether you accent with a Teak side table, Teak garden bench, or even teak chaise lounges, the durable hardwood will bring out a tropical feel.  Lastly, for an even more exotic look, try FSC Certified Eucalyptus from Brazil.  It has an organically, completely authentic, tropical sense with hints of deep red in the tight-grained wood.  Again, don’t let yourself have a moment of anxiety over some kind of exact ratio of materials.  Use whichever material you like the best, and mix and match it to your liking!  An exotic approach means a relaxed approach, so let your more experimental design instincts run wild!

Having outdoor furniture that reflects the rest of the vegetation will bring your entire outdoor living space together.  Whatever material you use, it’s also very important that your patio furniture reflects your personality and desired use.  Chaise lounges and garden benches are perfect for families looking to lounge and socialize all afternoon; while picnic tables and outdoor dining sets are best for people hoping to eat most of their meals outside.  If you plan to do a lot of entertaining, a bar set or refreshment stand will offer both style and function. Of course, if you have enough space to allow it, you can have both a living area and a dining area for complete versatility!

Use Bright Colored Fabrics: While your garden furniture highlights dark, natural colors… you’ll want to bring out the vibrant shades of your tropical flowers with fabric accents.  Outdoor furniture cushions, patio umbrellas, table cloths, or outdoor pillows are all great ways to add lively hues to your decorating scheme.  Choosing solid colors in the same or similar shades to your most used tropical flowers will bring the whole space together.  Use stripes and patterns carefully, or even sparingly, to keep the more simple and rustic theme in tact.  The best place for busy patterns is on dishware or urns to reflect the rich and brightly decorated pottery often found in tropical climates.

Couple a Fire Ring with a Water Feature: Even if you live in the most temperate climate, you can give the steamy feeling of the rain forest by mixing fire and water. Of course, you can choose to install a swimming pool for the height of luxury and function, or have a small garden or koi pond put in.  But more than having a pond or pool, moving water, like a water fall, is really ideal for a tropical garden.  Whether you have a fountain, or water gently flowing over rocks, the sounds of water through out the garden will be the absolute best for exotic gardens.

Adding a fire pit or fire ring will create wonderful contrast.  Like striking camps set up in the rain forest, a place for a true burning fire will make the entire area seem authentic while creating an inviting appeal.  Plus, having both fire and water work together will lend the steamy appeal without all the humidity!

Create a Hidden Retreat:  For the ultimate in tropical outdoor spaces, create a hidden retreat.  Accessible by a winding garden path away from the rest of the house, the sky and your imagination are the only limits to creating a unique area.  For people interested in large-scale entertainment, a tiki bar gazebo can be a wonderfully conversational garden structure that will have guests flocking.  But, if private repose is your prerogative, a spa shelter for a hot tub will certainly serve you like a fresh hot water spring!  A Red Cedar Cabana or Gazebo also make perfect hide-aways.  Decorated with the same wicker, teak, and eucalyptus outdoor furniture, you can also install an exotic outdoor ceiling fan with palm or tropical leaf blades.  Try setting it up with a small desk with typewriter and leather bound notebooks to give the appearance of an explorer’s outpost.  Or, use chaise lounges and a well placed hammock to make a tropical retreat fit for royalty.  After all, you will be the King or Queen of your retreat!

Traveling and vacationing are wonderful pastimes, but creating brilliant outdoor living spaces with the design and luxury of far away retreats allows both your family and your friends to escape at any time, all year long.  A tropical outdoor living space will allow you to feel like you’ve flown to a resort in the Bahamas at a moment’s notice.  Integrating large-leaf foliage with bright colored flowers along side natural wicker, teak, and eucalyptus furnishings accented with bright, solid fabrics will set a calming and interesting color scheme.  Mixing fire and water features will give the appearance of steamy climates without the humidity, while creating a hidden retreat can be both a hub for entertaining and an escape for true repose!  Experience the versatility of a tropical outdoor living space!