This was published 6 years ago
Home decoration: how smarter design is transforming outdoor furniture
Smart design is making outdoor furniture tougher, yet more comfortable and stylish, than ever before.
By Karen McCartney
I've long admired the outdoor furniture range designed by American Richard Schultz. His 1966 Leisure Collection for Knoll was originally created to withstand harsh coastal climates. The combination of an aluminium frame with sturdy mesh seating renders it the gold standard for style and practicality. I found a Schultz lounge chair in a designer furniture sale, reduced to $50 because of a missing bolt – a gift. After living outdoors for a seven-year stretch it remains, defiantly, in perfect condition.
The present design trend, however, is to push outdoor furniture towards its indoor cousins in terms of style and comfort, with increasingly plush cushioning and refined design elements. Australian designer Adam Goodrum has come up with a sophisticated range of outdoor pieces for Melbourne company Tait. "With the Trace Collection, we definitely wanted to create something that was comfortable," he says. "So much outdoor furniture looks ridged and square, so it was important to create a sofa that would not look out of place indoors."
STYLING TIP: Recently developed Belgian outdoor linens “are super soft and look as beautiful as any indoor sofa linen,” says Eco Outdoor director Jen Stumbles. “And they age really gracefully.”Credit: Richard Powers
His Trace sofa prototype endured a rigorous testing period. "It went into the backyard of Gordon and Susan Tait, the owners, where it copped heavy rain, summer sun and harsh treatment from their daughters' parties over the Christmas holidays," says Goodrum.
The right foam filling and fabric choices are essential. "We use reticulated foam that allows the water to run through, and Mokum outdoor fabrics, which are extremely robust but, amazingly, look like indoor fabrics." Jen Stumbles, director of Eco Outdoor, agrees that top-quality materials are essential. "[More people] understand that if you buy outdoor furniture with high-quality components such as top-grade teak, Sunbrella acrylic fabrics, Batyline mesh, marine-grade stainless steel and quick-dry foams – and look after it – it'll age well," she says.
Stumbles quizzes customers in order to understand where a piece will be placed. Will it sit fully exposed on a cliff top, or under a partially covered deck? "If it's a sheltered location, you can opt for generous Dacron-wrapped reticulated foam, which provides a really soft seat. In terms of fabrics, you have a lot more flexibility with the choice of outdoor linens as well as acrylics, which are resistant to both mildew and mould."
Furthering the concept of drawing indoor décor outside, Armadillo & Co has launched a new range of rugs that echo the company's indoor aesthetic in terms of colour and texture, but are handwoven in 100 per cent recycled polyester fibres. "Indoor-outdoor living is part of our psyche now," says director Sally Pottharst, "so we wanted a rug that will perform in that environment, can be hosed down and has a high UV rating."