THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 21, 1996 TAG: 9607230448
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 222 lines
SPENDING TIME outdoors is in. Whether we're grilling steaks over an open flame, pulling weeds from the garden or sipping an iced tea, most of us enjoy basking in the kind of climate that makes Hampton Roads an ideal vacation spot.
We like comfort, too, and that doesn't mean lounging in those metal dime-store lawn chairs that prickle the back of our legs.
``Just because you're outdoors doesn't mean you don't want the same comfort of indoors,'' says Cherry Durand, who has sold patio furniture at McBroom Great Atlantic in Virginia Beach for 15 years. ``That's why we call it furniture. Years ago those web folding chairs were really popular.''
But today we have swivel - that rocks if you want it. And a therapeutic chaise to ease back stress. Cushions that don't take all day to dry and wrought iron that isn't guaranteed to rust.
No longer just places to store the barbecue and the kiddie pool, today's patios have become tranquil retreats that offer clues to what life is like in the home. The trend toward cocooning has transformed even the most ordinary back yard into a place to relax, eat, entertain and escape, and locally we have an advantage.
``We're lucky in Hampton Roads,'' Durand says. ``In our area, we can be comfortable outdoors at least for six months.''
Before running to the nearest showroom or discount store in search of the perfect patio set, consider your needs. Creating a soothing outdoor environment requires the same kind of planning and creativity that goes into interior decorating.
``A lot of people do outdoor color scheming,'' says Phyllis Whitehead, whose speciality is patio furniture at McDonald Garden Center in Chesapeake. ``They take the same pattern that is in their house and carry it through.''
Sam Coakley has done that in her Church Point home in Virginia Beach. Her living room and den consist of mainly browns and beiges, and that theme spills outside as well. The tables and chairs on her veranda are cast aluminum, and those surrounding her pool are extruded aluminum. Both have beige and moonbeam-white striped cushions and beige umbrellas. The extruded aluminum, almost identical to the cast aluminum but cheaper, gives the pool area an airy look, and its light weight allows for easy movement.
``That way people can move their chaise lounge around without a whole lot of trouble,'' Coakley says.
The neutral colors fade into the background, giving center stage to the sparkling pool and the landscape filled with begonias, gardenias and Carolina jasmine.
``I wanted to be able to open the doors and have the same look,'' says Coakley, who bought her collection from McBroom. ``That's hard to do by running to a discount store full of all those flowered cushions.''
Let your landscape and your lifestyle be additional guides. Is your idea of entertaining a dinner party or playing in the pool with the kids? If you have a garden full of a season's hard work and you're eager to highlight it, teak or wrought iron are lovely complements.
Wrought iron, distinguished by its appealing curves and elegant design, is particularly popular in Richmond and Ghent, Whitehead says.
``Virginia is a very traditional state,'' she says. ``Wrought iron not only has that old plantation look that is aesthetically appealing but a nostalgic appeal as well.''
Aluminum or steel looks great at poolside. Wicker is best in an indoor porch or Florida room. For resiliency it's hard to beat quality resin - the kids can pound on it all they want.
Everything doesn't have to match, either. Wrought iron and resin often work well together.
If your patio extends from a condo with a breathtaking view of Willoughby Bay, consider a bar table, which is elevated and square.
``This product is designed for people with balconies or condos,'' Whitehead says. ``People pay a lot of money to live on water for the view, and then they sit at a standard table and stare at the safety rails.''
Care is another consideration. It's hard to beat the comfort of cushions, but they don't last forever and can cost as much as $85 to replace just one. Wood weathers quickly and must be stained to retain its original color. Painted wood, as in Adirondack chairs, needs to be painted every year or so to keep it looking sharp. Resin, iron and aluminum are low maintenance, requiring little more than hosing off.
When choosing color, again, remember what you want to highlight. ``Most people will dress up their stuff with place mats rather than trying to make a huge statement with furniture,'' Durand says. ``We have people who come in and have spent a lot of money on flowers. They want their flowers to be the focal point. They want their furniture to be neutral.''
If your patio is in plain view while you're standing indoors, the colors you choose shouldn't conflict.
Green almost always works, and Debbie Gordon, national sales manager of Kettler International in Virginia Beach, says navy is growing in popularity in Hampton Roads. For homeowners with a pool, blues, aquas and teals blend well. Most any salesman will recommend using softer colors for furniture frames and jazzing up that look with cushions. Tired of the look? Change the cushions.
Gordon says nationally, 90 percent of her customers prefer white furniture, although blue is the color to watch for. ``Colors tend to show flaws and scratches more with use than white,'' she says.
Patio furniture costs vary, from $100 to $2,000. A resin table and chairs in a discount store cost considerably less than any of the local furniture stores, but sales personnel stress quality. All resin is not created equal - the good stuff is heavier and more durable. Teak is the highest price category but also the heaviest furniture around.
Sling, strap or cushion.
When shopping for patio chairs, you'll probably hear those words. Slings are made of acrylic and plastic woven fabric, pulled taut across the seating area and attached to the frame. Water passes right through slings, allowing them to dry quickly. They are more pricey than strap but less so than cushions.
``If people go to a sling, they're inclined to do swivels at the table,'' Durand says. ``Swivel helps make up for the firmness in the seat.''
Cushion used to be the most desired, Durand says, but sling has gained in popularity because it dries almost immediately. ``If it pours down rain at 5, and you have guests coming at 5:30, (sling chairs) will be ready to use,'' she says.
Most any outdoor cafe or pool uses the reliable strap, generally made of vinyl. You can add a pad to a strap chair, but only a small one to avoid the seat being too high for the table. Strap chairs are ideal for people wanting to stack chairs for storage purposes.
Today's cushions can fool you into thinking you're sitting on your living room sofa, but they're weatherproof, designed to drip dry. Of course, almost any piece of furniture with a cushion can be used without one as well.
Every kind of chair imaginable is available today, and many are full of fancy features. Kettler offers a 16-position chair made of resin. Whitehead says most consumers prefer high-back chairs and cushions, but the firmness of a hard chair lures those with back trouble. Kettler recently introduced a therapeutic body relaxer ergonomically designed to ease back stress.
``It's like a La-Z-Boy,'' Gordon says of the chaise made of mesh sling that retails for $300. A side lever allows the relaxer to lock in any reclining position.
Gliders have retained their popularity, but they're not those clunky iron kind that occupied your parents' front porch. ``In those, too, we've got more looks to match what you've got,'' Whitehead says.
Today's gliders are more comfortable thanks to plush cushions while still reminiscent of a lazy summer day. The same holds true for swings. Kettler offers a roomy three-seater swing with canopy.
``Nationwide for our stores, this is our top seller,'' Gordon says.
In Hampton Roads swings and gliders are big, too, says Scott Morris, lawn and garden supervisor at HQ in Virginia Beach.
``The 5-foot wooden swing is one big seller,'' he says. Morris says a recent trend is park benches, which HQ offers in oak, cast iron and steel. ``A lot of people are into ponds and rock gardens around here,'' he says.
Cast aluminum anything remains the hottest category. Lightweight and non-rusting, cast aluminum features elegant designs similar to the class of wrought iron.
``The aluminum companies know the look of wrought iron is very appealing,'' Durand says. ``They're coming up with design work in aluminum like scrolls that has the look of iron without the maintenance.''
Cast aluminum, unlike cushion furniture, doesn't look ``undressed'' in the winter, another appealing feature. ``If it's off a main room, to look at something that looks stripped'' turns off some buyers, Durand says.
Although she doesn't recommend wrought iron for folks who live at the Oceanfront because of rusting from exposure to salt water, Gordon says Kettler's wrought iron has a protective finish that is eight times thicker than powder coating and 15 times thicker than wet coating. The finish makes the furniture 50 percent cooler to the touch, and she assures you, treat it right and ``it doesn't rust.'' If the iron does get nicked, all it needs is touch-up paint.
Outdoor furniture isn't just tables and chairs. ``Entertaining outdoors is very big,'' Whitehead says, and a host of accessories make it easier. Most patio stores sell baker racks, tea carts, outdoor lamps and a full line of serving pieces that fall into every theme from nautical to watermelons. If you're looking to add some ambience, consider a sundial, colorful flowerpots or a ceramic birdbath.
Then sit back, pour yourself an iced tea and enjoy a fine summer's day. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo courtesy of Village West Publishing
Sam Coakley's Virginia Beach veranda has cast aluminum furniture and
market umbrellas.
Wrought iron is distinguished by its appealing curves and elegant
design. Aluminum or steel looks great at poolside. Wicker is best in
an indoor porch or Florida room. For resiliency, it's hard to beat
quality resin - the kids can pound on it all they want.
Photo courtesy of Village West Publishing
All-weather wicker from Lloyd/Flanders is hard to distinguish from
wicker of natural reed but can withstand outdoor use.
Graphic
JUDGING QUALITY
Lift the furniture: Weight is almost always a sign of quality.
Examine the finish: Color should be rich, deep and even. Color
should appear to be part of the frame material rather than a
coating.
Check cushions: Well-defined curves and unobtrusive seams ensure
quality. A squished look indicates improper stuffing.
Inspect slings: A quality sling should not sag or wrinkle.
Note straps: Straps should be double wrapped around the frame.
Vinyl should be thick, not flimsy. After sitting in chair, be sure
straps return to their original position.
Look for welds: They should be almost invisible.
Sit down at tables: Be sure you have plenty of leg room.
Beware of cheap imitations: Knockoffs of popular designs are
abundant, but to create a look-alike at a lower price indicates
cutting corners.
Source: ``Casual Decor: A Guide to Outdoor/Indoor Living''
contribruted to this report.
WHAT'S OUT THERE
Aluminum: Most popular frame for outdoor furniture. Durable,
lightweight and doesn't rust. Inferior aluminum weighs less.
Suitable for anywhere outside. Low maintenance. Apply liquid wax at
start of season.
Iron and steel: Heavy, durable and elegant in design. Back legs
of chairs should be reinforced with braces or double rods. Use
touch-up paint at first signs of rust. Cover or bring furniture
inside during winter. Use liquid wax a couple of times during the
summer.
Wicker: Best indoors or for Florida room, although all-weather
wicker is popular today. Quality wicker should feel smooth and
splinter-free and not be clogged with paint. Hose off all-weather
wicker every few weeks and clean with mild detergent.
Wood: Durable and long lasting. Watch for knots, but some
imperfections add to its uniqueness. If left untreated, wood
weathers to an attractive gray. Must be stained to retain its
original look. If damaged or scratched, wood should be repaired
immediately or it will expand if exposed to moisture.
Resin: Lightweight and inexpensive. Requires almost no
maintenance. Best for areas without high winds. Quality resin is
strong and able to handle bad weather. The best resin is heavy,
roomy and able to withstand sunshine. Wipe clean with damp cloth.
Source: ``Casual Decor: A Guide to Outdoor/Indoor Living''
contribruted to this report.
by CNB