Plant Talk

Modern Design Goes Outside...Finally....

Are you as frustrated as I at how difficult it is to find well-built, clean-lined, outdoor furniture with a contemporary feel? Oh, and also comfortable, affordable, durable and weather-resistant? (Lauren Hall-Behrens and David Pfeiffer -when are your designs going to be available?)...

So much outdoor furniture is classic, oversized, or worse, whimisical or rustic. It looks like we all live on English estates. Or aspire to. But now with the arrival of Room and Board at University Village, and a cool and colorful new collection from CB2, we have some choices for smaller, more modern spaces....and if you want to see the CB2 line in person, they have a retail store in Vancouver BC on Robson Street. There's a good excuse for a visit to Vancouver BC if I've ever heard one...

I love this chair from CB2, made of handwoven PVC cord. The frame is black powdercoated steel tubes, it's made to use outside or in, and it sure looks like it'd be comfortable, and easy to keep clean. Price is $229.

And check out the chaise...described as a "minimalist reclining lounger". It costs $299, and is made of natural (whatever that means) plastic-coated polymesh panels; the frame is rest-resistant shale grey powderdoated aluminum. The back adjusts to five different positions, perfect for both reading and napping...just add sun and warmth and you're set for summer.

 

Fresh, New Outdoor Furniture and Pots from CB2 are Cool, Colorful and Inexpensive....

 
Why didn't somebody invent outdoor bean bag furniture long ago? From puffy chaises made of water-resistant polyester with fetching ties at the corners, to flip-down stainless steel cafe tables, CB2, Crate and Barrel's (relatively) inexpensive offspring has a colorful, casual new collection of furniture for decks, patios and terraces......

 

 
My favorites are the woven cube nest chairs and ottomans of all-weather resin wicker...The cushions are deep and comfy and weatherproof. Even though the photo shows the chairs in a desert setting, they are  powdercoated in rustproof aluminum and claimed to be  "durable as all getout". Why does black outdoor furniture look so good?

 

 

 

 

 

Then there are big, fabric "Gro Planters" made of waterproof nylon that cost only $19.95 for a 12" square, and $29.95 for a 16" square big enough to hold a tree....the handles are big enough so you can drag them around and they fold flat for storage...I have no idea why CB2 is selling bikes, but what I really want for spring s this very cool yellow-wheeled bike to ride to my new yoga studio in Langley.... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tile It

Carol Rose Dean is a Whidbey Island tile artist who crafts what might be the ultimate in low-maintenance outdoor furniture. At the moment, she's fashioning concrete chairs, which will ultimately be coated in colorful tile - here they are in their original state:

Dean describes the finished chairs, "They'll never blow away in the wind, are fairly maintenance free. (never hurts to seal the grout every 2-5 years) Eyecatching, and functional....."

Soft and comfortable? Well, maybe not, but in winter you have a focal point art piece and in summer toss on a couple of cushions covered in waterproof Sunbrella fabric and the chairs will be inviting if not nap-inducing. Here are a few of Dean's tiles and couches, or stop in and see her amazing range of work at Dean Tile and Design, (360-331-1295), 1660 Roberta Ave. in Freeland, near the south end of Whidbey Island.