irst it was hotel bed linens, then spa-like bathrooms. Now it seems that hotels are influencing our interior and exterior home décor, design elements that only used to be seen at five star hotels and resorts. A recent Miami Herald article “Outdoor chic: Backyard furniture has gone uptown, upscale” got us thinking: even if the recession affected travel plans for some, many are incorporating that vacation vibe into their home.
Sufficient outdoor furniture used to be a table with four chairs for the patio and maybe a few chaises by the pool. No longer. Outdoor furniture has gone uptown with styles as varied and as comfortable as what we put indoors, and making a fashion statement. But be forewarned. Because this is fashion, like haute couture, it often is expensive. One can easily spend $4,000 for a dining table and four chairs or $3,000 for a chaise.
The recent International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market in Chicago proved how fashionable outdoor furniture can be. Sectionals. Beds with canopies. Motion furniture that rocks or reclines. Mahogany frames painted to withstand the weather. Chat groups of four chairs surrounding a table with a fire pit. Cuddle chairs for two or for you and your pooch. Colors inspired by the fashion runways.
Also, manufacturers say Floridians have a major impact on outdoor furniture trends.“We base our season on what Florida does,” says Teresa Buelin, sales and marketing operations manager for Laneventure, which introduced several products, including outdoor beds and cuddle chairs. “They are ahead of the rest of the country.”
Richard Frinier introduced the South Beach Collection for Century Leisure. The collection includes side chairs and tables for terraces and balconies as well as sectional, lounge and dining pieces for larger outdoor spaces. “South Beach is a compelling American destination city,” Frinier says. “You feel a little more alive when you are there. I wanted to design something that would be smart, durable and comfortable for the vertical living and loft spaces that demand a chic but soft-modern aesthetic.”
Sufficient outdoor furniture used to be a table with four chairs for the patio and maybe a few chaises by the pool. No longer. Outdoor furniture has gone uptown with styles as varied and as comfortable as what we put indoors, and making a fashion statement. But be forewarned. Because this is fashion, like haute couture, it often is expensive. One can easily spend $4,000 for a dining table and four chairs or $3,000 for a chaise.
The recent International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market in Chicago proved how fashionable outdoor furniture can be. Sectionals. Beds with canopies. Motion furniture that rocks or reclines. Mahogany frames painted to withstand the weather. Chat groups of four chairs surrounding a table with a fire pit. Cuddle chairs for two or for you and your pooch. Colors inspired by the fashion runways.
Also, manufacturers say Floridians have a major impact on outdoor furniture trends.“We base our season on what Florida does,” says Teresa Buelin, sales and marketing operations manager for Laneventure, which introduced several products, including outdoor beds and cuddle chairs. “They are ahead of the rest of the country.”
Richard Frinier introduced the South Beach Collection for Century Leisure. The collection includes side chairs and tables for terraces and balconies as well as sectional, lounge and dining pieces for larger outdoor spaces. “South Beach is a compelling American destination city,” Frinier says. “You feel a little more alive when you are there. I wanted to design something that would be smart, durable and comfortable for the vertical living and loft spaces that demand a chic but soft-modern aesthetic.”