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When April Showers, The Rain’s No Pain

by Mike Petrucelli

The lake isn’t the only place you’ll find water this time of year. Oh, yes. Water falls from above in abundance in April, which can be a little … harsh. Hauling patio and deck furniture in and out with the weather is simply impractical. It’s important for outdoor living environments to be fortified against the elements, without sacrificing on style or comfort.

Bryce Glock, sales manager for POLYWOOD, the Syracuse, Ind.-based manufacturer, explained that nowadays, patios, decks and other outdoor spaces are considered extensions of the indoors, and they have the look and comfort to match. POLYWOOD (polywood.com) has classic and stylish looks, but, since it’s manufactured from recycled plastics, it also offers the resilience required to withstand Midwestern weather.

In addition to the classic look of the company’s core design—the Adirondack chair—as well as its Edge collection (with a more modern design), POLYWOOD has some newer styles that are expected to be in high demand this year.

The ‘Braxton Collection’ features an X-back design, usually found indoors, Glock said. POLYWOOD offers these chairs through all its product categories, from “deep seating” (think sturdy frames with comfy cushions) to dining counter and bar-height deck and patio furniture, to more “front porch” items like benches, swings and gliders.

“It provides the look and feel of a more indoor environment,” Glock said.

Homeowners seeking a serious statement piece might consider POLYWOOD’s rustic farmhouse table and bench. The design is that of a large, heirloom-style farm table that makes it clear: this is the gathering place for family and friends.

Cover Up

A large table like this may call for a similarly large cover for the wetter days of spring. A cantilever umbrella like the Boracay 10-foot cantilever umbrella (available at Wayfair.com), can provide a lot of coverage from sun—and from the rains giving April its reputation.

lighten Up

And as evenings are a little dark this early in the year, more styles of patio umbrellas are equipped with built-in LED lights, and are easily found at online retailers as well as local businesses. Look for more windproof designs as well, with vents and heavy bases.

From Slab to Sanctuary

Beyond Landscaping in Milford specializes in hardscapes, turning what can be a plain slab into more of a sanctuary and showpiece.

Joe Horacek, a landscape designer with Beyond Landscaping, said that popular looks for patios include overlaying a poured slab with natural stone and mortared joints.

“The one that we like doing the most is blue stone, a harder type of sandstone,” Horacek said, adding that Beyond Landscaping will also overlay heavier flagstones as well.

Based on what the homeowner has in mind, he said, Beyond Landscape creates outdoor hardscapes to any taste, from flat surfaces to more elaborate stepped hardscapes and more.

Another popular trend that began in the 1940s and has been seeing a bit of a revival of late, he said, are “live walls.” These are walls around outdoor spaces that allow for plants and flowers to grow on, in and around the wall. Live walls provide screening, but also a nice scenic space to liven a basic wall or fence section.

And there’s one more thing that’s high on hardscape customers’ lists these days, he said:

“Everybody wants a firepit.” to be usable is usable,” adding that the fire can be adjusted to provide ambiance or to throw off enough heat to be warming. The tables are equipped for propane fuel and come with a conversion kit for natural gas lines.

Warm Up

April’s temperatures can also be fickle, so another item to consider is adding a fire table to your outdoor area. The table “extends the life of your outdoor space,” Glock said. “Come September or October, that space that wasn’t going