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Strathwood Ritta All-Weather Wicker 3-Piece Bistro Set, Dark Gray

“I was looking for a small, inexpensive but well-made, table and chairs set for my deck, and this fit my requirements to a “T”. It arrived in perfect condition, which is unusual these days. All the legs of the furniture had foam packing around them so there were absolutely no chips or dents. The set is cute - great for my small deck and a relaxing moment outdoors. The wicker top of the table doesn’t flex very much at all and you could always get a piece of glass (or plexi-glass) cut to size if you wanted more of a traditional surface. I was very satisfied with the quality and price, especially after seeing what was available locally in stores. I would highly recommend this product!”

Features:
• Wicker bistro set for outdoor use, includes two chairs and table
• Tightly woven of polyethylene (PE) resin wicker strands in warm mocha color
• Durable aluminum legs have a curvy elegance and dark gray powder coating
• Chairs and table fold for easy, compact storage
• Table measures 24 inches in diameter, 28 inches tall

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(ARA) - Autumn. The very word conjures up colorful images, comforting impressions and cool feelings of a restful season. With the cooler temperatures that autumn brings, now is the perfect time to finally realize the relaxation you have been promising yourself all through the summer months. And what better place to relax than in the great outdoors.

When choosing outdoor leisure products, things to consider include comfort, color and durability.

Trends in Comfort

Trends come and go, but in the area of comfort for the outdoors, one item has been in fashion for over 100 years. Neither new nor splashy, the traditional hammock is the symbol of outdoor leisure recognized by all.

“No other outdoor furnishing can provide the comfort that a hammock does with its ‘floating on air’ design,” states Laurie Rudd, creative director of The HammockSource, manufacturers of Hatteras Hammocks and The Original Pawleys Island Rope Hammock. “The comfort of a hammock is found in the construction of either the hand woven rope style that hugs the body or in the fabric beds made of quilted layers.”

With the major improvements to the comfort of weather resistant ropes and fabrics, a current trend is extreme durability coupled with the softness of natural fibers. One example is DuraCord fiber. Although man made, this fiber is fade, stain and mildew resistant and repels water. The best part: its as soft as cotton.

Trends in Color

Color is not often the first thought, but today’s hammock is not your grandmother’s cotton rope hammock. “Colors are exploding in various hammock styles including ropes and fabrics,” states Ginger Woodard, PhD, associate professor in the College of Human Ecology at East Carolina University. “With the advancements in non-fading solution dyed yarns, colorations are unlimited.”

“This autumn, hammock color trends include cool blues and natural warm honey browns. Vibrant yellows and reds are also showing up taking their cue from the changing foliage. Making a comeback this season are silhouette design fabrics with high contrast black and off-white creating floral to geometric patterning. Outdoor also continues to welcome the olive greens matched with warm deep burgundy,” states Rudd.

Trends in Durability

Autumn is best enjoyed in the out-of-doors. However, life outside for furnishings can be harsh no matter the season, making durability the goal of all outdoor leisure products. In a hammock, these include everything from the hanging chain to the materials that make up the bed of the hammock.

“Zinc plating over heavy duty steel is preferred for long hammock life,” states Bill Russo, president of Nags Head Hammocks, of N.C. and S.C. “This finish keeps the installation of the hammock safe as well as long lasting.”

Wood components are trending toward naturally durable outdoor woods such as cypress or Brazilian teak, known as Cumaru. “The trend in ropes or fabrics for outdoor durability include designer materials like the DuraCord, that can withstand the elements while also being easy to clean with a bleach and water solution,” states J. R. Pelletier of internet retailer, The Hammock Company.com. Low maintenance is a priority in outdoor products year-round.

Trends in Relaxation

Autumn is the perfect time to lie back, relax and watch all the beauty and wonder of the season unfold. A hammock makes for the perfect vantage point for this and by following the latest trends, you will realize enjoyment that will never go out of style.

For more information visit www.hatterashammocks.com; www.nagshead.com; or www.thehammockcompany.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

After many long years of saving my money and putting up with lousy apartments, I was finally able to get together a down payment for a home of my own. There were many things I was looking forward to with my new home. Of course the two main benefits were that I would be able to build equity and have enough room for all of my stuff. But I was also very excited about being able to have all my friends over for barbecues and parties out on my fabulous deck. There’s nothing better than a relaxing night of good conversation and refreshing beverages out under the stars. I just need to find a place that had patio furniture for sale so I could fill the empty space.

I’d never noticed which stores had patio furniture for sale before because I never needed any. But now that I had a backyard and deck to furnish, I wanted to find cheap patio furniture for sale so that my guests would have a place to sit and eat when they came over. I spent an entire weekend looking for suitable chairs, tables, chaise lounges, and umbrellas, but didn’t have any luck. Since it wasn’t spring or summer, not many stores had patio furniture for sale at the time. The ones that did only offered a very limited selection, and none of it was appealing to me.

I thought I would have better luck finding patio furniture for sale on the Internet. That’s because online stores are much more likely to sell products all year long, even when traditional stores consider those items to be seasonal. So I ran a couple of quick searches and soon was looking at more patio furniture for sale than I knew what to do with! As I hoped, a majority of those websites offering patio furniture for sale had a huge selection of merchandise for me to choose from, and more importantly, would be able to deliver immediately. I spent a long time browsing through all that patio furniture for sale, and finally chose several fantastic sets that would really make my yard look great. Best of all, I got a very sizeable discount on all the items and even got free delivery.

If you’re looking for patio furniture for sale, I recommend checking online instead of in local stores, especially if it’s out of season. You’re probably going to notice the same thing I did: it’s much easier to find a wide selection of cheap patio furniture for sale on the Internet than at the mall or department stores. Hopefully, you’ll even save a lot of money like I did!

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(ARA) - Products to beautify the inside of your home come in styles as varied as your imagination. It’s no surprise then that today, there is also an endless array of options for putting the finishing touch on your lawn, garden, patio, deck or dock.

The surge in popularity of outdoor living space has brought many new options in decking and decorative railings, outdoor lighting and other design accents. A new category of “exterior designers” are creating distinctive outdoor living areas for their clients, and manufacturers are quick to oblige with options.

Chelsey Gardner, an outdoor design expert and owner of Creative Curb Appeal in Dallas, says she tells her clients to start with a trip to the home improvement store.

“The big retailers are a great place to get basic ideas. Since the selection the stores carry is just the tip of the iceberg, if you want something a little different, just stop by the special order desk to see what other options are out there,” she says.

Retail experts say that home improvement stores are great at identifying products that will appeal to the masses. Many of the suppliers whose products line the shelves at the biggest retailers also have dozens of other lines and products to choose from. Usually you can order them right at the store or have them shipped direct from the manufacturer by shopping online.

For example, take outdoor lighting and post cap manufacturer Maine Ornamental. You will find several different post caps and outdoor lights made by the company on the shelves at the big retailers. But Rick Preble, the company’s president, says they actually make more than 300 different post caps and dozens of solar lights.

“You can see our biggest selling products at retail stores everywhere, but if you visit the special order desk or our Web site at www.postcaps.com, you’ll find hundreds of products to choose from,” Preble says.

This year, Maine Ornamental introduced a large line of solar-lighted post caps. Although the most popular style — a classic, copper-topped post cap with a solar- powered light — is a Lowe’s exclusive, there are dozens more you won’t find on any retail shelves.

Tiffany-style glass post caps are available in two different sizes with a variety of different woods and composite materials available. Three different design options, with or without lights, mean there are literally dozens of custom options you can create for your own deck or fence.

“Outdoor lighting has become a big market. It beautifies your home and landscape and enhances special features at night,” Preble says.“It lights the pathways and creates security and peace of mind. It can also set a mood. We wanted to get creative with lighting, so we’ve designed styles that offer lots of options, from the simple to the elaborate.”

All of the post caps in the Maine Ornamental lighting collection were designed for easy installation on fences, decks, posts or docks with no need for wiring or electricity. The Convertible Post Cap Lights offer the option of using candles or a solar cell to power long-lasting LED lights.

“With women taking an active role in selecting the products that will go on the outside of their homes, the designs and options for even the smallest of details are getting more elaborate, and custom choices are always welcome,” Gardner says.

Among her favorite new products, also from Maine Ornamental, are the Tiffany-style Glass Rail Accents, which fit vertically into a deck rail to create a stained-glass baluster that coordinates with the Tiffany-style post caps and lights.

The best thing about digging a little deeper with popular manufacturers is that you may just find something unique that will make your backyard distinctive and give it that finishing touch.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Features:
• Stylish gazebo to protect party goers and dinner guests from the elements
• Sturdy 4-corner steel frame with Mission-style trellis design
• Water-resistant polyester cover in beige; vented at the top to allow wind gusts to easily escape
• Measures 8.2 feet square, and 8.2 feet tall at its center point
• Assembly required; all hardware included

(ARA) - Many homeowners wish to turn their backyards into outdoor living spaces, bringing indoor comforts into the fresh outdoor air. Gazebos are uniquely suited to do this by providing a covered retreat that adds distinction to the outdoor living space.

“Gazebos are becoming gathering places away from the home,” says Bruce Cheng of CedarShed Industries. Cheng recognizes added protection from the elements and the benefit of comforts traditionally reserved for homes as the newest trend in gazebo design. “I see gazebos with sliding windows, French doors and electrical hook ups.”

“Gazebos can add tremendous character to outdoor living spaces,” says Paul Mackie, the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association’s “Mr. Cedar.” “When they’re made of high-quality materials like Western Red Cedar, a gazebo can also add a mark of distinction to your entire property that will last for decades.”

Summer is the perfect time to build a gazebo. It can be finished in a weekend, and the design can be as simple or complex as a homeowner desires.

Planning
Planning in advance will save you time and money. The basic gazebo is eight sides with a railing and peaked roof, but designs can vary to fit your living space and preference. Finishing touches such as lattice or a cupola can add further levels of distinction.

Homeowners are presented with three basic options to design and build a gazebo. Talented homeowners can build gazebos themselves with the help of the many how-to books, magazines and Web sites providing step-by-step instructions. Some companies, like CedarShed or Outdoor Living Today, sell pre-fabricated gazebo kits for the homeowner to install. Finally, a professional can be hired to design and build a custom gazebo.

Materials
Western Red Cedar is one of the world’s most durable woods, making it uniquely suited for outdoor use. “Western Red Cedar is historically known to resist decay,” says Cheng. The tree’s natural preservatives resist insect and moisture damages. The natural properties of Western Red Cedar can also lessen a structure’s environmental footprint by eliminating the necessity for chemical pressure treatments.

The wood’s natural beauty makes Western Red Cedar a preferred choice for many gazebo designers. It comes in a variety of visual options with different grades and textures that can be artfully combined with stone or plants.

To create a different, enhanced hue, choose from a wide variety of finishes. Western Red Cedar is free of pitch and resin, making application a simple process. Clear and semi-transparent finishes are very popular, Mackie says, because they maintain the natural beauty of the wood but offer increased protection from the elements. Be sure to test the finish on scrap material or a small, discrete area of the gazebo before application to the entire structure.

Outdoor Living Spaces
A well-designed gazebo forms a seamless transition with the outdoor living space. Defining elements of the outdoor living space, like water or rock, should be incorporated in the design and construction of the gazebo. Western Red Cedar planter boxes are a simple way to dress up a gazebo and incorporate plants already existing in the outdoor living space. Connecting a gazebo to the rest of an outdoor living space will increase its beauty and the design continuity of the space.

Adding a Western Red Cedar gazebo to your outdoor living space is likely easier than you realize. It just takes some planning, the proper materials and an understanding of your outdoor living space. By keeping those things in mind, you can create a covered retreat that adds a mark of distinction to your outdoor living space.

For more information on Western Red Cedar, visit the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association Web site at www.realcedar.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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We live in the lakes area in central Minnesota. Most of the homes have large decks on them so that people can enjoy their beautiful lake views. We recently completed a new deck on the front of our home and we are looking for comfortable furniture for it that will be sturdy and long lasting. There are so many patio sets available in the stores that we have had a difficult time deciding which to purchase. We decided that we would take a walk along our lake road and look at the patio sets that our neighbors have. It is so much easier to judge the outdoor furniture when you see it on a deck setting.

The neighbors that live next to us are looking to replace their deck furniture also. They have had their present set for many years. They have been very happy with their furniture and for the length of time that it has lasted. We arranged that we would go shopping for patio sets together. My husband has a truck and trailer so we would be able to transport the patio sets home. We told them that first we were going to take a tour of the neighborhood and look at the neighbors furniture.

Many of our neighbors were sitting out on their decks on the Saturday morning that we took our walk. We would wave to them and then approach their decks and explain that we were in the market for new patio furniture and we wanted to see what others have and if they like it. We were given many good pointers about what people liked and what people wished they had. Generally most people agreed that it was great to have some sort of heater on the deck so that they can be used longer in the fall and earlier in the spring. Several people had ceramic fireplaces and propane fireplaces on their decks.

We were given very good ideas and we saw several patio sets that we liked and we also saw some furniture that we knew we would not purchase because we saw how poorly it lasted through the years. We decided that we would invest more money up front in our patio furniture so that we would not have to purchase new patio sets each year.

After our tour and informal survey of the neighbors we went shopping with our next door neighbors for our new patio sets. We each found sturdy furniture that met the needs we were looking to fulfill. We have enjoyed getting together and sitting on each others decks and playing cards and sharing dinners sitting on our new patio furniture.

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Do you have any good backyard landscape ideas? This is one of the key elements to having a beautiful home. Not only do you want to keep your house looking stellar on the inside, but you want to be sure the curb appeal is at the right level as well. How can you go about this you may ask? Well, the truth is there are many ways to improve your home’s aesthetic appeal. Landscaping an outdoor living area or even a well furnished patio is certainly one of the biggest. Folks pay attention to what your yard, bushes, and trees look like throughout the year. This is why you always see your neighbor manicuring his lawn three times a week. It’s a big deal in middle class suburbia. So, what do you intend to do to your lawn and trees next?

When it comes to backyard landscape ideas, I must admit that I have a few. Now, I definitely wouldn’t call myself a “yard” kind of guy. I’ve never been too into the whole trimming, pruning, watering and mulching routine. I just haven’t hit that spot in my life yet I guess. I am more of a “the lawn is mowed, therefore everything is done” kind of guy. Does this sound familiar at all? Maybe you are the same way, or maybe your spouse is. Regardless of what I fail to do with backyard landscape ideas, so many other people do them and do them to the fullest. I see perfect lawns, trees, and hedges around my neighborhood. I’m almost inclined to ask them to do my yard as well. Hey, they obviously like it a ton. I might as well add to their happiness.

For backyard landscape ideas it is always prudent to hop online. This is a wonderful source that will literally provide you with free backyard landscape ideas. How awesome is that! The first step however is to determine what you want done with your spot of land. Do you want to install some bushes along the side of the driveway? Or maybe you’re looking to plant a few trees to add privacy to your yard, or looking to replace that patio furniture. Either way, this can be accomplished in no time at all. The key is simply knowing what you’re doing and purchasing the right materials before beginning. Once you have everything in order, you backyard landscape ideas will come together nicely. Get online now and search for ways to enhance your area.

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Teak patio furniture is rightly known for its beauty and durability. Teak is a tropical hardwood native to south Asia monsoon forest regions. Old forest trees, which grow naturally to more than 100 feet, are generally harder and more durable than young teak trees grown on plantations. As such, old growth teak was considered more desirable for teak tables and other hardwood garden furniture. However, old growth teak, like mahogany,is becoming more rare, and more expensive.

The worldwide demand for teak garden furniture and teak indoor furniture remains high, and teak is now grown commercially in several countries on carefully controlled forestry plantations. Plantation grown trees are kiln dried and now considered by teak furniture manufacturers to be comparable in performance and longevity to old growth teak.

Your teak table and patio chairs will maintain their beauty through the sun and rain of many summers and the frost of many winters without special care because the tight grained wood contains an abundance of natural oils which makes it nearly impervious to both weather and wood-boring insects. Oiled or varnished teak takes on a deep brown luster with visible grain pattern. Untreated teak takes on a smooth, grey patina. You can choose your teak furniture style to match your overall home decoration style. Teak can be cleaned successfully with mild detergent or even soap and water. If it appears, however, that the grain in the untreated teak is opening then it must be treated to prevent water damage.

Despite its hardness teak is a very workable wood and is commonly manufactured into exterior doors and window sash for many Asian homes. Shipwrights have used teak for decks and planking for centuries. Western consumers appreciate teak more as patiofurniture and pool furniture although teak veneer is becoming more common for dining room, bedroom and other home furnishings.

Outdoor lawn furniture, dining patio sets, chaise lounges, patio chairs, benches, bistro sets and a variety of accessories can be used to design a comfortable, and attractive, outdoor grouping for everyday use or for elegant entertaining. Since teak furniture is available in a variety of styles - and is weather resistant - it’s ideal for any type of climate, from the heat of the southwest to the wide-ranging New England seasons.

Because of its unique natural properties, workability, and beauty, teak can be integrated into a wide variety of decor furnishings, and is a popular lawn furniture choice for English Garden settings. Found in the finest private homes, hotels, lodges, resorts and luxury yachts, teak is synonymous with style and elegance and is one of the best furniture investments that a homeowner can make.

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I love the new Seaside Caribbean cushion set I recently purchased. They fit our wicker chairs and love seat perfectly. The colors or great. They certainly liven up our Florida Room. It was so easy to get accessories to match tehse wicker funriture cusions since the colors are so vivid and right in step with the current home decor.

I was surprised they are this nice. I didn’t really know I would get such quality ordering on line.

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