Furnishings Design

Julian wood asked:


Metal Garden Furniture

Metal as the material for garden furniture has a long history in the UK.

However most older furniture was made of cast iron and would readily rust and require treatment.

Usually a wire brush and rust treatment along with hours of painting would be the norm in Spring for the trusty metal furniture owner.

With the advent of Aluminium garden furniture the situation was much improved.

Aluminium does oxidize leaving chalky white deposits but needs little or no maintenance compared with iron made furniture.

Aluminium garden furniture has other advantages as well as not turning your patio brown.

It is light weight and easily moved to a more sunnier position.

It is much more affordable than say Teak and will last a long time.

I should mention that it does matter about the quality of the furniture set you buy.

I have many people say to me for both metal and wooden garden furniture, "I bought my set from …. and it was only £…. and was great the first year. But when I went to it the following spring it just fell apart.

You should also be aware on the cheaper versions of garden furniture the metal is hollow and water can find it’s way into the tubes.

You may end up with a cold wet surprise when moving your furniture!  

Metal Garden Furniture Best Buys   

I think the four best companies for metal garden furniture are Li-Lo leisure, A-MIR, Ascalon’s and Marvells.

Li-Lo Leisure



Li-Lo supply some really excellent quality furniture, you will find them stocked in the likes of Asda.

We have just started dealing with them.

They have a massive range far to many to show in this article.

I will be adding information to the supplier database when I have time, but I would say for quality and value they qualify as a best buy.

A-MIR 



Based in Birmingham they have been trading for many years and have a huge range in most of the multiples.

You can see the high quality powder coated finish on the Eclipse range which has a full range of furniture sets and benches and loungers in the same style.

Ascalon



The furniture from Ascalon would be great on a patio or in a conservatory, it has a beautiful style of it’s own.

It reminds me of shabby chic or antique furniture.

There is a large range from bistro sets to Arbours and benches. If you don’t like modern furniture and you want a more stylish classic look then they are worth considering.

Marvells



Marvells started with some beautiful art deco wall art and mirrors etc.

There site www.marvells.com is a veritable wonderland for all sorts of cool stuff.

They have started stocking some good looking garden furniture sets, the best being below.

I would say "watch this space" with Marvell’s I think they are going to be big in the next few years.

Home and Garden Club

Sharron Nixon asked:


The general market for garden furniture is dominated by imports of finished and semi-assembled furniture sold mainly by major DIY and furniture outlets. Such garden furniture is decorative and very durable. There are many different types of cheap garden furniture including hardwood, teak, metal, cast iron and even sets that come with glass tables.

The French and German markets are two of the most significant in Europe for garden furniture, and both have shown steady growth over recent years. The fashion for dining or taking tea alfresco traveled easily to America, where garden furniture became a fixture of the landscape, just as it had in England.

The purchase of teak garden furniture is a true investment in value. Teak is an excellent choice for outdoor furniture as the wood ages beautifully and will give you outdoor living pleasure and years of enjoyment. Teak is an extremely dense-grained wood and is very resistant to rot, warping, shrinkage and swelling which makes it ideal for outdoor patio and garden furniture. You’d be best to choose your style of teak furniture carefully as your outdoor teak furniture will be around for many years. Most teak furniture owners will leave their teak furniture outside all year long as there is no reason not to, such is its resilience.

Indonesian teak is considered by many teak furniture manufacturers to be the highest quality of teak wood available in the world today. Teak furniture is generally all made with mortise and tendon joinery. This is a superior method of construction which results in more solid and durable pieces of furniture. Most manufacturers will also use solid brass castings, screws and bolts in the construction of their furniture, which adds that touch of class.

The highest quality teak furniture will also be fully machine made. Fully machine made teak garden furniture guarantees the owner will have more uniformity and a more perfectly finished product. Enjoy garden furniture that is solidly built, needs little maintenance, and will go on giving pleasure in your garden year after year.

When choosing your garden furniture, keep in mind the geographic location that you live in. If your are is prone to extremes of temperature, you will need to ensure your purchase will withstand these extremes.

An example of this is, where your summer temperatures reach very high levels, you may want to think twice about purchasing metallic garden furniture. There have been some nasty burns primarily caused through the hot sun on metal garden furniture.

If you have decided on wood furniture, again bear in mind the temperatures that the furniture will be exposed to. You will need a lot more resilience to extremes of temperature than if you live in a more temperate climate.

Keep in mind also what the primary use of the garden furniture will be. If you are wanting to dine outdoors, for example, you may want to look at a design that incorporates a lazy susan, or revolving center. This makes the outdoor dining experience a lot more pleasurable, especially if your table is large.

If you are all out entertainers, make sure your garden furniture is either equipped with plenty of seating, or alternatively at a later date you could add individual pieces to it. Extra chairs, footstools, loungers and the like are often part of a larger set of which the basic setting is your first purchase.

Also, beware of glass tables. If you are interested in a glass table, make sure you also purchase an umbrella that will cover the circumference of the table. This is mainly to avoid the problem of glare from the sun.

It does not matter what you choose, the age old adage of “you get what you pay for” applies equally to garden furniture. If you are wanting something to stand the test of time and climate, you will end up paying accordingly. Once again, decide the purpose of use for the garden furniture, and you will not be disappointed.

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Matthew Pericard asked:


With the internet growing from strength to strength it’s easy to find yourself swamped with choice. Not that that’s a bad thing mind but it can put doubts in your head as to which product is better than another; is it that the price is right or should I spend a little more for something of better quality. When it comes to garden furniture plastic is out and wood or metal are in this summer. And with the warmer months drawing closer, we hope, many of us are desperate to not miss out on the sun. So there’s no time like the present to throwing out the old and upgrade with a sparkling new garden furniture set.

Now, wooden garden furniture may look more traditional but is its metal counterpart more up your street? Do you want garden furniture that is easy to maintain or something that can be stored away tidily in the shed? How much do you want to impress your friends with its look or do you simply want sit back in comfort and bask in the sun?

Wooden and metal garden furniture are sold in many guises. Metal garden sets for instance are moulded eloquently from cast iron and others are framed in aluminium with textile seating and either a plastic veneered table top or glass top. Broadly speaking metal outdoor furniture can be considered more hip and trendy, especially with interest in multi-material garden furniture alluded to above. This makes metal sets suited to patios and terraces due to their clean, angular edges. If your tastes are a little more conservative and your garden setting befits a scene out of the British Heritage’s website then wooden garden furniture fits the bill, evocative of the natural surroundings with its slightly uneven surfaces and knotted texture.

In a practical sense wooden garden furniture generally requires annual treatment using teak oil and such like, maintaining appearance and preventing cracking. When all is said and done metal garden furniture is still liable to rusting so all it boils down to really is personal choice.

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George Finnerin asked:


Are you a homeowner who has your own garden? If you do and if you are like many other garden growers, there is a good chance that you take great pride in your garden. You may not only spend a large amount of time working on it to make it beautiful and full of life, but you may also spend a lot of time just relaxing in your garden area. If you are, have you ever thought about outfitting your garden area with teak garden furniture? If you have yet to do so, you may want to think about giving teak garden furniture a close look.

When it comes to teak garden furniture, there are many individuals who wonder exactly what is so special about it. If you were to talk to a lawn and garden expert, there is a good chance that they would recommend teak garden furniture to you. One of the reasons why teak garden furniture comes so highly rated and recommended is because of its dependability. Teak garden furniture is made from some of the best materials on earth. As long as you carefully choose your teak garden supplier or manufacturer, you should have pieces of furniture that may, literally, last a lifetime.

In addition to its dependability, teak garden furniture is also well-known for its beauty. Teak garden furniture is beautiful beyond what many words explain. Its beauty creates elegance and luxury; elegance and luxury that may be perfect for your garden, especially if you are interested in turning your garden into a private, luxurious getaway. Teak garden furniture can transform a traditional or an average garden, into a thing of breathtaking beauty. The natural beauty of teak garden furniture makes it the perfect fit for your garden. Tweak garden furniture doesn’t look “out of place,” as most other pieces of cheap plastic or metal lawn and garden furniture often does.

Although we often associate gardens with peace and quiet, gardens are also home to many social gatherings. If you choose to have a social gathering in your garden, even just a small one, there is a good chance that you are proud of your garden and its beauty. If that is the case, why ruin that beauty with traditional metal or plastic lawn and garden furniture? Instead, you will want to complement the beauty of your garden and what better way to do that than with teak garden furniture. With teak garden furniture, you are sure to get nothing but compliments from your garden gathering guests.

It is also important to mention the choices that you will have, when it comes to outfitting your garden area with teak garden furniture. If you are interested in doing so, you can only place one or two pieces of teak garden furniture in your garden or you can add a whole teak garden furniture set; the decision is yours to make. When making that decision though, you may want to take the size of your garden into consideration, as well as how much free space you would like your garden to have. Many prefer not to “clutter,” their garden too much and you may want to be careful about doing the same.

If and when you decide that you would like to outfit your garden with teak garden furniture, you will want to start shopping. This is where the fun really begins. When shopping for teak garden furniture, you will find that you have a number of different options. For instance, you may be able to choose from teak garden chairs, teak Adirondack garden chairs, teak garden benches, and so forth. You actually have quite a selection of teak garden furniture pieces to choose from. What is even more amazing is that each piece of teak garden furniture comes in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles. What does this mean for you? It means that you may actually have a difficult time deciding which piece to buy! That is why a large number of garden growers actually buy multiple pieces of teak garden furniture and sometimes even a whole garden set.

If you are interested in buying teak garden furniture for your garden or even if you are just interested in seeing what type of garden furniture pieces are available for sale, you will want to check out TeakWoodPatioFurniture.com. With a large selection of quality discount teak garden pieces, you are sure to find exactly what you are looking for and more at TeakWoodPatioFurniture.com.

Your Trading Center

Julian wood asked:


Garden furniture Outdoor patio Furniture Choices

Patio furniture has come a long way from the green plastic resin chairs of old.

There is a world of choice in the market and many fine pieces of furniture.

We can separate the categories into five main types.

1) We have traditional wood furniture.

2) We have metal patio furniture.

3) Rattan or wicker furniture.

4) Plastic resin furniture.

5) Ceramic or concrete furniture.

I will be publishing articles on all the above in turn, first up wooden Garden Furniture.

1) Wooden Garden Patio Furniture

Wooden outdoor furniture has been widely used for years, either for dining sets or generally for garden furniture such as benches, hammocks and planters.

The wood used has primarily been hardwood although tanalised Pine is popular in the Swiss designs.

The best and of course most expensive is Teak which mainly comes from Indonesia.

Teak is graded, grade A is the highest quality.

Most people agree that Teak can be left untreated and will mellow to lovely silver grey over the years.

Most other grades of Teak will be supplied pre oiled, the furniture will last just as long if you treat regularly. The reason for the lower grade is that the wood will have defects in and grain anomalies, apart from that the lower grade Teak can sometimes not be kiln dried.

Other woods are used for garden furniture include Keruing, Acacia, Rose wood and Juniper.

Keruing is a good solid hardwood that will last up to 25 years. Great for outdoor dining furniture and bistros, a trend at the moment is to have a Keruing frame on a chair with textilene back and bottom for comfort.

You can also find steamers, loungers, picnic tables and benches in Keruing all in all it is a very hard wearing heavy set wood ideal for outdoor furniture.

Acacia is becoming popular as it is better value for money.

A MIR has developed a major range in Acacia. The only thing to watch for is that it is plantation Acacia, as there has been a problem with lower quality wood that has not been properly dried.

That aside you can buy an Acacia dining set, 4 chairs and a table for under £100, which is a bargain.

Rosewood is fantastic but only if you have deep pockets as dining sets can set you back £2/3000 a time.

Juniper is mostly used for the pole of wooden parasols but still is a good solid wood and will last years outside with proper maintenance. In the next article I will look at metal garden furniture and how it has developed into a vast array of styles.

Author: Julian Wood www.peakgardencentres.co.uk

Adult Education FAQ

Hal Lewis asked:


For the very best in garden furniture, choose one of these woods:

Palm

Palm makes fine garden furniture and is absolutely stunning in the garden. It comes in various shades of coloring from a golden brown to a deep, rich brown. Palm makes exquisite outdoor garden furniture as it is very durable and holds up well under all types of weather.

You can find palm garden furniture in the finest of garden shops. It comes in everything from large tables and chairs to tables and outdoor sofas. Most of it is adorned with quality fabrics. This furniture looks so good that you will think it should be indoors, but it is durable enough to last as garden furniture.

Biltmore

Biltmore garden furniture also allows you to have the look of indoor furniture as garden furniture. This entails quality and the cushions on Biltmore furniture allow it to be durable in the outdoors.

Wicker

Wicker is the classic garden furniture and is more popular than ever. Today, wicker collections are comprised of the best resistant materials and usually adorned with cushions that are made from resin materials that give them durability in all kinds of weather. Wicker has always been a top choice for those who want the very best when it comes to garden furniture.

There are many choices that you can make when choosing garden furniture. No longer are you relegated to wrought iron or bamboo. There are many other types of garden furniture that have been treated to withstand all types of weather.

When choosing garden furniture, you have a variety of options. You can choose to purchase it at your local garden shop. You may be limited as to quality and selection. Or, you can choose to purchase at one of the many online vendors that offer a vast selection.

If you are looking for the very best in garden furniture, there are some online outlets that cater to the most discerning tastes. You can choose pices that not only look as if it belongs in a fine home, but will also hold up for a lifetime in the weather.

Some of the garden furniture that is available today is made with the ultimate comfort in mind. No longer will you sit on uncomfortable plastic cushions that are waterproof. The pieces available today has cushions that embody comfort and are just as comfortable as indoor furniture, yet resilient to the weather.

Whether you are looking for a table and chairs or an entire suite of garden furniture, you can find what you are seeking online or in some of the popular garden stores in your area. But overall you have the best opportunity to find a diverse group of products by shopping online and a much bigger selection. You can usually get a better price, even for fine garden furniture, by shopping online instead of in your local garden shop. Many online garden furniture shops will even customize garden furniture for you when you place your order, allowing you to pick colors and also choose from a large selection of fabric specifically designed for garden furniture.

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Gen Wright asked:


ow, from previous experiences, that wood is not a good candidate for the outdoors. That is because wood tends to react to outdoor elements such as moisture, insects, and even plants. These elements cause irreversible damage to the wood, which is why we don’t usually this material with the outdoors.

However, there are many different types of wood. In general, you will see them classified as a hardwood, or a softwood. Softwood is never suitable for the outdoors. Even when placed indoors, they don’t last long. But they are very easily to work with. So even if they last only for a few short years, there is still an active market for such products. Consumers simply use them for their lifetime, and then replace them with new furniture after a few years.

But if durability is important to you, you should be looking towards hardwood. For example, perhaps you are considering buying some furniture for your garden. Since it’s a garden, you want the furniture to look as natural as possible in the setting. The problem is, not all furniture types can fit into the garden setting. Steel or plastic can withstand outdoor elements better, but they are man-made materials and they just don’t have that natural feel. Wood appears to be the ideal candidate, as it is made from natural materials. But it is very difficult to find a type of wood that can last for long in the outdoors.

Perhaps that is why teak furniture can be expensive at times. Teak is a very unique material. It produces natural resinous oils that helps prevent moisture from entering the interiors. The oils also act as an insect and plant repellent. Due to this natural characteristic, it is an ideal material for outdoor garden furniture.

Of course, there are other alternatives, like trying to protect the wood from water by layering the surface with paints and lacquer. But doing that essentially covers up the natural patterns of the wood, which is undesirable for many homeowners. In this aspect, teak furniture remains the only furniture type that can retain its natural patterns, and be set in an outdoor environment.

Another interesting benefit of having teak in the garden is that the furniture helps to create a more relaxing mood. The best pieces are those that help people to relax. For instance, you can try shopping for benches, seats, chairs, tables, or even steamers. If your garden is big enough, you can even house a complete dining set in it. Whenever the entire family is home for dinner, and assuming that the weather permits, you can always choose to have your meals in the garden.

Given the unique characteristics of teak wood, it seems reasonable for the price to be higher furniture made from other types of materials. But when you weigh in the benefits, it is definitely worth paying the premium.

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John Hayward asked:


You may think that all Garden Furniture is built to last, but unfortunately that is NOT the case. Buying cheap Garden Furniture is very often the most expensive choice! It will need to be replaced often! The old adage is also true, “you get what you pay for”.

Having established that we are now NOT going to buy the cheapest that we can find, what should we do next? The first step is to decide what type of Garden Furniture that you like. This you can basically separate into two categories:

Metal Garden Furniture or Hardwood Garden Furniture.

Metal Garden Furniture:

If you want Metal Garden Furniture, and you want it to last, then you should select Metal Garden Furniture that is ONLY made of Aluminum. The reason for this is that Aluminum does not rust, so will last in all weather conditions. Having decided on Aluminum, you then must look at whether to go for “Cast Aluminum”, which is often solid and is made from Aluminum that has been Cast into a mould, or “Framed Aluminum”, which although lighter, is normally equally as durable. So if your preference is to have Metal Garden Furniture, selecting any type of quality Aluminum Garden Furniture, you will be sure of getting many years of use from your purchase.

Hardwood Garden Furniture:

This is my favorite! No two pieces are “exactly” the same and subtle differences in the grain, makes each piece unique. It would take a whole book to completely cover “Hardwood Garden Furniture”, because there are literally thousands of different options. However after the last ten years of selling “all types” of wooden garden furniture, my choice has narrowed right down to only one type of wooden garden furniture to buy, and that is one made of Teak!

The reason for this is very simple; it is the BEST there is to withstand most types of weather, including the often cold and rainy UK climate. Although it is certainly more expensive that most other types of wood, it is VERY hard wearing and will last for many years, with or without, any treatment, so really does justifies the higher price.

Teak is a natural product that is from a slow growing hard wood tree. So when you look to buy make sure that you select from a supplier that has Teak Garden Furniture that has ONLY been made from “Plantation Grown” Teak, which is a renewable resource, and not from a forest that is being destroyed by de-forestation.

Quality Teak Garden Furniture should last for 20 -25 years, so when you compare the life of it to the cost, it is extremely good value for money.

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John Stidolph asked:


Everyone loves to have a beautiful garden. If you do have a beautiful one, you end up spending more time in the garden, truly enjoying the many wonders of mother nature. People who spend a lot of time in their gardens, naturally like to have the best furniture there. There is a whole range of garden furniture available which includes wicker, wrought iron, bamboo, plastic and different types of woods such as teak, oak, cedar etc. In fact a lot of people go in for teak garden furniture, since it has far more advantages than any of the others.

Some of these teak garden furniture choices are, tables, chairs, swings, garden benches, recliners, chaise lounges, sun umbrellas etc. All these are available in teak as well. People invest in teak garden furniture since amongst all hardwoods, its the most durable. And so despite the high costs associated with teak furniture, people don’t mind indulging on themselves. Really, this only adds value to your net worth in the end.

New trendy and stylish designs of teak garden furniture has come about, due to the high demand for teak garden furniture. Moreover due to this high demand, manufactures are cashing in on this and providing for customer’s personal choice. Customers inform manufacturers of their choice and manufacturers are creating individualized products as per customer’s requirements. This is a great benefit to customers who get exactly what they want in their teak garden furniture.

Choosing your teak garden furniture with care and creativity will help you in bringing out the best of you’re garden, since teak is associated with luxury, elegance and style. Craftsmanship in the intricate work on your teak garden furniture stands out. Another great thing about this furniture is that it does not require a lot of maintenance.

The beauty of you’re garden is enhanced, with tastefully created teak garden furniture. While outward beauty is essential, what is more important is the utility of the product. If you’re furniture is not comfortable, but looks great, there isn’t any need for it, is there? While choosing or designing you’re garden furniture this should be kept in mind. In addition, its important that you’re furniture is in sync with you’re house or garden. For example, you don’t want to have a Japanese garden and then have furniture designed for a country home. That would only make it look awkward. All these points need to be considered while making a decision to buy teak garden furniture.

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Abhishek Agarwal asked:


The most recognized among the manufacturers of Oak-Garden Furniture are Amish from Loudonville in Ohio. They make use of the North American Red Oak or the Cherry to structure the beautiful Garden Furniture which is great for the patio. The tops, face, sides, face-frame and the shelves are made of solid oak or the cherry wood, although pieces of the oak and cherry veneers might be used. Amish is proud to proclaim no particleboard or no pressboard, and not even masonite materials are used on any of their furniture and only real oak is grown in their own property.

Natural variations in the solid wood grain help to make cherry and the oak furniture very beautiful. Every piece of the Garden Oak Furniture would have unique characteristics as oak wood grains vary in its color. As you use natural wood stains the coloring would vary. If consistent color is required then one must use a varied stain.

Amish usually maintain a topcoat with exquisite catalyzed clear finish and a satin sheen. It appears like a hand-rubbed finishing of satin, though offers good protection including resistance from the spills as varied as vinegar, water, coffee, and even the paint thinner. It would allow you to use the furniture with a peace of mind; cleanup being real simple. You may use warm soap wash-cloth and this furniture cleans quite easily. Almost every piece of the Garden Furniture designed by the Amish Craftsmen is built in small shops with the use of old attention for the detail. This is the reason for people to go for Amish furniture about the Oak Garden Furniture durability and quality durability guaranteed. Beautiful settings for the patio come from keeping the Oak Garden Furniture.

Cedar Stations offer Chinese Oak furniture at affordable prices and the shipping is free too. Oak Adirondack Chair often comes partially assembled along with solid brass hardware. Solid Chinese Oak usually is stained with light oil for the lasting weather protection. The Cedar Station offers varieties in Java Indonesian Teak, Western Red Cedar, and also the Chinese Oak outdoor furniture. The Chinese oak is dense but finely-grained hardwood which is 5% harder compared to red oak. Cedar Station is very proud to offer the Oak Outdoor Furniture with all pieces of Chinese Oak, using the industry standard tenon joinery and mortise. This would prevent weakening of hinges, when left outdoors. The Chinese Oak dried to prevent cupping and warping. Lot of craftsmanship gets used for creating the beautiful Garden Patio Furniture set. It however, maybe bought for around a $100 with shipping free.

At Cedar Station many of the exquisite outdoor furniture gets made from teak, oak, and cedar. All types of the patio seating, the dining chairs, the Adirondack chairs, various benches, the rocking chairs, exotic porch swings, and others are made. The use this Chinese Oak makes products cheaper with the similar look as the oak from actual trees. Such oak gets farmed so that the forests would not be used and would protect the ecology of the earth. Whether one uses the Amish Oak or Chinese Oak outdoor furniture, it would last for a very long and good time making the patio to be envied.

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