Walk into your neighbor’s back yard this summer, and you might swear you’d taken a wrong turn and ended up in the living room, save for the grass, trees and open sky.
Outdoor “rooms” can include all-weather rugs, grill islands — even fireplaces. And customers are looking for beautiful furniture to complete the look, with pieces that are as comfortable as they are stylish.
“They want it to be the comfort center,” said Carl Vice, general manager of Casual Living and Patio Center on Industry Road. “They want to feel just like they’re sitting inside on their recliner. They want to be that comfortable outdoors.”
Pieces that move, says Vice, are desirable. Seven out of 10 chairs sold at his store, he guesses, rock, swivel or glide.
While wicker is still a popular choice, the traditional natural material, which deteriorates if left outdoors, is being replaced with a synthetic wicker, a man-made material woven around an aluminum frame. (more…)
