Inspiration | DESIGN SECRETS
THE NEW LIVING ROOM By Jane Lockhart ONCE UPON A TIME A HOUSE had one living room and it was inside the home. That’s when your choice of outdoor furnishings included a wooden picnic table, scratchy, plastic woven slatted folding chairs, back-breaking cast iron or heatabsorbing metal seats. Today with advances in technology and a continuing desire to spend more time enjoying the outdoors, every backyard, balcony or patio has the potential to be transformed — with options such as full-sized sectionals to petite bistro sets, it’s the new living room.
Materially speaking Like indoor furnishings, much of what you select depends on your taste and budget but durability, scale, maintenance and storage are also important factors to consider. With advancements, most outdoor furniture is now made to last. Materials such as rustproof aluminum offer a lightweight option especially if you need to move dining chairs in and out at the table. Aluminum can also take a lot of weight and is midpriced in all the options. Durable, stainless steel is the heavier, stronger option. It can withstand extreme temperatures,
(although it can get hot without cushions) but it can also rust if not properly coated. Steel is probably the most expensive of all the materials and can be difficult to move but will look beautiful in a contemporary setting. Synthetic resin wicker is a longerlasting, synthetic weave wrapped over an aluminum frame. “Wicker” refers to the weave pattern not the material used and is much more durable than traditional rattan. It will resist moisture and shouldn’t crack or fade especially if it’s High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) as opposed to PVC wickers. …continued on page 66
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