Yand Design

Time For a Nap

Some days it's just better to curl up and take a nap.

Coordinating Opposed to Matchy-Matchy

The biggest problem I see with outdoor design is the propensity to buy furniture in matching sets.  As you probably guessed (if you regularly read my blog), I recently returned from a trip to the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Arizona.  I loved their outdoor spaces, partially because they coordinated opposed to matching everything up.

Notice how they used two types of side tables in addition to the brown poofs.  You have the built-ins using a white button cushion and then wood chairs using brown cushions.  The wood colors are similar, but they don't match.  In the background are bronze planters that are used throughout the resort - in different sizes and shapes. 

 

From this view you can see they repeated the theme - repeating is not the same as buying a matchy-matchy set.  Repeating a seating area helps maintain calm, especially when you are dealing with large areas.  However if the tables were made from the same wood as the chairs, the overall effect wouldn't have been as dynamic.

This is a different area of the resort.  Although the round chairs are completely different than at the bar, the same color scheme is used - granted the bar used a brighter version of white & brown while in this photo, a subdued shade of brown is used (otherwise known as taupe).  Brown wicker in any size and shape is also a theme used throughout the resort.  These chairs are placed in a "quiet area" so more subdued shades help communicate the message - keep your voices low.

 

Another "quiet area" - but this one has teak furniture repeating the same color cushions & pillows that the round chairs used.

 

Yet another part of the resort.  These benches don't match anything else in the resort.  My guess is that they've been around awhile & hearken back to another design time.  They work because of where they are placed in the resort (isolated from other furniture) and the cushion & pillows are the same color scheme repeated everywhere in the resort.

Yes, we're still in the same resort (it was quite large), this seating area was repeated twice.  Why does it work?  The color scheme is the same as the rest of the resort - brown wicker, taupish cushions.  Thank goodness the fire pit isn't made from the brown wicker - that would be a bad.  BTW these chairs rocked back & forth a little bit.

 

Even at the pool (there were many pools) there are plenty of repeating elements - the bronze planters, the chaise lounges, brown wicker tables (they used several different manufacturers for the brown wicker, so even though it was brown wicker, the weaves didn't all match).  However to keep monotony from stepping in they added a few double-wide loungers at the end of a row as well as a couple round loungers for extra pop (not seen in this photo).

In short, the takeaway is to repeat elements throughout your home - indoor & out.  Just don't buy a matching coffee table, sofa & love seat unless you plan to break up the set & use them separately.

Too matchy-matchy

Portable Outdoor Heating

When I first saw these heaters in catalogs I thought Ughhhh????  However, when I ran across them in real life (otherwise known as the Scottsdale Princess), it suddenly made sense.  These are heaters with a lampshade - not over-sized lights.  They wouldn't work in many settings as they could look cheap really quickly; but in this setting, they are fabulous.

Why Spectacular Lighting Matters

A picture is worth 1,000 words, so I'll show a couple pictures to explain why good lighting should be part of your outdoor project.

Here is a shot from the Scottsdale Princess (Fairmont) taken during the day.  It's nice...

 

However by night it transforms from nice to SPECTACULAR.


Here's another example.  BTW whoever was responsible for decorating the outdoor spaces at the Scottsdale Princess (Fairmont) did a fabulous job.  I'm rarely impressed with outdoor settings, but this project was excellent.  The furnishings were coordinated opposed to being matchy, matchy.  They were practical, beautiful, comfortable. 

By dusk - the darker it got the more spectacular it became.

Keeping it Simple - Try Red

I am bored with all the brown and tan outdoor furniture being sold today.  It's especially bad when showrooms are stuffed to the gills with them and all you can see for acres are fake brown wicker chairs with a little taupe thrown in for contrast.  It's even worse when people actually buy the furniture and put it in a suburban tract house in a suburban neighborhood where everyone paints their homes shades of taupe, brown, & grey.  To top it all off they even drive taupe cars. 

If your life looks 100% taupe, I shudder to think how bland it must be on the inside.  You only live once, why not go for it?  Show your personality, let yourself love people, laugh & drink some wine.

Will you enjoy some really good wine - yes.  Will you get hurt - yes.  Will some people not like you - yes.  Will some people say you have bad taste - yes.  Then why not go back to your taupe-colored house & pull up the moat & try to fit in?  BECAUSE...you will never be truly happy if your first goal is to play it safe.  Life is about the journey - there won't be any interesting stories to tell the grand-kids if you live in your safe taupe house, with fake brown furniture, & drive a taupe car. 

My advice - take some time to really look inside yourself - see what's there.  If you find too much taupe, you're cheating yourself & not living up to your full potential.  It's time to spice things up & take a chance.  Remember, failures make great stories - taupe houses don't.

Found at Summer House Patio - It's comfortable & not taupe

Outdoor Lighting

Lighting outside can be tricky.  There are outdoor lamps, but most of them are rather cheesy looking.  Then there is ambient lighting - it's fine but nobody gets excited over ambient lighting fixtures (the whole point of ambient light is being discreet).  The light below falls somewhere in between.  It's more of a sculpture piece.  I like it.

www.unopiu.com - Aton Light

It's all about Outdoor Dining Chairs

Today, it's all about dining chairs - the interesting, fascinating, & pedestrian.  The Financial Times is reporting that Spain & London have fallen back into recession, so I thought it would be nice to add a European company to the mix of chair offerings.  This way if you decide to buy it's not just making your home beautiful, you're also helping the guys in Europe feed their kids - it's a win, win situation.

This is my favorite manufacturer/retailer photo - there is no matchy, matchy!  I love these chairs. Another look would be to choose one color for the chairs & use a reclaimed teak, parson-type table (Terris Draheim & Summer House Patio both sell them).  From my observation these chairs are not plastic, so the colors probably won't be consistent from chair to chair (be sure to ask the sales rep).  On the positive side, wicker fades nicely & the colors have a softer look to them.  This is probably why they feature them with the fabulous stone table.  NOTE:  Shipping the stone table to the United States from Europe would be a definite boost to the shipping company's economy.  Granted, I don't think the table is for sale. 

www.Unopiu.com - Capri Chair

 

The Naxos Chair.  It's upholstered & ready for the outdoors.  Again, they did a great job pairing the chair with an unusual table.  

www.Unopiu.com - Naxos Chair

 

Here's another cool chair.  The green adds a punch of color but isn't obnoxious. 

www.Unopiu.com - Kentia Chair

 

 The sexy curve of the teak chairs is a refreshing departure from much of the boxy teak I run across.

www.Unopiu.com - Equinox Chair

 

Changing continents & getting closer to home, this chair is from Brown Jordon.  It happens to be on clearance at Summer House Patio right now.  So if you want it, get a move on.

Found at Summer House Patio

 

It's a nice take on an old classic - slightly unusual, but not enough to scare the person afraid of change.

Found at Terris Draheim 

 

Okay, it's a better photo of the table than the chairs; however, they are a nice non-objectionable choice for dining chairs (in a Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardwareish kind of way).  These are not true wicker, so the color consistency is good & they'll look the same for years to come.  BTW: the table is fabulous & would be great with the colorful wicker chairs from the first photo.

Found at Terris Draheim 

 

In the spirit of supporting our European friends, I found another company, Alco & Plasmir.  They specialize in plastic furniture & are quite enthusiastic about it.  They even have a video on their site.  Even if you have no interest in plastic, it's worth watching just to listen to the man's voice (http://www.alcoplas.com/quienes_somos/index.php?id=en&e=2).  This company doesn't sell to the public, but my hunch is that due to the price point, someone in the United States will be carrying or already carries their products, if curious just email the company.

Umbrella Time

It's still raining in Seattle, so I decided it would be prudent to move on to umbrellas - no one likes getting wet.  How exciting can umbrellas be?  Probably more than you'd expect.  These days it's all about how big can you get - on top & the base.  If you want an inexpensive, traditional umbrella - go to Costco quickly because they don't keep them in stock for long.  If you prefer choices, head over to Terris Draheim (in Seattle next to the Design Center) (yes, they are open to the public) or Summer House Patio (locations in Bellevue & Tukwila). 

Seattle has such a moderate climate that if you have a covering over your head & an outdoor heater or fireplace, you can enjoy your outdoor furniture most of the year.  Think of it as a room where the kids will leave you alone.  It's why you should take a second look at the benefits of a large umbrella, just remember to lower them when the wind blows.

I like the shape of this umbrella, granted you need the right furniture to make it work.

Found at Summer House Patio

 

The square black umbrella is nice because there is no center pole.

Found at Summer House Patio

 

 Definitely the cool-girl umbrella of the bunch.  It's sleek & sexy.

Found at Terris Draheim

 

If you are short of floor space & don't want a center pole, these umbrellas are the way to go - you just need a wall.  BTW notice the cool coffee table in the photo below.  I didn't mention it yesterday, but it does double-duty as a bench or a table.

Found at Terris Draheim

 

Bonus Points...while not an umbrella, it does give a sense of enclosure & I liked it & it's from Costco.  BTW: if you insist on buying a whole set of matching outdoor furniture from Costco, DO NOT put them all in your yard - major no, no.  Instead split them with a friend/neighbor/Craigslist.  Keep the table, sell the chairs.  Use the matching chair & sofa, but give away the coffee table.  You want your outdoor space to have passion.  It needs to feel alive - matchy, matchy makes a case for Prozac.

It's all about side & coffee tables

This season it's all about slated tables - coffee, side, & dining.  However, a home full of slated tables can be rather boring, so don't go hog wild & furnish your entire outside with slated tables - mix it up.

During my recent jaunts around town, the best side-table deal is at Costco, to the tune of $49.99.  There isn't a slate on it.  It's made from plastic, but doesn't have that "plasticy" look to it.  If you place it in a lower-light area, it may even look downright expensive.  TIP:  Bright light and sunshine are not your friends if you are trying to hide a cheap finish.  It's best to place cheap-looking furniture in a low-light corner, the shade, or in the dumpster.  Notice I didn't say cheap furniture, I said cheap-looking furniture - there's a difference.

Found at Costco Store - Seattle #1

 
Here is a slightly different take on the slate trend - squares on squares.

Found at Terris Draheim

It's black, it's slated, & best of all - it has an extra shelf.  I picture a barrel candle in a glass hurricane on top & then a stash of favorite magazines on the second shelf.

Found at Summer House Patio

This side table is shiny & teak - what more could you possibly want?

Found at Terris Draheim

Something about this table says "Space Needle" (but that's beside the point).  Anyway it's practical & unique without stealing the show.

Found at Terris Draheim

Nesting tables are so practical - everybody needs at least one set.  They are the modern version of tv trays.

Found at both Terris Draheim & Summer House Patio

 

Moving on to coffee tables, this is my favorite so far this Spring.  It would look good with one of those boxy "wicker" sectionals or sofas, and if you needed more storage, you could place a large tray on the bottom.

Found at Summer House Patio

This "wicker" coffee table looks great, but feels like plastic.  Granted "all-weather wicker" is a type of plastic - so that's just part of the package.  At least there isn't a lot of maintenance involved.  The biggest problem is picking out the small leaves that get lodged in the "holes" (a great job for kids).

Found at Summer House Patio

Spring is here so where is the fabulous outdoor furniture?

Bill Cunningham from the New York Times does a short video each week on the trends he spots New Yorkers' wearing.  It's one of my favorite parts of the paper.  I decided to "borrow" his concept and apply it to outdoor furniture.  The recession has been terrible to the outdoor furniture industry.  It was on the verge of some interesting innovations, but the recession brought things to a quick halt.  However, it's springtime & I'm hoping to see signs of new growth. 

Fully upholstered outdoor furniture was one of the emerging trends.  Lee Industries had some cool sofas and one or two other manufacturers were beginning to dabble in it too.  Now I'm finding more manufacturers making upholstered outdoor chairs & sofas.  This chair is sold by Terris Draheim, and although it doesn't look exciting at first glance, when placed outside it will be fabulous. 

TIP: Furniture that is simple & bulky may look "boring" in a showroom (& quite frumpy in your family room), but will look much more beautiful when placed outdoors.  The outdoors has so many elements (grass, buildings, the sky, gardens) that going for simple large shapes makes a huge impact.  Too many times people junk up their yards with a ton of thin, spindly furniture & accessories.  They carry no visual weight & just make your outdoor space look messy.  Instead, opt for a few simple bulky pieces - you'll be much happier.  Note: this chair also comes in white. 

 

Here is Kenneth Cobonpue's take on outdoor upholstery...

I'm also seeing a fair amount of outdoor fabric ottomans/tables.  Missoni outdoors is doing them, but I found these in Seattle at Terris Draheim.  They're versatile in that they can go from a foot rest to extra seating and are great when you need an extra pop of color.

People always ask - fabric outside, are you crazy???  Yes (yes to outside, no to crazy); however, if you want less maintenance you should avoid putting upholstered pieces under plants or trees.  Open areas with no overhanging trees are great as well as covered areas; however, if you really want an upholstered piece under your grape-covered pergola, just be prepared to pressure wash it every now & then.