| |
| |
|
Home Improvement Information |
|
|
|
Lakeside Patios - The Water Makes Decisions For You
If you are putting in a new patio on a lakeside, you have unique considerations that other homeowners do not have when it comes to purchasing patio furniture. We built a new patio on a 700 acre lake and I had to look around for just the right outdoor furniture. It can get very windy on the lake so you don't want furniture that will blow right into the water. That leaves out PVC, plastic, lightweight aluminum etc. My choices were wrought iron, or any of the hardwoods. Our lake is located in the North woods so I thought wrought iron would be too fancy. The look of scrolled wrought iron did not match our wide timber stairway leading down to the lake and patio. The timber stairs and trim are rustic cedar that fits our setting perfectly. Wrought iron would be lovely in a urban or suburban setting or backyard, but it just didn't match our house. I don't think wrought iron is very comfortable and not good for lounging on a lazy weekend. We entertain a lot and I wanted furniture that people would feel comfortable to sit around in and relax while enjoying the action on the water. Seat cushions were going to be apart of whatever furniture I picked out so I needed cushions that had ties so the wind wouldn't send them into the lake. You'd be surprised how many cushions out there do not have ties. I also needed fabric that would resist the elements such as a Sunbrella fabric. These cushions are quite exposed to wind and rain so the choice of Sunbrella was perfect for our setting. There is new technology out there in the marine fabric industry, but right now Sunbrella is one of the best when it comes to outdoor fabric. I narrowed my search to cedarwood because we like Adirondack styled furniture and it fits our location perfectly. The heavy furniture won't move in the wind and it is extremely comfortable. We elected for a cedar glider too because I can remember being on a glider when I was a kid and it was so much fun. I wanted that feeling again while sitting on my patio. The natural color of cedar is warm and inviting. We may need to refinish it every few years, but that's the price of owning wood. Our patio is not large, so we don't have room for a large table and chairs, but it is just the right size for a bistro set. The small table and two chairs work well for us because we don't have a huge family and many summer nights are enjoyed at lakeside while eating dinner. I needed a little extra seating without a lot more chairs so I elected to purchase an old antique tool chest that looks worn but is in great shape. I use it as a bench and also for a table for appetizers and cocktails. Think outside the norm when it comes to accessorizing the outdoors. You don't need to have fancy things, just add something unusual. Our 20" copper fire pit completes the setting with pots of annuals adding the beauty and color. We elected to put in copper lighting so the whole theme of the patio is in warm tones of copper that blends well with cedarwood. I did not install the kitchen at this time, that's next year's project. I already have the refrigerator in the boathouse so I do have a head start on my outdoor kitchen. We will need a new gas grill and some counters installed. We already have a large fire pit next to the boathouse that we use for utilitarian burning or leaves and branches for spring and fall cleanup. I would love an outdoor fireplace, but there isn't enough room. I guess I can't have everything. We had to really plan ahead when it came to our patio, not only for the furniture selection, but we are on somewhat of a hill and this too makes a difference while building the patio. I didn't want to terrace the whole hill because it would have looked like a solid row of timbers. Not soft enough for me. I wanted perennials around the lake and I got a head start on transplanting some of what I already owned. Perennials can be quite expensive, but they certainly are worth the money. I don't want to spend my summers planting flowers. I want them to come up on their own year after year and that is exactly what will happen. Landscaping is not my fast ball but I certainly had fun in the planning stages. I just had to get in there and do it. No rocket science here, just treat your hill as a large canvas and start painting. I filled in the background with hosta and the center focal point is hydrangeas. I also have a combination of lily of the valley, ajuga, mother of thyme, sedum, ferns, day lilies and more. It's a showplace if I say so myself. There is still much to do and I will move a few things next fall. If you are planning that outdoor patio by pool or lakeside, consider the weight of your furniture and how it will hold up to the elements. Consider comfort and how you like to entertain. Let the water make your selections for you; just make your patio a complete outdoor room and a place you will enjoy for years to come. Bev Marshall is a successful freelance writer offering guidance and suggestions for consumers buying gas grills, above ground pools, patio furniture, picnic tables, outdoor kitchens and more. She gives information and tips to help you save money and make informed buying decisions. Her many articles can be found at http://www.patio-furniture-4u.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Home-Improvement - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Tips For Buying a Whirlpool Bath Online So you're building the bath of your dreams but find the prices you have been quoted for the Whirlpool Bath way out of your budget.Don't despair and settle for a Whirlpool Bath you don't want!Go online and save by buying direct from a Whirlpool tub distributor. A Fabric Hammock is Comfortable Casual Chic If you are looking for unique seating inside or out, why not consider a hammock? What comes to mind when you picture a hammock? Do you see yourself on the islands? Are you swaying in the breeze while watching the kids play in the pool? Are you watching the stars at night on your hammock for two? You can be on vacation year round when you add a hammock to a room or patio. You instantly create a casual chic or sophisticated hand designed elegance. Planning Permission UK - Tactics if Appealing to the DOE for a Planning Refusal Tactics of Appealing to the DOE - There will be times in any Design Agents career when a clients scheme will be refused Planning Permission. Fortunately, our experience is now at a point when we can normally forecast these schemes & steer the client away from that design solution. Adjustable Bed - Start Each Day on the Right Note Your daily beauty sleep will not be complete if any of the following four factors namely light, noise, and temperature and of course the bed that you are sleeping on are not up to the desired level. While you may adjust the other three factors according to your desired comfort you won't be able to do that with the bed unless you have an adjustable bed. Strongly Scented Candles: Use your mouth, nose and eyes to tell Triple scented, heavily scented, strongly scented - these are all phrases candle manufacturers are using to tout their claim that their candles have more "smell" for your buck. In reality, these claims only act to confuse most consumers. The $27,000 Toilet Seat - Funny DIY Story This story was told to me by a plumber I know and it brings home the reason why there are times to call a professional.I received a call from a homeowner asking for someone to come estimate some repairs. The Art of Power Washing Siding Some of the most common mistakes to avoid made by homeowners and contractors are:Trying to remove the powdery coating called oxidation on aluminum siding. Removing this coating can cause discoloration and in some cases cause the siding to look like a completely different color. Hammocks Create a Stress Free Zone Stress is all around us, from the office to the front yard and everywhere in between. Homeowners are buying hammocks and porch swings to create that stress free zone they need to unwind after a busy day. Trading in Corporate Office for Home Office Six years ago, I had not yet turned on a computer. Today I run several successful Internet Businesses and by me being a single parent of 4 children my friends calls me a marketing expert. "5 Fast Ideas to Freshen the Look of your Room "Company's coming and my place doesn't look right?"You know how it goes, you have visitors coming tonight. You've cleaned every room in the house (well, maybe not the bedroom). Poster, Print or Painting. Where Are You Going To Put It? If you are redesigning or decorating a room, or house, care has to be taken where your piece of art is to be displayed. Even if you have bought a picture on impulse there are a few tips that will not only enhance the picture but its surroundings. Luxury Bedding is More Than Just Thread Count Thread count is the most widely referred to term when searching for those "perfect sheets." Generally, the higher the thread count, the more costly you'll find the sheets. Planning Permission Tips UK - Is Todays Popular Quest For Contemporary Design The New Bad Taste Can you remember when people used to install slatted louvre windows as replacement units in their Victorian semis or the stone cladding revolution of the 1980's.We look back & 'tut tut' at these blunders with a comfortable glow of self satisfaction that we would never make such obvious design & development errors in our own projects - we have a far greater sense of good taste haven't we?Trends in the residential development world seem to go in huge swings of about 7 to 10 year cycles and it is often not until the end of one cycle we realise what the mistakes were which is usually triggered by the complete abandonment of the previous trend or methodology for another system. Planning Permission Tips UK - Loft Conversions in UK Properties - Do They Add Value? We get a great many requests to view the potential of Loft conversions. This type of extension has remained fairly popular since I first started designing property & is perhaps even more in demand now than ever before - especially in dense urban areas where the alternative choices for that fourth bedroom are somewhat limited. A Carefully Planned Outdoor Kitchen is Worth the Investment Do you have any idea how popular outdoor kitchens are becoming? We spend more time at home than ever before and we are fixing up those homes instead of buying new. Homeowners are opting for an outdoor kitchen over other types of remodeling projects because they extend the size of their living space. Consumer Guides: Finding A Quality Contractor and Power Washing Tips Power washing is the application of high pressure water spray. Some of the most popular services include the cleaning of concrete patios, sidewalks, decks, house siding, entrance ways, and driveways. Installing Vinyl Replacement Windows In A Wood Frame Opening When we left off last week, we had removed the old wood sash windows and prepared the opening for the vinyl replacement windows. Now it's time to install your new windows. Basement Waterproofing Advice Basements need to be waterproofed for many reasons. Cracks in the walls, leaking windows and pipe condensation are probably the most common reasons basements have water build-up problems. Home Inspection Basics The Home InspectorWhen you think about it, it is a bit odd. A person hires a stranger to snoop around another stranger's house for a couple hours and report back. Gas Stoves - Pros and Cons Gas stoves are those preferred by professionals. The heat distribution is more even than that of electric stoves, and heat precision is more accurate.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
