Attractive contemporary furniture to spiff up your patio

#1 – From Allegro Classics collection, the Islands Sofa blends beautifully with swimming pools, hot tubs and refinished decks. Its contours are soft and natural, making room for different seating positions. And the backs are removable! Turn them into benches or sun beds. Built from tough aluminum and covered with an all-weather wicker, this patio furniture won’t need replacing anytime soon. Fabric colors come in wheat linen, sunflower, Asian sesame, mojito coffee bean, dupione papaya, dolce mango, cork, champagne linen, and 32 other colors. Yes, they’ve got more flavors than Baskin Robbin’s. Finding a color to match your patio won’t be an issue. (more…)

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On the road to backyard paradise

It’s summertime, baby! And you know what that means: picnics, patio BBQs, family reunions, sprints through the sprinklers, and cool dips in the pool. In the winter, we install the storm windows, open the flue and set the fire a-blazing. But in summer, we flock in droves to the outdoors, we reunite with friends & family; in short, we gather.

So where do you like to go? Hopefully, you’ll make it to your favorite park, campground, lake or mountainside. Don’t forget, though, that the best summer gathering spots can be found in our own backyards.

Photo credit: HGTV

Customizing your backyard sweet spot can be as simple as covering the patio, or as intricate as landscaped pathways leading to shaded gazebos on the banks of a bubbling koi pond. Here are some ideas to jumpstart your summer haven:

Deck and Patio

The first step is the one taken out your back door, and where your feet land can dictate the whole scene. That’s why decks and patios are a staple of American life. We all need our stretching and breathing room.

Those of us with backyards should utilize our decks & patios to the fullest extent. As for the art of creating a gathering spot, a new wood deck, stone or concrete patio are fantastic options. Sometimes an existing deck or patio just needs a facelift, or perhaps some attractive adornments, such as planter boxes, container gardens or an outdoor bar.

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For those of you who’ve worked the grill, made essential runs to the kitchen, and were still able to pull off the perfect barbeque, you deserve a tip of the cap. But aren’t you tired of the frenzy it creates? Then bring the kitchen outdoors, it will make life a little easier.

You can start this process by relocating the grill to the gazebo. If you’ve tolerated the hot sun for long enough, this type of open air structure is perfect for a shady barbeque. You’ll also have enough room to accommodate accessory items and storage. This cuts down on those back and forth trips to the house. If you want to eliminate these excursions altogether, think about an outdoor grilling station.

Grill Stations

A scaled back grilling station doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the outdoor station, but they are very functional and aesthetically pleasing. These stone or brick constructions are built around the grill and include permanent storage or food preparation areas. They’re great additions to the patio or deck because of their rustic appeal. You can also convert wood planter boxes into outdoor cabinets. By taking sheet metal and molding it around the planter lid, now you’ve got the makings of a metal door. Just attach some cool-looking hinges and you’ve got a makeshift outdoor cabinet for supplies. More elaborate grill stations include sinks, bottle boots for chilled juices or wine, and an insulated ice box that acts as a mini-refrigerator. These grilling stations are professionally built and installed. They cost right around $1,900 for a top of the line unit.
Photo credit: Rite Remodeling
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