Forget bringing the outdoors in. Bring the indoors out.
By Christa TerryWith apologies to those who live in the southern hemisphere, I’d just like to say thank goodness that spring has finally sprung. I was getting terribly sick of keeping my house hermetically sealed against the cold and dreary weather. Now that I can finally sit outside without risking hypothermia, I’ve realized that my complement of weather resistant furniture is woefully inadequate.
In fact, my entire collection is limited to two plastic armchairs and one tiny plastic table because the only outdoor space I had as of a year ago was a 5′ by 10′ bit of deck hanging in space. Now I have a deck that’s quite a bit bigger and also overlooks an entire yard, which means I’m looking for an upgrade.
In yet another moment of synchronicity, I was on the phone with my gram whining about my lack of weather-resistant seating surfaces when I found Ballard Designs‘ summertime catalog in my mailbox. I wasted the next fifteen minutes losing myself in daydreams of customizable umbrellas, intricate cast aluminum lounges, and faux bois planters.
So, yeah, it’s time to hose off the plastic and shop around for some good deals on outdoorsy accessories because $600 for a chaise isn’t going to happen any time soon.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:32 am
I so hear you, NtB! I have politely informed Mr. Twistie that this is the year we stop talking about getting some porch furniture and ACTUALLY DO IT. Come the dog days of August, I’m not sitting in my sweatbox of a living room with the fan blasting. I’m going out on the porch in a cute sunhat with a tall pitcher of lemonade and a good novel.
Oh, and before winter comes around again, we’re getting new curtains for that living room with some sort of insulating properties so I don’t freeze to death come december.
I always wanted to live in a Victorian house. It just needs some slight upgrades to actually be comfortable.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:53 am
Twistie – best of luck on finding nice insulated curtains – I ended up back at the sewing machine (aka “sweatshop”) because the insulated curtains I could find, ahem, left something to be desired in the attractiveness department. Insulating lining fabric, I could find at my local chain fabric store; wonderful drapery fabrics, ditto. So, it was me, my yardstick, my scissors and my sewing machine.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Oh NtB, you’re breaking my heart. We just started digging our foundation today, and you’ve got me coveting those gorgeous black damask outdoor items, even though there are a million-and-one things to get done before I can even THINK of outdoor furniture.
Ah well…summer of 2009 (knock on wood) will see me on my front porch, in a white rocking chair with that blask damask cushion, with my feet up on the railing, looking out onto the river while I sip iced tea.
April 21st, 2008 at 6:41 pm
NtB, Check out Craigslist in your area. My neighbor got a perfect, new looking, lovely outdoor set with table, 4 chairs, chaise, lounge chair, all cushions, umbrella, and small table for under $500.00. The pieces are beautiful, high quality, and comfortable.