The Rural Voice, 1994-07, Page 39Home Decorating
Choosing the right garden furniture
BY KENDRA KRAUTER
Well, stunmer is here! The air
conditioners are running, the gardens
are in, the plants are blooming and the
beer bugs are sneaking their way into
our outdoor fun.
Outdoor
living is so
enjoyable on our
decks, patios and
porches. The
hanging flowers
and the large
planters
brimming with
flowers add so
much to the look
of our outdoor
spaces and our
home's
appearance. The
outdoor furniture
you choose will help make your deck,
yard or pool area much more
enjoyable as well. I thought we could
discuss the various materials that will
withstand the weather ... come rain or
shine. Mother nature can be very hard
on furniture that we have outdoors.
Resin: This is furniture molded from
polypropylene, available in many
different styles of chairs, love seats,
chaise lounges and tables. It is light-
weight, inexpensive and in most cases,
stackable. Although sunlight can be
harmful to plastic furniture most
pieces are treated with an ultraviolet
inhibitor to prevent damage. Some
resin furniture has a coating for easy
cleaning. This furniture is available in
several different colour choices.
Wood: The classic look of wood
seems to be time honoured tradition
from garden benches, Adirondack
chairs, to dining sets. Redwood and
teak give you a very classic look...
but are very pricey. Hardwoods such
as oak and maple are used as well. If
you are purchasing redwood make
sure that you are not paying for
redwood but getting a lesser -grade
wood that has been stained to look like
redwood. Look for furniture with
strong mortise -and -tenon joinery and
brass or galvanized hardware that
won't rust. Whatever type of wood
you choose it will need to be protected
from the sun, moisture and insects
with wood preservative and a water
resistant finish such as marine varnish
or paint, or clear polyurethane. This is
an on-going procedure that must be
done to protect your furniture.
Wicker: The thought of wicker seems
to bring to mind a large wraparound
porch at Grandma's place. Natural
wicker is still a tradition, but it is much
better if it is in under shelter of a
covered porch. The price range for
wicker really varies, so make sure you
examine it well for comfort and
construction. There is a new "all-
weather" wicker look for fumiture.
These are quality pieces that are made
of synthetic material that's wrapped
around an aluminum frame in a weave
to look like real wicker.
Wrought Iron: This furniture has be-
come extremely popular in the last few
years. The styles range from classic to
contemporary. These heavy pieces are
an excellent choice for windy locations.
They are made from a heavy gauge
steel, and many now are finished in
corrosion -resistant finish. Cast-iron
furniture, made by pouring melted iron
into a mold, is used more for accent
pieces such as benches and tables.
Aluminum: This is much lighter in
weight, and much easier on your bank
account. These rust and corrosion -free
pieces come in a wide range of styles
and usually have a hard-wearing,
baked -on finish that will stand up to
Mother Nature, especially the ultra-
violet light.
These pieces of furniture are all
lovely and will add to your outdoor
life, but we can't forget the most
important part, the seats and cushions
for your furniture. Under sheltered
areas canvas and cotton duck fabrics
are a good choice. If exposed to the
elements they will be faded in no time
at all, because they are natural fibers.
Synthetics, on the other hand, are
the obvious choice for umbrellas and
seating that is going to be left out in
the sun and the rain. The synthetics
are fast drying and durable.
Have a safe summer and fun
Summer of '94.0
'til next month,
Kendra
Kendra Krauter is a qualified interior
decorator who lives near Ethel, ON.
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84 Kingston St. 519-524-9671
EXETER
Paro & Red Bickel)
451 Main St. 519-235-2340
MEAFORD
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115 Sykes St. N. 519-538-1513
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HANOVER
Neil Bruton
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ST. MARYS
Al Strathdee, Bill Armstrong
107 Queen St. 519-284-2464
JULY 1994 35