Modern Outdoor Furniture - More than Folding Aluminum Chairs

The calendar is busily at work, announcing to theare endless. Do you want as chair of bamboo or
world that summer is just around the corner. Aof teak? Perhaps you might wish for a more
wave of nostalgia washes over me. In my mind's"countrified" or natural look. Woods filling this bill
eye I am traveling back 50 years, going frominclude cedar, redwood, and maple. Or, in a flight
"snapshot" to "snapshot." We were a typicalof whimsy, you would like to experiment, using
middle-class family living in suburbia. Everythingsome very less known woods such as balau, ipe,
was simple and people were happy.jarre, or kempas which are known for their
Within this frame of happiness, we did a lot ofresistance to warpage and rot, are fairly hard, and
things together as a family, using the best of thehave a fine grain. All of a sudden your backyard is
outdoors. No matter where my mind's eye went,no longer mundane but filled with all sorts of
it seems to me that some form or another oftextural and visual delights.
outdoor furniture figured prominently. At theHow about metal-based lawn furniture? At one
beach watching the waves. On our asphalttime, metal chairs were made of aluminum. That
driveway, my father, following his weekly ritual ofwas your sole choice. Rather in a rut? Now, not
barbecuing while he and my uncle would cheer atonly is basic aluminum used; it is available in
the Los Angeles Dodgers' game tinnily blaringextruded, cast, and wrought forms. It is such a
from a transistor radio. Probably my favoritepopular metal because of its exaggerated
"snapshot" was sitting on our backyard patio,lightness, and is so strong it is used in the
talking with my grandfather or just sitting there,construction of jets, as well as being corrosion
watching him smoke his beloved cigars and thumbresistant and durable. Wrought iron is another
through his foreign language newspapers. Wepopular material for outdoor furniture. It is lovely
cannot forget the fabric and aluminum hammockto look at with its intricate filigree work but
taking the place of honor on our screened-inhorrendous to lift because of its tremendous
porch. What a haven that was. I read countlessweight. Once a piece of wrought iron furniture has
books while occupying that hammock, hiding frombeen set in its place in your yard, it is wise to plan
sweltering summer afternoons. It was such aupon leaving it there permanently unless there are
treat when Mom allowed me to sleep theremitigating circumstances.
overnight when the heat was simply too muchThe last major group of materials that might be
for a person to endure inside.of interest in the construction of outdoor furniture
And what was the common denominating factoris truly miscellaneous. It is here that the design of
tying all these experiences together? Foldingyour furniture is only limited by your dreams.
aluminum outdoor furniture. There seemed to bePlastic or vinyl give a casual look, decidedly
a folding aluminum chair tucked away here, there,appropriate for use around your swimming pool.
and everywhere, from our garage to the farInflatable vinyl can be blown up to make
corner of our huge backyard.child-sized chairs. Beanbag chairs can be fun, too.
Now, 50 years later, the array of outdoorWicker is slightly more formal, depending upon
furniture is positively staggering. The choices havewhich plant material is used in the weaving.
metamorphosed from the basic aluminum foldingBenches can be made from concrete but again,
chairs and chaise lounges to whatever your mindonce they are placed, it is doubtful you will want
can conceive.to rearrange them. Hammocks can also add a
In the 21st century, outdoor furniture hasdifferent look, from tropical to being simply fasted
become quite sophisticated. The materials usedbetween two trees, swinging gently in the breeze.