Open Air Furnishings

Outdoor dining is a great way to increase your overall available capacity.  And people love eating outside!  So how do you figure out how many people you can seat out there maximizing your space?    The most common table sizes in contract settings are 32″ sq. and 36″ sq.  They work well joining them to accommodate larger parties.  You generally need to plan on 24″ to 30″, depending on the chair, on all usable sides of the table to allow customers to get in and out.   So if you plan on having chairs back to back, you would want to figure on 48″ between the tables.  This allows each customer a comfortable 18″ from the edge of the table and 12″  to push out.  If you want an isle for service between the tables you should add ather 12″, for a total of 60″.    Setting the tables diagonally in the center of the area saves space.   You can place diagonal tables 24″ apart from corner to corner or 30″ if you want an isle between them.  Of course you also have to keep in mind that per ADA 5% of the total dining area should be wheelchair accessible with 36″ clearance in the aisles.   So grab a piece of graph paper, make cut-outs of your tables/chair groups with different size tables  and your on your way!

The hot new color for 2011?  Gray.  Who would have guessed it?  Gray is the new neutral.   Not necessarily gray alone, that could be drab, but added to and paired with other colors.  Grays paired with purples, oranges and yellows.  The bold bright colors of the past couple of years are being toned down and made a bit more sophisticated with a touch of gray.    Of course the greens and reds never go away..but they pair nicely with the grays.

While we were in Chicago at the International Casual Furniture Association Market  in September we were lucky enough to attend a presentation by, and later meet, Lisa LaPorta, Interior Designer of HGTV fame.   We had spent  hours prior to this  looking at outdoor furniture styles and colors so it was rejuvenating to sit down and be reminded of some of the things we already know, but sometimes lose sight of.  Do your big pieces in neutral colors.  You don’t tire of them.   It is very easy to change the look completely, and relatively inexpensively, by adding different throw pillows, area rugs,  umbrellas or flower pots.   Also, nothing dates your look more than a color reminiscent of long ago.

The casual furniture market was held at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago at the end of September.    The Merchandise Mart is one of the largest buildings in the world, it even has its own zip code.  The casual furniture market fills more than 350,000 sq ft on 3 plus floors.  There is a lot of product to take in – new items from existing vendors,  new vendors to consider, new trends and colors.   Re-establishing relationships is a big part of it .  The selection of fine restaurants and wonderful music is hard to beat.  It was informative,  enlightening,  stressful and fun all at the same time.  There is no better place to mix business and pleasure.  It was without a doubt the most upbeat show in the past few years!

When you purchase aluminum furniture from a manufacturer or distributor who is committed and specializing in the casual furniture industry there are several advantages.  You are assuring yourself that down the road you can acquire replacement parts, including glides to protect the surface they sit on as well as the sling fabric, cushions or straps.  You also have the ability to add to your collection down the road with the same or a similar style.  A good powder coat provides the most durable, attractive and scratch resistant frame finish on the market.  Powder coating is a dry finishing process.  It is achieved by spraying the powder onto raw aluminum frames that have a positive ground from guns that produce a negative charge.  The colored powder is electrostatically attracted to the frame and is then melted and fused through a baking process that permanently sets the finish.  This method allows for a thicker coating to be applied, with a more even appearance, that is tougher than conventional paint.  It is also environmentally friendly as there are no solvents used, so only negligible amounts of VOC’s are released in the air, and over-sprayed and unused powder can be recaptured.

on your purchase of wrought iron furniture  for the Tram Haus Lodge.  Here is what Sara Despault of DEW had to say – “On behave of DEW and Jay Peak thank you very much for working with us on the very tight schedule. From what I saw yesterday the patrons love the furniture and were using as it was being unpacked.”

If we missed you on our latest mailing, we apologize.   There is a link to it on our homepage.   Take a look.

Obviously, the easiest way to clean your cushions is to stay on top of it. By simply brushing off dirt before it becomes embedded in the fabric, cleaning spills when they occur  or spot cleaning soon after.   Mold does not grow on most outdoor fabrics, it grows on the dirt and stains on the fabric.  A  spring cleaning of the cushions on your outdoor patio furniture is a good project for a sunny afternoon.  If there is a little wind that will speed up the drying time.   Start with a gallon bucket of lukewarm water , a 1/4 cup of mild soap, like Joy, and a sponge or a soft bristle brush.   Wet the whole cushion with a garden hose and go right to it!     Allow to soak in.  Rinse thoroughly and  air dry.  If you have stubborn or persistant stains, and solid color acrylic or olefin fabric,   you can add 1/4 cup of bleach to this mixture.  Always test in a small inconspicuous area when using  bleach.  It is not recommended for printed acrylics or polyesters.

Teak furniture is easier to maintain than most people think.  If allowed to age naturally it will gradually change to a soft silver grey patina.    The pigments in the wood start to fade gradually depending on the exposure to light, air and rain.      During the aging process you may notice fine cracks known as “checking”.  This is normal and does not affect  the life or integrity of the furniture.  Periodic cleaning is really the only maintenance necessary.  Hose down the furniture and scrub with a soft bristle brush using a mild detergent.    You can also use a solution of 2/3 cup detergent and a 1/4 cup bleach in a gallon of warm water.   Rinse thoroughly. 

Treating with teak oil will not extend the life of the furniture, it is purely cosmetic and in fact creates more maintenance.  The oil attracts dust, pollen, etc.  and can cause mildew and uneven coloring.

Open Air Furnishings is in the process of updating our website.  We hope to go live with it before the end of March.