Entries by Kasey

Briar Hill Rustic Furniture may sound like a tiny, unassuming, down-home company based in northwestern Pennsylvania. However, this once small, local, hometown factory has grown into a large, thriving business that sells not only locally, but nationwide, via its website, http://www.briarhillfurniture.com/.

Run by the Berlin family of Leeper, PA, and located near the Allegheny State Forest and Cook Forest State Park, Briar Hill Rustic Furniture handcrafts all of its outdoor furniture using Michigan white cedar and Pennsylvania white pine. Its eight full-time and additional seasonal employees take pride in the furniture they craft from these durable woods.

White cedar is a very strong wood, according to the Berlins. Because Briar Hill Rustic Furniture’s wide variety of outdoor pieces are made from white cedar, they are guaranteed to last. Outdoor furniture products sold at Briar Hill Rustic Furniture include swings, benches, arched bridges, loveseats, outdoor coffee tables, rockers, tables, chair, and porch and deck railing. Table tops and benches are crafted of Pennsylvania white pine.

Being made of white cedar makes the patio furniture crafted at Briar Hill Rustic Furniture ideal for being used outdoors. Because of its resistance to rot, and to termites, white cedar will withstand the elements. Although white cedar is resistant to rot and insects, it will weather when exposed to the outdoor elements, naturally turning a silvery-gray color. This can be avoided by applying a finish containing sunscreen. Some people find cracks and splits in the wood and see them as defects. The artisans of Briar Hill Rustic Furniture assure that they are not defects, but rather part of the expanding and closing that happens during the natural drying process of the wood. These cracks will continue to expand and close when exposed to various types of weather.

Because Briar Hill guarantees its furniture to last a lifetime, it is not cheap. The company looks at its furniture as a once-in-a-lifetime investment. A four foot long swing, for example, retails for $413.00. A 28 inch diameter round table sells for $141.00.

If you are in the area of Leeper, PA, be sure to visit the factory outlet at Briar Hill Rustic Furniture, where you will no doubt take notice of the famous “big swing.” If you are not in the vicinity of Leeper but still want to take a look at the wide variety of outdoor patio, deck, lawn and garden furniture available at Briar Hill Rustic Furniture, visit http://www.briarhillfurniture.com. You can purchase the company’s exclusive pieces online and pay securely through Paypal.

The US Census Bureau reported that Americans homeowners spent $3.7 Billion dollars on patio and terrace space in 2004. This demand for “outdoor living spaces”, formally known as the patio or garden area, is sure to continue trending upwards, especially with increase concern about the state of the economy. People are now reconsidering the wisdom of making that expenditure on a weekend excursion or the annual summer vacation.

Outdoor living spaces have grown in importance as people are making the choice to entertain more in their homes, traditional folding chairs and collapsible tables simply won’t do. Especially if you enjoy having a consistent flow of family, friends, co-worker and other guests over for the holiday, get togethers, barbecues, parties, and other entertainment.

Even in the current economic environment, homeowners are looking to create outdoor living spaces that are not only an extension of their homes, but are also warm, inviting, comfortable, and has the durability to withstand the elements and the wear and tear of consistent use.

Below are three styles of patio furniture that have been adding comfort, elegance and style to outdoor living spaces for years. Although they are not new trends, they are “tried and true” starting points in your quest to find that “perfect” patio- set.

Teak Patio Furniture

100% teak patio furniture is as good as it get when it comes to furnishing outdoor living spaces. It is the industry standard that all other patio furniture is compared to. It is not only beautiful, but it is very strong, naturally repels water, is insect resistant, and has high oil content.

Teak will not splinter but will develop small cracks, and you will never have to worry about it rotting, or warping. This is patio furniture that you can basically set and forget because it is virtually maintenance –free and can withstand the harshest of weather. A trademark of teak wood is its tendency to change from a honey color to a silver gray color as it ages.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when purchasing teak furniture:
• Authentic teak furniture is made of 100% Class1 teak wood. Anything else is an imposter, including inferior woods like: Eucalyptus, Nyatoah, or Shorea. They are not as durable.
• You should only purchase furniture manufactured from plantation-grown teak.
• If you notice knots, heavy oil is indicative of teak that is not matured; therefore it will not be as durable.
• Proper construction techniques includes stainless steel or brass fittings, solid pieces of wood (no joining), wood heavy composition
• Teak must be kiln try before construction (8-10% moisture content).

If you follow these tips you will not be disappointed, and you can expect patio furniture made of authentic teak to give you a lifetime of enjoyment.

The Look of Indoor Furniture On the Outside

Patio furniture with an indoor look is not new. This is furniture that looks as though it was moved directly from a room inside your house. These pieces are great for making your outdoor living spaces as inviting, and comfortable as any interior room in your home, and don’t have to be expensive.

This style of outdoor furniture has been made possible by technological advances that now allow manufacturers to create a stylish mix of furniture and fabrics that are highly resistant to the elements.

It is now quite common to see outdoor living spaces decked out with furnishing that is as esthetically pleasing, and conducive to comfort as any piece of furniture in a den or family room. Several years ago it would have been unimaginable to have a couch, love seat, or lounge chair, which is cushioned, comfy and weather resistant right there on your patio.

Cinde W. Ingram, who is the managing editor of Casual Living, put it this way: “Twenty years ago they were sort of ‘plastic-y.’ Now there’s many more colors and fabric to choose from and we're seeing outdoor areas as more of an extension of the home."

Wrought Iron

Wrought iron patio furniture comes in a wide variety of designs- ranging from classic to contemporary. For years it has brought a European elegance, romance, quality, and charm to outdoor living spaces that is truly timeless. It is not only decorative, but it’s combination of comfort, strength, and resistance to weather make it perfectly suited for the outdoors environment.

In terms of style, wrought iron patio furniture comes in chaise lounges, loveseats, sofas, or patio swings and lawn benches. Whether you are looking for something for your patio, deck, or lawn, wrought iron is very flexible and can fit with just about anything.

Wrought iron patio furniture can be purchase in a variety of finishes; the aged look is probably the most popular.

Remember, these three styles of patio furniture are just the tip of the iceberg; there are plenty of other patio-sets for furnishing outdoor living spaces. The objective is to enhance the backyard patio, deck, garden of your home with patio furniture or garden pieces that are right for you and at a price you can afford.

For stylish, comfortable patio furniture that will resist the weather and continue to look like new for many years, is low maintenance and is the most durable outdoor furniture on the market, PVC outdoor furniture fits the bill.

The framework of PVC furniture is furniture-grade PVC pipe which means that it won't chip, crack, stain, rust, corrode or peel. PVC has a very smooth, low maintenance finish that's made to last a lifetime. So durable and versatile that it can even be used in the pool or the ocean, PVC patio furniture is made with ultraviolet inhibitors that keep it looking beautiful by stopping fading, crazing and discoloration, even when used in hot climates.

PVC outdoor furniture is available in cushion or sling styles for every seating arrangement, including dinette chairs, loveseats, single, double and triple gliders, five-position recliner chairs or chaise lounges, ottomans, high-back chairs and even bar chairs. Some styles are amenable to having casters added giving them greater mobility, especially helpful for dining applications.

Featuring easy-care fabrics such as Olefin, Textaline, vinyl Jacquard, acrylic and polyester to resist wear and maintain their colors even in the hot summer sun, PVC furniture's cushions and slings come in hundreds of different colors and patterns, many of which also have matching umbrellas.

Also available in a variety of tables, including end tables, various-sized round or octagonal dining tables, coffee tables and even bar tables, PVC furniture is perfect for almost any outdoor setting you want to create. Table tops are formed of plywood encased in a fiberglass shell for quality plus great looks. To light up the night, floor lamps with traditional shades or with globes, and with or without attached tables, are also part of the PVC furniture line.

One of the best places to find one of a kind, artisan made furniture is local galleries. There are many fine, small galleries that feature local made furniture. The artisans typically work in the surrounding area and operate from small shops and garages.

The business idea of the local gallery is the gallery sells the furniture made by the artisans and the artisans can concentrate on designing and manufacturing of the furniture. This benefits both parties. This relationship also allows the buyer a great selection of fine furniture without having to spend hours of time researching and finding the artisans.

It is quite common that these artisans do not have websites and are only know in the local town. Some are larger, more well known artisans and have galleries of their own. I have found a few really good local galleries. Listed below are a few that I have found so far. This page will be updated with more as I find them.

Seattle Area:

Northwest Fine Woodworking
Vermont Wood Studios

Company Name: Southern Cross Trading Company
Website:http://www.lewisfirst.com/southerncross/

Description: Southern Cross Trading Company is a small artisan shop located in New York. They make outdoor patio furniture made from Cherry. The wood is harvested from US Forestry approved forest that enables a sustainable harvest of Cherry trees. There furniture styles are very unique in that they inherit the Mayan style of patio furniture. The shopper will either love the style or hate it. I have found the furniture to be comfortable when I tried it for a few days. The selection is limited to a few pieces. The cherry wood is ok for outdoor use but may not be as well suited as the cedar, redwoods and cypress.

The quality is good, the craftsmanship is outstanding and the customer service is great. This furniture is only available at retail stores. Search the internet for the company name there will be several vendors selling this brand. I used to call the owner on occasion to check on orders. He was always nice and willing to talk.

Type of Products: Chairs, Lounges, Tables, Benches and Swings

Favorites: It has to be the Mayan chair. If you want to have something that nobody else in your neighbor hood has, this is the chair for you. You will need to get the ottoman as well.

back to outdoor patio furniture