Rich's for the Home

The Latest Wrought Iron Bistro Furniture from O.W. Lee

In my last post, I mentioned that we’ve just finished re-landscaping our front yard. My teenage sons want to put a grill in the flat gravel oasis we created among the trees, but I’d prefer a beautiful bench, or a small bistro table and a couple of chairs. That way, I can relax in my peaceful grotto and watch the sun set.

Fortunately, Rich’s carries everything I could ever imagine to decorate my new outdoor space. In fact, Rich’s features seven bistro collections from O.W. Lee: Amore, Cirque, Mira, Soleil, Café Ole, Corona, and Fiesta. Here’s a slideshow of the bistro collections:

I’m looking for two main features in the bistro set I purchase: weather-ability and comfort. Turns out that the O.W. Lee collections earn top marks for both.

Weather-ability

I spoke with O.W. Lee sales representative, Ed Joseph, and he told me that the wrought iron and wrought aluminum their furniture is constructed of is designed to be left outside. “It’s very strong and it will withstand physical abuse and weight sitting on it better than any other type of outdoor furniture,” Ed says.

When I expressed concern that the furniture might rust, Ed reassured me that O.W. Lee has tackled that issue: “They treat the metal to prevent it from rusting, so it’s durable in the most extreme conditions, including salt water environments and in extreme heat or cold.”

Ergonomics

“O.W. Lee stands out in this category; they work extremely hard at creating ergonomic design,” says Ed. They contour their chairs to form to the way a body sits on a chair, so it’s as comfortable as possible. Their (optional) chair cushions are designed for outdoor use, so they withstand the elements and don’t sag or get hard over time.

Bonuses

Recycled Materials: O.W. Lee uses recycled materials for the production of their wrought iron furniture. Ed told me that wrought iron is extremely strong, even when it’s recycled. And I like the “green” aspect of using recycled materials whenever possible.

Special Orders: Rich’s can special order any O.W. Lee furniture, regardless of whether it’s on the showroom floor. O.W. Lee furniture is offered in 12 metal finishes and over 200 fabrics, so I can customize to my heart’s content.

Okay; I’m sold! Now I just have to choose my favorite collection. I’m leaning toward the Soleil, Mira, or Cirque, because I love the old-fashioned ice cream parlor look and I think those collections will fit best in the space I have created. Please help me decide -- vote for your favorite in the Comments area.

Visit Rich's Outdoor Living Sale for Great Deals on Grills and Patio Furniture

Stop by one of Rich's 5 Puget Sound showrooms and take advantage of fantastic prices at our Outdoor Living Sale -- now through May 10, 2010.

Ipé: Truly Sustainable Furniture

What do the following have in common?

• Atlantic City Boardwalk
• New York City park benches
• 18th century Jesuit missions in Bolivia
• The Solferino Footbridge that crosses the Seine River in Paris

Give up?

They’re all made out of Ipé (pronounced “EE-pay”), a fine-grained, buttery-smooth hardwood from the tropical forests of Bolivia.

Bolivia – World Leader in Sustainable Forestry

There’s a real “green” story behind this incredibly strong, durable wood. Ipé furniture manufactured by Jensen Leisure comes from the Chiquitania forest reserve in Eastern Bolivia. Because of the nature of tropical dry forest, trees there grow very slowly. Consequently, some of the world's strongest and most durable woods come from the Chiquitania forest.

FSC-Certified

All wood used in the manufacturing of Jensen Leisure Furniture is FSC-certified. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), is a non-profit organization that sets international standards for responsible forestry.

Jensen sales representative, Rob Quello, told me that, because of the stringent FSC certification standards, they can track a piece of furniture all the way back to the original tree it was cut from. He explained that they divide a hectare of forest into 25 sections and selectively cut trees from one section that have reached 85-99% of their natural lifetime (in other words, those trees would have fallen down on their own in 5-7 years).

Each tree has to be minimum of 60 cm across (about 22 inches). Most are bigger than that. Jensen uses the heart wood from Ipé trees (also known as Tajibo in Bolivia) in their furniture; other parts of the tree are used for flooring and plywood.

“From an environmental standpoint, there is no product that is more environmentally conscious than this,” said Rob.

Every year, the Forest Stewardship Council independently verifies that Jensen Leisure is meeting their certification standards. The wood is cut, dried, kilned, and hand-assembled into furniture in Bolivia, and then is shipped to the United States.

Ipé is chocolate-brown when new, and the sun transforms it to a silver patina. Because it is so dense, Ipé resists splintering and checking as well as rot, decay, insects, carpenter ants, mold, and even fire – naturally. Weather has little to no negative effect on Ipé, making it an ideal choice for Pacific Northwest outdoor rooms.

And because of its elegance and natural warmth, many people use Ipé furniture indoors in their living room, dining room, sun room, or kitchenette.

Rich’s for the Home has been selling Jensen Leisure furniture for nearly 20 years and is the exclusive outdoor furniture dealer in the greater Seattle area that stocks Jensen Leisure’s Ipé furniture. Stop by one of Rich’s five Puget Sound showrooms and ask to see our line of Ipé furniture.

Choosing Your Outdoor Furniture: What’s Best for the Northwest

My outdoor furniture is old and grungy; I’ve been salivating over the new spring collections on Rich’s showroom floor. 

But how to choose the perfect furnishings for my outdoor space? I spoke with Mark Gorr, vice president of sales and marketing at Tropitone, and he gave me some great tips.

Architecture of your home

Generally, a home’s architecture drives the furnishings someone puts in their backyard. People usually choose furniture that complements or accents their home’s style – and their yard’s design.

That’s starting to change, though, says Mark. People are becoming more willing to put furniture with a contemporary frame in the yard of a stucco home, for instance. And with the growing popularity of contemporary furnishings, we’re going to be seeing more and more of what Mark calls “transitional” furnishings.

Take the Windsor Sling collection (pictured above right).

“Windsor is a group that is a chameleon,” says Mark. “It has a transitional frame – depending on how you color the frame and the fabric application, it can look traditional or contemporary.”

You can create a custom environment in your yard by simply choosing a darker finish and fabric for a traditional look, or a lighter finish and fabric for a contemporary feel.

Maintenance

Many consumers gravitate toward cast aluminum  or synthetic tabletops (as opposed to glass) because they’re easier to clean. “They hide dust and dirt; all you have to do is hose them down,” says Mark.

Tropitone manufactures their own patio tabletops   domestically, and they produce over 150 eye-popping combos. Their tiled stone tops mimic natural hand-cut stone.

Their faux granite tabletops closely resemble natural granite table tops.

The Java table top has the look of woven wicker and Palazzo tops create the highly realistic appearance of ceramic tiles.

Hand-cast aluminum and patterned aluminum patio tables add elegance to any outdoor setting.

And if you like glass and acrylic, they’ve got those, too! (Of course, you can special order anything you like from Rich’s.)

Quality

All outdoor furniture Tropitone manufactures is commercial-grade quality, says Mark.  “We build our product to last a minimum of five years when used commercially” – say, poolside at a hotel/resort.

Outdoor furnishings don’t get as much use in private homes as they do in resorts, but the folks at Tropitone apply the same quality standards to all their furniture. “It’s very, very durable,” says Mark.

That’s exactly what I want: durable, low-maintenance outdoor furniture that I can customize to match the yard I’m landscaping.

Pre-Season Savings of up to 40% on Patio Furniture

Stay Toasty Year-Round with an Outdoor Heater

My neighbors have an outdoor heater on their patio, and they sit outside every evening of the year, enjoying the sunset while sipping a glass of wine.

Whether it’s a chilly early spring day or a summer evening that turns a bit nippy, an outdoor heater can keep you toasty while you’re outdoors.

You can use an outdoor heater in locations other than your patio, too. How about your garage? Or a potting shed? Or a gazebo, solarium, balcony, garden – even under an outdoor umbrella or awning.

I poked around Rich’s Bellevue showroom and two outdoor heaters caught my eye:

Solaria all-season outdoor quartz heater (from Philips)

These electric heaters use infrared technology to provide instant and directional radiant heat over a 10 ft. x 10 ft. area (that’s the average size of a patio table with six chairs). This heat is based on the same natural effect the sun provides, so it warms you and not the air.

The great thing about this heater is that there’s no warm-up time; heat instantly pumps out when you switch it on.

The Solaria has a weatherproof casing and safety glass and comes with an adjustable steel wall mounting bracket. Plus, it plugs in to any 120V plug –in.

Electric patio umbrella heater (from Dimplex Outdoor Living)

I’d never seen an umbrella heater before, and these gizmos are neat! This electric heater attaches to almost any size patio umbrella – you don’t even have to remove the umbrella from its base to hook it up.

Each of its three elements functions independently, providing directional heat. Similar to the Solaria, the quartz radiant elements warm you, rather than the air. Plus, its arms fold for easy storage (and the heat automatically turns off when you fold the arms).

Both heaters operate silently, so you’re not going to be distracted by any strange humming or buzzing. Plus, they’re affordable. (And it’s never too early to plan for Mother’s Day… or Father’s Day.)

Stop by any of Rich’s five Puget Sound locations to see our full line of outdoor heaters. 

Hot Trends in Outdoor Furniture for 2010

Mid-February might seem like a strange time to think about outdoor furniture, but in reality, now is the perfect time to dream, plan, and yes – order – your furnishings for spring and summer.

I chatted with Mark Gorr, vice president of sales and marketing at Tropitone, and he shared some insider tips about outdoor furnishings that are going to be hot here in the Pacific Northwest this season:

Reflection Collection 

“The industry is moving toward more contemporary products, and we believe this modern group, available in sling and padded sling, is going to be very strong,” says Mark.

I love the casual, yet sturdy design that features a double curve in the back and wide, flat arms. Pictured is an ergonomically-shaped sling seat with built-in lumbar support – perfect for relaxing my sore back.

You can order this collection from Rich’s in 17 powder-coat frame finishes and you can choose from a huge selection of outdoor-durable fabrics. 

Mondovi Collection

This collection (left) was introduced last year and has been a strong seller in the Northwest. The frames have broad, sweeping lines, and the swivel loungers have a custom-designed base.

Southbeach Collection

Another sleek, contemporary set that’s perfect for poolside. Both the dining chairs and chaise lounges are stackable, which makes for space-saving off-season storage.

Montreux Collection

Introduced in 2001, this collection is the best-selling collection in the industry.  

“We’ve expanded it year after year,” says Mark, “so you can get it in all sorts of configurations.”

Shown at right is the deep seating collection, which looks as comfy as my indoor furniture!

Veer Collection

With its gracefully curved aluminum slats, this modern collection seems to float on air.

Windsor Collection

Tropitone is adding cushioned dining chairs, sofa, loveseat, and lounge chairs to this collection… and for the first time, a cushioned bar stool. This versatile, comfortable collection would look great on my patio.

In terms of finishes, Almond Silk – a light earth tone with flecks -- is new and expected to be very popular.

Come in to one of Rich’s five Puget Sound showrooms and take a peek at our new outdoor furniture collections.

If you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for on our showroom floor, we’ll help you place a special order in your favorite finish and fabric. That way, your new outdoor furniture will be delivered and ready to use on our first lovely spring day.

The Hottest Hearth Products for 2010

Wood and Pellet Stoves

“There’s nothing like the radiant heat a wood or pellet stove produces,” says Wayne Dooley, Director of Training at Travis Industries. “People like the scent.”

Wood and pellet stoves are “hot” sellers because of the $1,500 tax credit (which extends through 2010) on energy-efficient stoves, fireplaces, and fireplace inserts. In order to qualify for the tax credit, says Wayne, the *biomass stoves must be over 75% efficient.

More than 38 models Travis Industries manufactures meet the 75% efficiency criteria, says Wayne. And ALL of the brands Rich’s carries qualify for the biomass tax credit.

*Biomass fuels are organic materials (such as wood pellets) that can be used as fuel for heating.

Electric Fireplaces

Electric fireplaces are also extremely popular, particularly among condo owners and renters, who are restricted from installing wood or gas stoves.

“People who live in condos and apartments like the ambiance of a fireplace, and they usually need to heat only about 450 square feet of a family room where they gather,” says Wayne. “With an electric fireplace, all you do is plug it in.”

The great thing about electric fireplaces is that any of the decorative “faces” that come on gas fireplaces can also be used on an electric fireplace. So if you spot a fancy face that you must have, ask your Rich’s sales associate how you can get your electric fireplace faceplate customized.

An electric fireplace with a mantle generally sells for around $1,000. If you substitute a fancy face, you could add as much as $1,000 to your cost, Wayne estimates.

Tempest Torch

The Tempest Torch will draw you in like a moth to flame. This decorative outdoor gas lamp has a mesmerizing flame that spirals and dances within its tempered glass walls. It would be a perfect addition for a poolside area, outdoor room or store front.

It can be mounted on a wall, deck post, in-ground post, or pillar. There’s also a portable patio model.

The Tempest Torch, which is manufactured by Travis Industries and sold at Rich's, won Best Outdoor Room Furnishing and Best of Show for all outdoor products at the Hearth, Patio and BBQ Expo.

Here’s a video of the Tempest Torch in action:

Tempest Torch Informational DVD - Widescreen Format from Travis Industries on Vimeo.

Low-cost outdoor room pizzaz

With summer and gathering season in full force, you might decide that it's time to add a bit of pizazz to your outdoor room.

There are simple and inexpensive things that you can do that will add spice, color and comfort to your area. Small actions truly can give your outdoor gathering place a whole new feel and look.

Here are some ideas:

1. Hang paper lanterns. You can find them at Asian-style stores or order them from the Paper Lantern Store. Curious how they are made? I certainly was. It all starts with a wire frame and it takes skills to create the shape that you want. View lantern making here.
2. Add throw pillows to your outdoor furniture. Of course, you will want to bring them inside before any inclement weather hits so wait to add them until the day of your event and keep an eye on the sky. Make sure to match your outdoor palate by choosing the same colors in the pillows.
3. Add vases of fresh flowers or pots of colorful flowers in your outdoor room. Choose pots that match the style of your decor and think about various options for color use. Would it look best to blend colors with what is already used in your outdoor room? Or would the best option be to go with a completely different color splash? Don't be afraid to experiment and above all, don't let the flowers die off without replacing them.
4. Add a mat or a few throw rugs around your outdoor room. This changes a look and invites a pause from people. They will know something is different and they will like it--but they may not know what that change is. You will find that adding colorful rugs and mats can accomplish a variety of things, including pulling a room together, adding groupings of furniture, adding colors or even making an area look more cozy.
5. Add outdoor lanterns or Tempest Torches for extra ambiance and light. This will not only brighten up your outdoor room but allow you to visit comfortably even as dusk falls.
6. Have extra room off your porch? Consider adding a home-made fire-pit. A ring can easily be made with some big river rocks.

Planting in your outdoor room-it's not too late

It's not too late to make a great impression in your outdoor room with plants. If you are planning a 4th of July party, family reunion or any other kind of gathering this summer, it's time to plant. Plants, whether veggies or flowers, can make a great impression in your decor and even offer opportunity for conversations starters and a bit of horticulture education.

If you want to plant veggies, stir it up by:

1. Plant unusual veggies that the common person may not recognize.
2. Use the veggies in the food you offer your guests.
3. Plant veggies that offer a beautiful blossom.
4. Think outside the box. Nothing wrong with planting (for instance) a few cucumbers in a hanging basket.

If you want to use flowers in your outside room decor, consider:

1. Overfilling the planters. It will be more beautiful for one-season flowers.
2. Mix it up with both tall and shorter flowers in your flowerbeds.
3. Consider edible flowers.
4. Work with colors that match your house and any features of your outdoor room.
5. Be sensitive to placing flowers that draw bees too close to your guests.

Plants will help every outdoor room look fresh and feel relaxing. They also work wonders to add a bit of color and cheer. Don't forget to water them when they are dry and give them sun. Happy plants=happy guest and happy plant-owners.

Dressing up a flower box

A planter box of flowers can give your outdoor room the sprucing up that it needs for a spot of color or a whole new look. It refreshes the soul and is also good for nature. You can do it on a budget with a little bit of work.

The picture shown is an old grey wooden planter box that was falling apart in my storage shed. Once an item that I would have tossed, this year I looked at it with whole new eyes. With three nails and some leftover wood stain that I used last year for a coffee table, I spruced it back up.

Then I chose some fresh flowers (English Daisy) that I had never seen before that I found at my local nursery. I loved the colors and thought that they complimented the darker stain. I stuck with two colors of flowers, although a garden designer I know recommends three colors to a pot, and I love the resulting look. The pot matches my furniture and although I did not go as far as matching the flowers with the furniture cushions, they certainly compliment the full picture.

You can spruce up pots easily. Although wood is the easiest to do this with, you can also spruce up plastic pots with paint made to adhere to plastics. Krylon and Delta both make a paint for plastic and you can find them at most hardware-type stores.

Don't have a pot? Hit the garage and yard sales this season. Also try second-hand stores. It's both eco-friendly and budget-friendly to buy something that has already been used to fix up yourself.

Solaira Heaters

I have a perfect solution for your outdoor rooms and patios during this season when we have some warm sun during the day that quickly cools in the evening hours, if not before. A heater from Solaira, available on poles or in wall or ceiling mounted options will be all you need to extend those outdoor hours a little bit longer. And if you have a hot-tub, it is the perfect option to sit under when you are done with the hot-tub.

From their website:

“Inforesight Consumer Products Inc's (ICP) vision is that technology based operating solutions will be the basis of our energy efficient, environmentally considerate future. ICP currently manufactures markets and distributes commercial, industrial and consumer products centered in Heating/Control systems and Solid State (LED) Lighting. Our technologies are centered on high efficiency (90%+) energy conversion factors, environmentally considerate (no CO2, NOX or Mercury) and exceptionally high commercial quality for long term performance. Our technologies are utilized around the world and in the most severe environments as required by our military, commercial and industrial customers.”

With all those benefits to you and our environment, why would you look anywhere else for an outdoor heater? All you need is Solaira and Rich’s for the Home.

Tempest Torch Wins 'Best of Show' for Outdoor Products

The Tempest Torch from Travis Industries is the Winner of Best Outdoor Room Furnishing and Winner of Best of Show for all outdoor products at the 2007 Hearth, Patio and BBQ Expo.

This gas-powered outdoor lantern puts the "wow" in your event and even put off some heat. They are a great addition to both low and high profile events and are sure to invite compliments from your guests.

View the video below to see the lanterns in action at a high-profile event and contact your local Rich's for the Home store for pricing information.

A Mid-Season Twist

A great way to add pizzazz to your outdoor room mid-season is to add a touch of something that hasn’t been there before. Even better, add something that isn’t "supposed" to be there.

Take the matter of succulents. They are plants with water-filled leaves. Examples are cacti—which is what most people think of when they see a succulent.

This can work to your benefit. Because the majority of people think "cacti" when they see a succulent, which brings visions of a much warmer climate than what we have here in the northwest, it’s somewhat of a twist to see them growing well here.

In this picture there are actually two of these twists—the plants and the boot. The huh? Yes, the boot. It "belongs" in the closet. It isn’t "supposed" to be on the deck with the succulents. But it is—and quickly become s a delightful twist that is remembered by friends and family.

How about some other twists? A bonsai tree, a splash of color in an otherwise fairly muted palate, an unusual statue or garden piece, a fresh pot of flowers, a wooden chair with a fresh coat of bright paint, an old metal bucket dressed up with sugar snap peas, a new outdoor mat, a piece of furniture that normally lives indoors, a few new pillows/ cushions mixed throughout the old or a new side table? And don’t stop there!

Just because you went to all that work to set up your outdoor room to be pleasing to the eye, durable and comfortable doesn’t mean that you can’t make small changes throughout the season and spice it up. So go ahead, move the furniture a bit and add a few twists throughout. Keep it twisty…and fun.

Treasures Along the Fence Line

Oh my! You have a gorgeous deck, solid and welcoming furniture from Rich’s for the Home, a spa, containers with beautiful flowers and a sugar snap pea or two—now it’s time to do something about that fence!

You heard me right! Why stop at the border of your outdoor room? Why not draw the eye further and provide even more delightful conversation pieces for your family and friends? I have a neighbor who has accomplished this very well. In fact, before I saw it I hadn’t even considered decorating a fence line, except for maybe planting flowers along it. But what she has accomplished is marvelous, and she has made an impact with her wooden fence by attaching surprises along the way.

Once I saw one surprise, I had to see more. So I followed the fence around the whole lot—it felt much like a treasure hunt. There were birdhouses, decorative tiles, welded metal fixtures, a cross, flower pots, animals and more—all attached to the fence in some way. One of the best features? She tucked some small items down toward the bottom of the fence. It almost took a second glance to catch those ones but added to the surprise and delight factor as I discovered each one.

Treasures along the fence line will bring out the child in everyone. Why not give it a try?