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Ask Cristina
Dear Cristina,
“The days are getting
warmer. I have a nice
backyard, but with just
a concrete paver patio
and grass, it isn’t very
cozy. I’m ready to
create an outdoor living
space in my back yard
that invites my friends
and family to sit and
relax. I also want
something I can put
together quickly. Any
ideas?”
—Rosita R.
It is easier than you
think to make a great
outdoor space. Outdoor
living is the big trend
in home décor and the
new crop of products are
stylish and durable.
Because you already have
a deck or patio and
landscaping, you have a
good foundation for your
outdoor living area.
Shelter from the sun and
stylish comfortable
furnishings will give
you the sense of gaining
more square footage
without a home remodel.
If
you’re renting or on the
move, the ideas I’m
giving you will fit into
either a temporary
location or your
permanent home. Think of
these ideas as layers.
The first layer is your
existing patio, the
second layer is seating
and the third layer is
shade. |
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Residence Laguna
Beach - Shade
sails in
different sizes |
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Lets start with a layer
of SPF for you and your
furnishings. A little
shade goes a long way to
keeping both looking
younger, longer!
Pavilions and shade
sails will shelter you
from the sun with style.
Shade sails from
ShadeSails.com are a
stylish and simple idea
that the sun-drenched
Australians have
perfected. Simple
geometric shapes of
rectangles and squares
with gently curved edges
in a selection of
colored polyethylene
knit are striking modern
accents to at most any
architecture. Pulled
tight and attached to
the home’s structure, or
sturdy posts, they
withstand most weather (except
snow loads) for years.
You’ll love the colors
and the prices. Most
ready-made designs are
only about $100 dollars.
At that price you can
afford to layer a few in
the same or different
colors.
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Residence
Dana
Point |
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Pavilions (or
cabanas) like
this example
from Tropitone
are lush
Sunbrella™
fabric rooms
suspended from a
wood or aluminum
frame. Curtains
complete the
look and give
you some
flexibility for
privacy or sun
shading. You can
take them
anywhere! Set up
a table and
chairs or comfy
seating that
encourages a
chat and you are
ready to settle
into the perfect
setup for
seasonal living.
Choosing your
seating
arrangements to
settle into is
the fun part.
There are so
many different
styles and types
of outdoor
furnishings that
you are only
limited by your
budget. With
outdoor
furniture, you
get what you pay
for. Quality
furnishings
commonly last 20
years or more
and quality
fabrics resist
fading and sun
damage, so buy
the best you can
afford. The
three main types
of quality
outdoor
furnishings are
tubular aluminum,
wrought iron or
aluminum and
wood.
Tubular aluminum
furnishings are
the outdoor sets
you often see in
hotels and nice
resorts. Elegant
lines and
durability
typify tubular
aluminum. This
Cabana Club
collection by
Tropitone has
clean modern
lines. Though
this particular
design is very
high-end,
Tropitone makes
furnishings that
range from high
end to
affordable.
Founded in
Florida in the
1950’s,
Tropitone is the
leader in this
market and a
family company
that
manufactures
their products
in the U.S.A.
Wrought iron or
aluminum is also
a durable and
classic choice.
If the term
wrought iron
brings up images
of your abuela’s
rust stained
dining set,
think again. O.W.
Lee is an
outdoor
furniture
company in
California. |
Another family owned
company, they’ve been
making their metal
furniture in the U.S.A.
for over 60 years. They
carefully galvanize most
surfaces before they
paint them, creating a
durable finish. Their
new design, San
Cristóbal, is named for
the Spanish Cathedral in
the heart of the Old
Havana district in Cuba.
Authentic hand forged
scrolls on the pieces
embodies the romance of
the Spanish Baroque
styling.
Quality metal pieces
will last for decades.
When you don’t want it
anymore you can find
someone who will re-use
it or recycle it! Yes,
high quality metals are
recyclable, something
you may not think about
when you’re looking at
furniture.
If
wood is your thing,
think renewable and
sustainable. The
Australian company
Jensen Jarrah harvests
the tropical hardwood
Jarrah, one of the
hardest, most durable
woods in the world. The
Jarrah tree grows only
in Australia and is cut
using controlled harvest
methods. Though this
type of wood furnishing
costs more than others,
you can be sure that
your purchase supports a
healthy global
environment.
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Add some
SPF over
the
swimming
pool |
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Residence
Brisbane
-
Layered
shades
of color
deliver
protection
and
punchy
design
to any
outdoor
living
space |
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Whatever your budget may
be, use these photos for
inspiration and buy the
best you can afford.
Protect your furnishings
during the off-season
with covers or stow it
undercover. When you buy
quality rather than buy
often, your purchases
will look great for
years and stay out of
the landfills. Our
planet thanks you!
Sources:
www.Shadesails.com,
www.Tropitone.com,
www.JensenJarrah.com,
www.OWLee.com
Cristina Acosta welcomes your
questions and comments.
She is an artist, author
and design and color
consultant. The author
of Paint Happy, she is
currently at work on new
books based on her home
décor color consulting.
To all our readers, we’d
love to see before and
after pictures of your
decorating efforts. Send
Jpeg photos with your
contact information to
editor@latinastyle.com.
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