Think back to when you sat by the ocean in one of those painful little aluminum beach chairs and then compare that memory to your first time poolside at a first class resort. You can have that resort feeling every time you use your back yard.
Most people I know buy their outdoor furniture sets during one of two times, either right after the weather gets warm or the weekend before a party. Impulse shopping for the patio limits your choice to the grocery store starter set or jumping in the pickup truck for a trip to the big orange hardware giant to purchase the same stuff as tens of thousands of other people. While I would pass at the umbrella table and chairs you see next to the deli department, the furniture sold at the big lumber box works just fine. The metal is a little thin, the glass is a little thin, and the choice? Well, you get to choose what they chose for you.
Call me crazy, but I like a nicely designed back yard more than a thoughtfully furnished home interior. My dream would be to have a New Orleans style courtyard complete with vine covered brick walls and a babbling fountain to drown out the neighborhood noises. I love yards that are constantly in bloom and if you show me a patio with the full outdoor kitchen and fireplace, as my NY friends would say, fuggeddiboudit. My sister married into a family that has a place in Mexico with a courtyard that I would never leave if given the choice.
Who needs a vacation if you have the perfect back yard? That’s called a ‘staycation’.
You probably have no idea how much choice there is in outdoor furniture and how well made it can be. Some lines come with a fifteen year warranty! See if you get that from the produce or power tool manager. 
I’ve seen sofas that I honestly couldn’t believe were intended for the out of doors. Stunning. Nicer than most living room furniture.
The good stuff doesn’t have to break the bank, either…well, some of it can. Yes, it costs more than the generics, but it is substantially better made and you get exactly what you want. It’s your own. Nobody else may have it. Choose your finish or metal color, choose your fabrics, choose contrasting pillows. Complete the look with one of the sharp new outdoor rugs and a couple of outdoor accessories.
Outdoor fabrics have come a long way from their rough and ugly ancestors. Now the fade resistant pattern choices are amazing and they feel almost like indoor fabrics. Cleaning is easy, and the well made outdoor cushions dry quickly. Just remove them from the frame and stand them on their sides in the sun to drain.
There are a lot of little details to know about things like powder coating metal, blah blah blah. I wont bore you with the details even though the details are the things that prevent rust spots on your pool deck. Just know that you can talk to one of our designers who will put as much effort in your outdoor space as they would in your living room…and you wont care if you see your living room until winter.
I just put a small deck outside the kitchen of our home. We built the deck using Trex Accents decking material (color is “Saddle”). It is great because it lasts forever and there is no splintering, but we want a small table and two chairs for eating breakfast or having a cocktail al fresco, and of course we want it to look good out there. Any thoughts?
Brad, No slivers and no maintenance…PERFECT. I love mornings with a cup of coffee on the deck. Options are limitless for your breakfast furniture. Dining and lounging are two separate functions. Eating requires that you sit up a little straighter, but we can find something that serves both purposes. Email me a photo of the deck and a couple thoughts on your preferences.