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No walls, just views

Nature becomes part of the decor when living spaces are taken outdoors.

By ELIZABETH BETTENDORF
Published July 21, 2006

Next to California, Florida might just rank as the outdoor couch-potato capital of the world.

Fall and spring lure us poolside.

Winter and summer offer plenty of gorgeous days for catching a nap in a hammock beneath an oak tree.

Decks and courtyards are equally as lived-in as dens and family rooms - and sometimes more creatively decorated.

"The outdoor room has become a huge concept," said Stephen Elton, director of product development and marketing for Brown Jordan, a California company that has long made cutting edge outdoor furniture. "We think of the outdoors as one giant room with no walls and a ceiling made of sky."

So what's new in the world of outdoor furnishings?

Technology, contemporary designs and innovative styling, say designers and furniture manufacturers. From all-weather fabrics so soft they can be used indoors to weather-resistant teak woods to furniture that does double duty as seating and tables.

Take Brown Jordan's signature teak outdoor daybed: It works as a double chaise but can also be easily reconfigured into a "chat" table, a large surface that's higher than a cocktail table but lower than a dining table. It's perfect for eating at in comfortable lounging-height chairs.

When it's a daybed, it can seat several people comfortable, and when it morphs into a table it can easily accommodate a large group.

"Outdoor living is really changing from a table, four chairs and a chaise to furniture people can really live with," Elton said.

Tampa interior designer Jennie Smith has noticed a trend toward more contemporary styling with outdoor furnishings. "I'm seeing sleeker and more European lines - everything is getting more sophisticated," she said.

Bright Caribbean colors, oranges and greens, are making an appearance, as are coordinated patterns on outdoor cushions and pillows.

In addition, outdoor fabrics have moved from stiff to soft, including a 100 percent acrylic chenille fabric so soft that clients with kids want to upholster with it inside "because it can be scrubbed with Clorox."

Outdoor lamps - like those offered by outdoor furniture retailers Smith & Hawken - now come with waterproof cords and special domes to protect light bulbs. Outdoor rugs resist water and mildew and are made from materials that resemble indoor materials, such as sisal.

Umbrellas have gotten bigger, better and more generous. Smith & Hawken offers them in 9-, 10- and 12-foot spans. Cable retailer QVC recently offered one with a 9-foot span that hangs from a pole on the side rather than in the middle, offering more room underneath for furniture, dining tables or hot tubs. Patterned umbrellas, which look as if they've been dyed through the hot-wax batik process, allow light to filter through in interesting ways.

Target offers a huge assortment of chaise lounges online, including a couple of reasonably priced varieties of the two-person lounger as well as traditional, retro and contemporary styles, including a good-looking cypress slatted-wood chaise for $230. A large selection of patio sets is also available online from Wal-Mart, including a contemporary five piece "chat set" with a fire pit table for $498. A highly contemporary four-piece portable outdoor dining set is offered for about $70.

The bottom line? Even major retailers know that outdoor living has graduated from trend to lifestyle, even if your only outdoor living area is a condo balcony.

Smith, who has a number of clients in urban waterfront high-rises, said she is encouraging people to decorate their balconies to increase overall living space.

"In the fall and spring it can be wonderful to dine outside on a balcony overlooking the bay or the downtown skyline," she said. Even a balcony with a less-than-dramatic view can add to the comfort and livability of your home.

"With the right furnishings and fabrics, you can really increase your square footage," she said. "Plants and landscaping give you more privacy and drown out the sound of traffic."

Outdoor bars and large potted plants can be placed on wheels for easy transport indoors in case of a hurricane or tropical storm.

And the ubiquitous all-weather wicker furniture has not only gotten better looking, she said, but woven flat weaves now look like real raffia and rattan.

"Right now, all-weather wicker continues to be more and more popular," said Noelle Smith, a spokeswoman for Smith & Hawken. "We've introduced two new lines this year alone. Yes, it has the traditional look of wicker, but the technology is just amazing. You can leave it year round out in the yard, it never mildews and you can just hose it down."

Redwood and teak - once avoided by Floridians because of our humidity and bright sun - are more popular than ever, "because people know it's okay to have it weathered - that it looks good."

Smith & Hawken, long known for its teak outdoor furniture, continues to offer the Adirondack chair because of it unflagging popularity.

Said Smith: "A classic is a classic."

[Last modified July 20, 2006, 13:25:17]