Patio Furniture: What's New in Garden Furniture for 2012
To differentiate, stores like Target and Pier 1 Imports sell outdoor furniture that is considered seasonal -- if you're in the Northern Hemisphere, that would be during the summer months.
Pool and patio stores generally tend to sell products that are made by the higher-end, name-brand manufacturers, like Brown Jordan (the 2011 and 2012 About.com Readers' Choice Award winner for Best Patio Furniture), Tropitone and OW.Le. Pool and patio retailers are often open for business year 'round.
It must have been about a dozen or more years ago around Mother's Day that I saw a Crate and Barrel ad for their version of powder-coated metal motel-style chairs and just had to have them. I also fell for a two-seater reproduction glider at Restoration Hardware a decade ago, and it was a gift for Mother's Day. Same goes for some vinyl string-wrapped outdoor dining chairs from IKEA. Detect a pattern here? Well, yes...I have a lust for patio furniture like some people do for shoes. And many retailers offer just enough new stuff that is reasonably priced to entice outdoor room aficionados to add something to their collection each year.
For starters, the Pantone color of the year is Tangerine, which means all kinds of oranges are popping up in every product that needs to be designed, including outdoor furniture and accessories.
Metal -- steel and aluminum -- has become more durable and lightweight, and is weather resistant when applied with a powder-coated finish. And more FSC-certified woods are being used in the manufacture of outdoor furniture. Let's find out what's new.
Target Conservatory Collection
Although Target's sophisticated Conservatory collection is inspired by ancient Asian patterns in wood, the garden furniture itself is actually made of cast aluminum. With the square spa-bleu Olefin cushions, the collection has a modern vibe. Remove the back cushions to reveal the geometric lattice design, and it looks like vintage garden furniture -- without the rust. Cushions also make the set more of a deep-seating style for comfortable outdoor living room configurations on the patio or deck.
Target's Conservatory collection (Compare prices).
CB2: Mariposa Butterfly Chair and Sawyer Collection
CB2s are located in urban areas -- the first retail stores were in Chicago and New York. While its appeal goes beyond metropolitan areas and consumers under age 35, CB2's furnishings are cleverly designed for indoor / outdoor use and easy storage, which means many pieces are stackable and collapsible. But, you don't have to live in a high-rise apartment to appreciate their retro-inspired and modern designs.
Not to mention their affordability -- another plus.
For outdoor season 2012, CB2 has brought back the classic butterfly chair, which was originally introduced to the world in 1938. This particular butterfly, the Mariposa, is foldable and has a black powder-coated steel tube hairpin frame and a bright orange (Pantone color of the year is tangerine) water-resistant polyester sling.
Joining the Mariposa is a modern take on the classic Adirondack chair and accompanying outdoor furniture. CB2's Sawyer II collection is made of eco-friendly eucalyptus wood that is FSC certified. The space-saving square arms (picture it on a balcony) are ample and sturdy enough to hold a plate or drink. Add the optional Sawyer ottoman, and you just might take a snooze. The Sawyer II collection has a hand-painted black finish that, left untreated, will fade. To maintain the original black finish, simply apply teak oil and, like any outdoor furniture you care about, cover it during weather extremes or when not in use.
The Sawyer collection was designed by Mark Daniel of Slate Design Sustainable and made in Vietnam. The Mariposa butterfly chair is lightweight and has a rust-resistant black power-coated steel and the water-resistant orange (there's that popular Pantone Tangerine) cover is made of 100% polyester.
Crate and Barrel: Dune Collection
Upon first glance, the Dune collection looks like a sleek, modern indoor living room set. And it very well could be, but the materials are made to withstand the elements of an outdoor room. Stainless steel frames are outdoor grade, and taupe Batyline® synthetic mesh upholstery is UV-, fade-, mold-, tear- and stain-resistant.
Pieces in the Dune collection include an outdoor dining set, lounge chairs, a rectangular dining table with regular or pebbled glass, nesting tables (great when you're limited on space), coffee table, sofa and barstools.
Cushions are upholstered with taupe weather-resistant Sunbrella® acrylic covers.
Crate and Barrel Dune Collection (Compare prices).
Grandin Road Retro Squares Collection
These garden pieces really have a nostalgic look to them. I've seen rusted-out originals that inspired this collection, but the superior materials and colors give Grandin Road's Retro Squares collection a sharp, clean look. Constructed of heavy-gauge, there won't be any squeaky hinges or springs to wake the neighbors when you're out there gliding on the porch in the wee small hours!
Back in Grandma's day, she probably had one color choice: white.
Grandin Road offers up a few yummy powder-coated colors in addition to crisp white: aquatic blue, pear green and red.
The collection includes: a glider sofa, glider loveseat, single glider, spring chair, side table, glider cushions, loveseat cushions and chair cushions.
Pottery Barn's Scroll bench and chair (sold separately) are a unique twist on metal garden furniture -- without trying too hard to be different than the rest. The lines are curvacious but still have a modern look. Add the tufted cushion for a comfortable porch-sitting experience. Both pieces are weatherproof and are only available via catalog/internet.
There's a definite inspiration for Pottery Barn's Tavern outdoor furniture collection. The open-air outdoor beer gardens of Bavaria. The collection features rustic mahogany slats and sculptural metal bases in four different finishes: green, pewter, red and white. Each piece is hand-finished and is stackable for easy storage.
Pieces in the Tavern garden collection include armchairs, bar stools, rectangular fixed folding dining table and bench set, bar cart, bench, stool, beer pitcher and glassware (it's not furniture, but it goes with the beer garden theme), and cushions.
Outdoor Furniture From Your Favorite Stores
Patio furniture -- or casual furniture, as it's called in the industry -- does not change drastically from year to year. The materials are pretty standard, and a true trend takes at least a few years to develop rather than a short 12 months or less. But that doesn't mean that the consumer -- you or I -- won't see anything different in our favorite stores or online retailers.To differentiate, stores like Target and Pier 1 Imports sell outdoor furniture that is considered seasonal -- if you're in the Northern Hemisphere, that would be during the summer months.
Pool and patio stores generally tend to sell products that are made by the higher-end, name-brand manufacturers, like Brown Jordan (the 2011 and 2012 About.com Readers' Choice Award winner for Best Patio Furniture), Tropitone and OW.Le. Pool and patio retailers are often open for business year 'round.
It must have been about a dozen or more years ago around Mother's Day that I saw a Crate and Barrel ad for their version of powder-coated metal motel-style chairs and just had to have them. I also fell for a two-seater reproduction glider at Restoration Hardware a decade ago, and it was a gift for Mother's Day. Same goes for some vinyl string-wrapped outdoor dining chairs from IKEA. Detect a pattern here? Well, yes...I have a lust for patio furniture like some people do for shoes. And many retailers offer just enough new stuff that is reasonably priced to entice outdoor room aficionados to add something to their collection each year.
What's New for 2012?
For starters, the Pantone color of the year is Tangerine, which means all kinds of oranges are popping up in every product that needs to be designed, including outdoor furniture and accessories.
Metal -- steel and aluminum -- has become more durable and lightweight, and is weather resistant when applied with a powder-coated finish. And more FSC-certified woods are being used in the manufacture of outdoor furniture. Let's find out what's new.
Target Conservatory Collection
Although Target's sophisticated Conservatory collection is inspired by ancient Asian patterns in wood, the garden furniture itself is actually made of cast aluminum. With the square spa-bleu Olefin cushions, the collection has a modern vibe. Remove the back cushions to reveal the geometric lattice design, and it looks like vintage garden furniture -- without the rust. Cushions also make the set more of a deep-seating style for comfortable outdoor living room configurations on the patio or deck.
Target's Conservatory collection (Compare prices).
CB2: Mariposa Butterfly Chair and Sawyer Collection
CB2s are located in urban areas -- the first retail stores were in Chicago and New York. While its appeal goes beyond metropolitan areas and consumers under age 35, CB2's furnishings are cleverly designed for indoor / outdoor use and easy storage, which means many pieces are stackable and collapsible. But, you don't have to live in a high-rise apartment to appreciate their retro-inspired and modern designs.
Not to mention their affordability -- another plus.
For outdoor season 2012, CB2 has brought back the classic butterfly chair, which was originally introduced to the world in 1938. This particular butterfly, the Mariposa, is foldable and has a black powder-coated steel tube hairpin frame and a bright orange (Pantone color of the year is tangerine) water-resistant polyester sling.
Joining the Mariposa is a modern take on the classic Adirondack chair and accompanying outdoor furniture. CB2's Sawyer II collection is made of eco-friendly eucalyptus wood that is FSC certified. The space-saving square arms (picture it on a balcony) are ample and sturdy enough to hold a plate or drink. Add the optional Sawyer ottoman, and you just might take a snooze. The Sawyer II collection has a hand-painted black finish that, left untreated, will fade. To maintain the original black finish, simply apply teak oil and, like any outdoor furniture you care about, cover it during weather extremes or when not in use.
The Sawyer collection was designed by Mark Daniel of Slate Design Sustainable and made in Vietnam. The Mariposa butterfly chair is lightweight and has a rust-resistant black power-coated steel and the water-resistant orange (there's that popular Pantone Tangerine) cover is made of 100% polyester.
Crate and Barrel: Dune Collection
Upon first glance, the Dune collection looks like a sleek, modern indoor living room set. And it very well could be, but the materials are made to withstand the elements of an outdoor room. Stainless steel frames are outdoor grade, and taupe Batyline® synthetic mesh upholstery is UV-, fade-, mold-, tear- and stain-resistant.
Pieces in the Dune collection include an outdoor dining set, lounge chairs, a rectangular dining table with regular or pebbled glass, nesting tables (great when you're limited on space), coffee table, sofa and barstools.
Cushions are upholstered with taupe weather-resistant Sunbrella® acrylic covers.
Crate and Barrel Dune Collection (Compare prices).
Grandin Road Retro Squares Collection
These garden pieces really have a nostalgic look to them. I've seen rusted-out originals that inspired this collection, but the superior materials and colors give Grandin Road's Retro Squares collection a sharp, clean look. Constructed of heavy-gauge, there won't be any squeaky hinges or springs to wake the neighbors when you're out there gliding on the porch in the wee small hours!
Back in Grandma's day, she probably had one color choice: white.
Grandin Road offers up a few yummy powder-coated colors in addition to crisp white: aquatic blue, pear green and red.
The collection includes: a glider sofa, glider loveseat, single glider, spring chair, side table, glider cushions, loveseat cushions and chair cushions.
Pottery Barn's Scroll bench and chair (sold separately) are a unique twist on metal garden furniture -- without trying too hard to be different than the rest. The lines are curvacious but still have a modern look. Add the tufted cushion for a comfortable porch-sitting experience. Both pieces are weatherproof and are only available via catalog/internet.
There's a definite inspiration for Pottery Barn's Tavern outdoor furniture collection. The open-air outdoor beer gardens of Bavaria. The collection features rustic mahogany slats and sculptural metal bases in four different finishes: green, pewter, red and white. Each piece is hand-finished and is stackable for easy storage.
Pieces in the Tavern garden collection include armchairs, bar stools, rectangular fixed folding dining table and bench set, bar cart, bench, stool, beer pitcher and glassware (it's not furniture, but it goes with the beer garden theme), and cushions.
SHARE
