Shopping for an outdoor patio set with an umbrella can be a pain. There many different styles and fabric choices to choose from. It doesn’t end there either, after you decide what collection you like best, now you must decide which style umbrella you would like along with any other patio décor you feel necessary.  So for this week’s blog post, we are going to showcase some of our favorite collections along with our favorite styles of patio umbrellas to help you narrow your choice down.

Patio Sets

The Calais Collection by Parker James

The Calais Collection by Parker James is one of our favorite collections because if its unique wicker weave. This collection features head-woven, UV-resistant resin strands that are woven into four-inch squares giving this collection its unique wicker design.  This collection group set comes with the following pieces:

• 1 Sofa
• 1 Club Chair
• 1 Motion Club Chair
• 1 Loveseat

Bonus Feature: With this wicker weave fashioned over a rust-free aluminum frame, this collection is fairly light weight and easy to re-arrange.

The Sedona Collection by Summer Classics

The Sedona Collection not only is one of our favorite patio sets, but is one of our best sellers as well. This wicker set is a reinterpretation of a wicker set you would see in the 1960’s, just much more durable! This wicker weave features a classic braided edge made from N-dura resin wicker.

Bonus Feature: This collection is hand-woven, producing great detail within its design.

Patio Umbrellas

The Cantilever Umbrella

The Cantilever umbrella is our number one choice when it comes to recommending patio umbrellas. The Cantilever umbrella was designed to utilize all of a shaded area by removing the center pole and placing it to its side. This allows for a much larger area to be used for patio chairs, and tables! Learn more about the different types of umbrellas here.

You might be surprised to learn that all weather wicker and resin wicker are one in the same. You may also be surprised to learn that while resin wicker looks like “natural wicker” it is in fact made from a synthetic material. Even more surprising yet, unknown to much of the population, wicker does not refer to the material used but rather the weaving itself. So, what other surprises does wicker hold? Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions about wicker.

Where does the word “wicker” stem from?

The word wicker comes from a Scandinavian word “Wika” meaning “to bend”.

What was wicker originally made out of?

Wicker was originally made out of natural materials such as fibers and rattan. Rattan is known for its elastic tendencies and comes from a vine-like tree called Rotan. Because of its elasticity, rattan is the most popular material found in old wicker baskets, hampers and chairs.

Why is natural wicker uncommon today?

Real wicker is not as resilient as polyethylene, the plastic that is most commonly used to make resin wicker. While polyethylene is extremely durable and requires little maintenance, natural wicker becomes dry and brittle overtime. Natural wicker would not survive long term in harsh weather such as rain and direct sunlight. Natural wicker can still be found today but only for indoor purposes.

How weather resistant is resin wicker?

Resin wicker is extremely weather resistant and can handle all types of harsh elements. Polyethylene fibers are not only resistant against the suns harsh UV rays but also humidity and water as well. Worried about fading color? The color is added during production and actually becomes a part of the fiber. Worrying about chipped or faded paint will not be an issue.

Is resin wicker as comfortable as wicker made from natural materials?

Resin wicker is just as comfortable, if not more, as wicker made from natural materials. As mentioned before, it is very elastic and sturdy. It is this combination that gives all weather wicker patio furniture its reputation. 

 Is resin wicker hard to clean? 

No, resin wicker is one of the easiest patio furniture materials to clean! For more information on how to clean different types of patio furniture, click here.

A patio umbrella is a patio umbrella, right? Wrong! Not all patio umbrellas are made the same. It is important when shopping for a new umbrella that you are aware of the different types of outdoor patio umbrellas you have to choose from. A while back we talked about the different mechanics within umbrellas, touching on the different ways they crank and tilt, but today is dedicated to discussing cantilever umbrellas specifically.

How are cantilever umbrellas structured different?

Cantilever umbrellas are unlike most patio umbrellas that you would typically see around town. The most obvious difference is its physicality and structure. Unlike most patio umbrellas, Cantilevers are not held up by a middle pole but rather hung from an arm that is attached to a pole situated to the side.

What are the benefits of a Cantilever structure?

Your typical, standard patio umbrella has a limited range of motion due to its structure. The position of the pole, in the middle, restricts the umbrella to only 4 basic ranges of motion; open & close, left tilt, right tilt.  The structure of a Cantilever umbrella on other hand is extremely versatile. This umbrella can be turned, twisted, lifted and lowered in pretty much any direction. This allows for you to be shaded no matter where the sun is.

Is there more shade cover with a Cantilever umbrella?

All umbrellas come in many different shapes and sizes but typically Cantilever umbrellas have a much larger shade surface than your traditional market patio umbrella.  Our average market umbrella size is around 9’ while our cantilever umbrella average is 11’ with 13’ being our largest. Furthermore, the absence of the middle pole allows you more versatility.

Are Cantilever umbrellas harder to maintain?

Although they look strange they are no harder to maintain than your traditional market umbrella.

Cantilever umbrellas are easy to move around and easy to store.

Designing a brand new outdoor patio space can be an overwhelming experience. Where do you start? How big should it be? What shape, square or round? What kind of material, brick, concrete, stone? There are many variables involved when it comes to planning a patio, so these questions do not have a right or wrong answer. However there are things you can take into consideration that will help you answer some of these tough questions.

Patio Location– There is no wrong or right location to where you decide to place your patio. Most people tend to build their patios near their back door but consider the following. Are there any large trees in your backyard that offer natural shade? Areas with natural shade are the best patio locations because it allows you to enjoy your patio throughout most of your day.

Shape- The shape of your patio will largely be determined by the size and shape of your back yard. If you have a fairly spacious back yard the options are limitless. If your yard is smaller you are going to want to consider the patio/backyard ratio. Round patios always look bigger than they really are and are easier on the eyes. Adding plants and flowers around a patio will also soften the borders, making your patio flow smoothly into the rest of the landscape.

Size– The size of your patio will vary depending on not only the size of your lawn but also on how you plan to use your patio. What kind of activities will take place? Do you plan on entertaining guests? How many guests? Is it just a place to relax and read a book? Do you want an outdoor fire pit? How about an outdoor bar area? All of these questions are important to determine before you decide on size.

Materials- There is 3 main materials that are most commonly used for patios; poured concrete, brick and stone. Poured concrete is great because you can stain it to match your home and it is easy to maintain but brick and stone offer more texture and elegance to your patio area. Take a look at your house. This is the easiest way to figure out what type of material to use. Which material would look most natural with your home?

Taking these four factors into consideration should help guide you when making these important decisions. We are curious; did we miss any that have helped you?