Making
The Most Of The Great Outdoors
When
it comes to patio furniture, one of the
most fashionable and functional products on
the market are the indoor/outdoor, aluminum-framed,
woven synthetic wickers, which look like real
wicker, but, because they're synthetic, they hold up in all
kinds of weather.
Floridians
generally use their patios more than their living and dining rooms and
want their outdoor furniture
to be inviting, durable and comfortable. With that in
mind, the look of wicker suits the Southwest Florida lifestyle perfectly. “We’re
seeing a significant number of
sofas, lounge seats, lounge chairs and ottomans being
arranged around a low coffee table or fire pit," says
Perry Arons, owner of Patio World Home & Hearth in
North Naples. "Woven synthetic wickers are so
comfortable and inviting and easily lend themselves to
intimate conversational seating arrangements.”
Another
product is solid, cast aluminum; popular because it has the same rustic
and sturdy look as iron,
but without the rust factor. Poured into a sand mold, the aluminum is
heavier than extruded aluminum; its
available in a multitude of patterns and designs and can
be customized by request. Currently, earth tones in the
bronze and terracotta families are in style, especially
when complemented with lighter cushions.
While
luxury homeowners appear to be leaning
toward cast aluminum and synthetic wicker furnishings,
extruded aluminum, a process where the aluminum is
pushed through a mold, continues to be a popular
choice for people who want the ease that comes with
lightweight furniture. Resilient and easy-to-maintain, the
mesh-available in hundreds of fashionable colors-makes
extruded aluminum "sling" chairs and lounges ideal for
poolside lounging.
There
is a definite shift away from glass tabletops. Available in a myriad
of colors, stone-solid marble and
granite, tumbled marble and slate--tabletops for dining,
bistro, occasional and coffee tables are the way to go.
The most popular tabletops are made of tumbled marble,
either in custom-designed patterns or ready-made
mosaic designs.
Other
tabletop materials include: solid aluminum, stamped with various designs,
that allows the water to
drip through the top, cast aluminum, available in a
plethora of patterns and designs and mosaic aluminum,
where the mold is hand-painted, baked and sealed to
emulate real stone. Solid teak, cast aluminum with teak
inserts and concrete tabletops with inserted stained
glass, are some of the more unique and unusual
tabletops for sale at Patio World Home & Hearth.
"A
lot of homes have larger patios and lanais therefore table and other
furnishings are larger," says
Arons. “The shape of the table shape depends on the
shape of the room. We're seeing round, square,
rectangular, and oval tables, as well as many custom
made patio dining tables."
Umbrellas
are hot! Floral-patterned, striped or tone-on-tone umbrellas, in either
soft sorbet or bold citrus colors, are the current fashion, although
there are
hundred of colors and prints to choose from. Acrylic
fabrics are the best choice because of their durability
and cottony or linen-like feel. The popular "market"
umbrella is grounded by a cast aluminum and concrete
stand, while the newest freestanding models have a
built-in weight of either sand or gravel.
Following
the same fashion trends as umbrellas, acrylic upholstered cushions and
pillows - some with fringe and
tassels - in soft sorbets or bright citrus shades are the
current craze. "We're seeing lots of contrast in upholstery
selection," says Arons. "With cast iron and synthetic
wicker, what’s most popular is the look of dark furniture
with lighter fabrics.
And
what's a cake without the frosting? In addition to grills, outdoor patio
heaters and fireplace tools and
accessories, candles, silk flower arrangements and tall
palm trees, placemats, plates and flatware, glassware, serving and decorating
serving dishes are just some of
the stylish accessories available at Patio World Home &
Hearth. “Accessories complete the picture," say Arons. "Essentially,
we're creating an outdoor living space with a dining area and great room;
all the things people like inside should be part of their outdoors experience."
Founded
in 1982, with several locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Patio
World Home & Hearth
opened their Naples store in November 2004. They ship
worldwide and have a $15 million dollar inventory,
which includes more than 15,000 patio and lanai groups
in stock and available for immediate delivery.
PATIO WORLD HOME & HEARTH
13230 Tamiami Trail North,
Naples, FL
239 513-2100
Written by Marla J. Ottenstein
