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lifestyles
Monday, May 05, 2008
An Outdoor Living Room Is Easy With Weather-Resistant Materials
By Tracy Dingmann
Journal Staff Writer
Want to increase your home's square footage but can't afford a costly addition? Consider expanding the space by creating a plush outdoor living room complete with artwork, rugs and cushy sofas and chairs.
It's a nationwide trend in decorating that makes particular sense in New Mexico, where the weather is warm and rain is relatively rare, say local retailers.
“People everywhere are creating living rooms outside, and New Mexico is perfect for that,” says Elaine Roy, vice president of home products at American Home.
Creating a posh outdoor living space has become easier with the development of such weather-resistant materials as water- and sun-proof resin for outdoor sculptures and wall hangings and UV-resistant polypropylene for rugs and upholstery, retailers say.
But that isn't to say it's particularly inexpensive to create an outdoor room, says Soren Thomssen, co-owner of TEMA Contemporary Furniture.
“Anything you want to use outside has to be made from much better materials, so the pricing of outdoor furniture is usually higher than similar indoor products,” says Thomssen. Inferior materials such as composite board or nongalvanized metal might work for inside furniture, but they won't hold up outside, he says.
Getting set up
At home and garden centers, the trend is to transform utilitarian tools such as clocks, bird feeders and bug traps into decorative, fashionable items suitable for inclusion in an outdoor living room, says Erik Briones, owner of Purple Sage Garden Center.
Here's a guide to what can be found locally for creating an outdoor living space.
The sun or rain won't fade the vibrantly colored weatherproof rugs at American Home, says rug buyer Jack Freed. The rugs, which are carried at the store at 3535 Menaul NE and other locations around New Mexico, are made of UV-resistant polypropylene and look exactly like their elegant cotton or wool counterparts. To clean them, just hose them off, he says.
Furniture makers also use UV-resistant fabrics to upholster outdoor sofas and chairs, says Deb Paczynski, vice president of furniture for American Home.
Instead of being paired with a traditional dining table, the cushy seating is designed to stand alone or to be grouped around an outdoor feature such as a fire pit, she says.
Increasingly, today's outdoor chairs and sofas are trimmed with luxe metals such as hammered copper or rust-resistant galvanized steel for good looks and durability, she says.
American also carries a large selection of wall hangings, sculptures and crosses people would swear were made of wood. Instead, they're made of water- and sun-resistant resin, which is more durable and less expensive than natural materials, says Roy.
TEMA, at 7601 Montgomery NE and 10028 Coors NW, is also on top of the trend toward more comfortable outdoor furniture, says Thomssen. The store, which specializes in contemporary Scandinavian design, features high-style yet comfortable outdoor pieces in fade-proof fabrics.
“One of the things we are seeing outside is the so-called ‘deep seated' furniture, the outside sofa, love seat and lounge chair that you can use a good part of the year,” says Thomssen.
These pieces are so well-designed and comfortable shoppers easily could use them inside as well, says Thomssen. Cushions are typically filled with Dacron, a mildew-resistant material that lets the water run right through and gives them “more of an indoor feel.”
Many items TEMA carries are made with a fade-resistant acrylic fabric called Sunbrella, which is dyed all the way through and costs about four times more than regular upholstery, he says.
Also, most of TEMA's furniture comes in various finishes or fabrics or can be custom-ordered, he says.
“One of the big things we have going for us is that, if you want something that looks like you, you can get it here,” says Thomssen.
Garden centers also can be helpful to add color and sparkle to outdoor spaces.
At Purple Sage at 6921 Pan American Freeway NE, Briones sells wind chimes, lanterns and bird feeders. One of the most decorative is the hummingbird-feeder chandelier.
Purple Sage,which also has a branch at 975 Western Hills in Rio Rancho, also carries utilitarian but decorative clocks, thermometers and clocks with thermometers.
“We sell a ton of these clock-thermometer combos,” says Briones, who adds that many are radio remote-controlled for easy use.
Briones is also proud of the ornamental sculptures, including many Asian-inspired figurines such as Buddhas. And his collection of pots large and small is saturated with deep purples, greens and oranges for a bold look that holds its own against large pieces of furniture, he says.
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