August, 2004
Source: Pioneer Press
Summer Furnishings at Summer’s End
The best time to determine what your outdoor living space needs is during the season you are using it. This coincides perfectly with the turn of the season retail sales. The outdoor furniture retailers will soon be busy preparing to sell off summer inventories to make room for their winter stock. Believe it or not we still have one month until Labor Day and, depending on the weather, perhaps a month after that to enjoy our patios, porches and gardens. It’s worth getting in on the best products at end-of-the-season prices instead of putting it off until next spring for top dollar.
Start with the big stuff. Access your outdoor furniture needs. Begin looking for sale notices or call the showroom or retailer of products that appeal to you. They will be happy to tell you when their sale will start.
Many places that sell outdoor furniture also repair it. If the frames of your existing furniture are in good shape but the fabric needs repair, call a local retailer to see if they will fix it. If you furniture is all metal or wood and you have cushions that need to be replaced or repaired, many of the same retailers can assist you there as well.
Midsummer is a great time to purchase outdoor planters and pots, especially the over-sized variety. In May, when you were shopping for annuals or perennials you undoubtedly saw some splendid looking pots for the walk or patio. Then you saw the price and decided that the plants were enough of a splurge. The colors of the flowers themselves will be enough, never mind the decade old terra-cotta pot they’ll sit in. While it is true that the pot matters little compared to what’s in it, it is a real delight to see a beautiful planter filled with cascading flora at a prominent spot on the walk.
Garden ornaments such as trellis’, water features, bird baths and outdoor fireplaces are great additions to outdoors spaces. It is a good time to consider more functional objects as well such as gardening tools, hose guards, table umbrellas, hammocks and even picnic equipment.
There are many possibilities for lighting in your outdoor spaces. Great looking lanterns, strings of festive lights, torch lights that stick in the ground and line the walk, all have a certain allure on a summer evening, especially at the right price.
The world of outdoor grilling products has exploded. Some outdoor grills are more substantial than the typical kitchen range and priced accordingly. Of course there are several smaller, even portable grills, on the market and as well as a number of handsome gas grills with plenty of btus, warming shelves and stainless finishes. With amenities like these available at good prices it makes considering an upgrade very appealing.