“There are the two spectrums—people who just are looking for comfort and the others who want their space to look like a formal dining area. There really is something for everyone now in outdoor furniture,” says Corrine Palmer, sales manager for Kitchen & Patio.

Regardless of outdoor style, one common denominator is a desire to make the most of Calgary’s short summer. “We are also seeing trends that started inside now working their way outside,” says Palmer, citing overstuffed cushions and sectionals in weatherproof materials.

Another must is ensuring outdoor wares withstand whatever Calgary—known for its unpredictable weather—can dish out, says Palmer. “Outdoor furniture should have a higher price tag because of everything it has to stand up to. Plus people put so much care into their homes and they want to keep up that attention to detail outside.”

And while comfort is a motivator, interest in dolling up backyards sometimes stems from a desire to keep up with the Joneses. “You can’t really see into someone’s house, but you can peek over the fence,” says Palmer. “It’s kind of that voyeuristic appeal, in a way.”

But the cost—often upwards of $10K or more—is something people are deeming worth it, since warranties can last up to 15 years, she says.

And since interior rooms are now showing their softer side, outdoor appointments are following suit. “A big part of it is the technology catching up. There is a lot of science behind today’s fabrics and materials,” says Palmer. “Previously it would have been a case of bring the cushions in every day but now you can just leave them out for the season and hose them off,” she says, advising also checking manufacturers’ care instructions.

And furniture frames and tables are also going high-tech—and low-maintenance—with metal and resin products pulling off convincing wood, weaved or stone façades.

Ease of care is paramount given Calgarians’ busy schedules—one reason why Palmer sees resins becoming so popular, and glass tables losing favour. “You do see a few of them, but they are not as heavy and can be dangerous if you have an umbrella; they can blow over in the wind and break the glass,” says Palmer.

She advises anyone starting out consider how large an area is available and how he or she will best enjoy their time. And while some may have just the space or preference for a pair of chairs and an ottoman or end table on a small deck, others may want to go all out with their backyard oasis, adding screens and tents for shelter. “If you have the space, you can co-ordinate deep seating groups and dining spaces. It doesn’t have to be that garage sale effect—you can really have a designer look,” says Palmer.

Palmer advises shopping around, even before the landscaping begins.  “If you are going to spend the time to have someone landscape your yard, it’s a good idea. You may see a dining room set you love but when you poured your concrete patio it was just that little bit too small, or perhaps they didn’t realize there were firepit options available,” she says, referencing low tables whose centre seconds as a gas-fuelled warmer for cool evenings.

Safety and care should always be a consideration, especially with fire pits or parasols. “You certainly want to check with whether there are regulations, for example, if you are in a condo you may not be allowed to have a fire pit table. And there should always be someone there with an umbrella that’s open—you can’t leave it up and go to work all day,” says Palmer.

Maybe it’s a reminder of childhood days at the cottage, but for some, nothing beats the beauty of wood. Some species are better for outdoors than others, such as cedar, or another species that’s grown in popularity—teak. Teak’s hardness and ability to stand up to water and the elements makes it a great choice. Like cedar, which greys, teak turns a silvery patina in about three years—but it can also be sanded to its natural wood shade.

“Teak takes so long to degrade, you can have it sitting in your field for hundreds of years,” says Marie Svindt of Patioline Imports, a store specializing in teak. While the store totes a few reclaimed pieces, most of the teak in furniture is grown on plantations in Indonesia, and harvested after about 40 years, then drained of its oil and kiln dried. “Another important factor is that it’s been kiln-dried, otherwise it will crack in this environment,” she explains.

Teak has shot up in popularity alongside Calgarians’ affluence. “We have a lot of Calgarians with disposable incomes. They spend a lot of time in their backyards and they want something that is going to look good and match their décor,” Svindt says.

For those who prefer their teak looking natural, that can be maintained by sealing every season. “What creates the silver effect is the UV rays, so sealing acts like a sunscreen,” says Svindt. Other pluses are teak never rots, stays mostly soft to the touch (it can get a little rough from expansion and contraction and the sun) and won’t splinter. It’s a little more costly, but she says you get what you pay for. “It’s high in demand because it is so lasting and beautiful.”

So the question is, where do you get started with planning an outdoor oasis?

“We start with what their needs are. They may be on a budget, they may just want a table and four chairs,” says Svindt. For that reason, half of the store is “a la carte” items buyers can pick and choose from to meet their needs—and often space requirements.

A variety of teak tables have expandable capabilities—such as rounds which fold to a half moon, square four-seaters that extend to an octagonal eight (one of Patioline’s top-sellers), or rectangular tabletops that rotate to become a 10-person-plus table.

One misnomer is teak will have to be hauled indoors for winter. For the aged look, it can be left out untreated year-round, or after sealing—and, for extra protection tucked under a UV, breathable, water-resistant cover (running $200 or less)—and keep its original look.

Teak starts at around $200 to $300 for a small table, and can range upwards of $5,000 for a larger, eight to ten person set, but Svindt says that teak furnishings are investments that can be handed down for generations.

“Deep seating” is also a mantra when it comes to teak options. As the focus shifts to comfort and style, side and coffee-type tables, outdoor rugs made of polypropylene which can be hosed down for cleaning, teak benches in different lengths covered in cushions of water- and mildew-proof fabric such as Sunbrella—and even teak lighting that’s safe for outdoors—are becoming popular choices for Calgarians’ outdoor oases.

Wicker is no newcomer to the scene—the medium actually evolved from basket making and weaving reed, rattan, willow and bamboo thousands of years ago. “Wicker has been around forever,” says Keith Schramm, owner of Wickerland. 

A more recent evolution, in the interest of ease of care, is “wicker resin”—a faux version crafted from polypropylene to resemble wicker or rattan. While one can often strike a deal when buying a larger set, saving some money over wood options, wicker resin is comparable to teak in price, ranging up to $5,000-plus for a seven-piece living or dining room configuration.

“Prices range from $500 for a five-piece set all the way up,” says Schramm, adding their solid aluminum frames can be left out year-round and cleaned of dust with a garden hose. “These are all heavy-gauge aluminum frames; it’s a great product because it doesn’t rust and it also has UV protection so it won’t fade in the sun.”

Schramm does recommend bringing cushions in for the winter, but he notes most are now made of “all-weather,” quick-drying fabrics originally designed for the boating industry.

He has also seen a movement toward Calgarians spoiling themselves outdoors. “The outdoor living room is becoming a trend. Once people have their indoors done, then they want to move outdoors and make it as comfortable,” says Schramm.

Choices in resin wicker run the gamut from gliders and gliding footstools and rockers, to overstuffed cushions and couch size seating, full dining or “conversation tables”—slightly higher than a coffee table—to tables with glass inserts or mosaic tile tops. As for cushions, hundreds of patterns and colours are available. NL

www.kitchenpatio.com
www.patioline.ca
www.wickerland.ca.