Humour me. I am pretending it is really spring; not pretend spring where it may or may not snow on any given Tuesday. In April.
Who doesn’t love sitting outside (when it isn’t snowing)? And sitting outside isn’t a comfort or style compromise anymore. So many lovely things.
Outdoor Fabric
These have come a long way, baby. They are technical fabrics and for a long time, technical meant…well……ordinary. Sunbrella started the outdoor fabric revolution perfecting the technology and hand (the way a fabric feels) but then Windsor Smith, Alexa Hampton, Barclay Butera among others took it next level injecting serious style so outdoor doesn’t have to mean colour blocking. Lots of layering options available in modern colour ways (more than yellow stripes and royal blues) and textures.
Beanbag Beauties
I met and fell in love with Coast while we were living in New Zealand. You live outside all year round in the sub-tropical climate of Aoteroa and as a result, designers put a lot of clever thinking and planning into what that outdoor living looks like. It really is an extension of the home and with zero predators, mosquitos, black flys, you are literally leaving doors and windows open all of the time. Missing it all at the moment.
We scooped up four of their marine bean bags and basically lived in them. They use marine canvas which is Sunbrella on steroids – mildew and mold resistant, UV and fade resistant, bleach cleanable and they breathe so they won’t trap heat. Wish I had bought more – would love these on the cottage dock.
Layer Up
Like any space in your home, resist the need to buy a set of anything. I will always and forever prefer pieces that work, not pieces that match. Just watch your scale – pieces should be around the same width, height and weight so a chunky, woven sofa won’t work with a delicate iron and glass coffee table – that is what I mean by weight.
And consider that texture play – weaves with wood, stone with iron. Even in your fabric selections – solids are very interesting when they feature a heavier weave or some variegation.
Where To Go
I love Fresh on King Street – mostly because they offer parking (who does THAT in the city?!) and they carry just about everything you could ever want for outside in difference price ranges. They just make the selection process easy – there is so much there to see and touch and sit in. Catalogue buying can really do some people’s head in because you can’t experience a piece. No risk of that here. And cushions for layering galore!! You can refresh any tired outdoor piece with some fun cushioning. Worth the stop – even if it is only to dream.