Why is Patio Furniture So Expensive?

In a word: weather.

Rain, sleet, hail, monsoon winds, haboobs, UV rays, excessive heat and/or cold – the list goes on and on. And your outdoor furniture not only has to withstand these fits of Mother Nature but come through the other end just as comfortable and beautiful as it was before.

That’s a tall order. To meet it, Paddy O’ Furniture launched the Apostrophe Outdoor Furniture brand. After nearly 30 years in the industry we’ve learned a thing or two about what makes great patio furniture. Creating our own brand allows us to oversee every aspect of the process – from materials and craftsmanship to comfort and design – resulting in a higher quality product for our customers.

How Does Apostrophe Outdoor Furniture Meet These Standards?

 

Materials:

All-Weather Wicker:

Apostrophe Outdoor uses a resin wicker – also known as ‘all weather wicker’ for woven pieces. This material is specially treated to be UV resistant. Resin fibers are also highly resistant to mildew, sagging, staining, fading and cracking, making these pieces incredibly durable and long-lasting.

 

Powder-Coated Aluminum:

Powder-coated surfaces are unlikely to scratch, chip or fade and they’re highly resistant to moisture, chemicals, UV rays, corrosion and damage due to extreme weather. It can also be applied in a variety of decorative pigments and finishes. Combine that with rust free aluminum – a tough, yet lightweight metal – and you have the ideal framing material for outdoor furniture.

 

Solution Dyed Acrylic Fabrics:

Unlike indoor furniture, which is protected by, well, a house, outdoor furniture is constantly exposed to the elements. Solution dyed acrylic fabric is made by dying each fiber all the way through to insure color fastness. This is often described by comparing an apple to a carrot. If you cut an apple open, the color is only on the outside. If it were a cushion it would quickly fade and any nicks or scratches would show the white underneath. By comparison, a carrot is orange all the way through, so no matter what it is exposed to the color remains the same – just as it does with solution dyed acrylic fabric.

Design:

Here at Paddy O’ Furniture we’re intimately involved with the creation of each Apostrophe Outdoor Furniture collection. We work hand in hand with world class artisans to design a product that is stylish yet functional. Our focus is on timeless looks that our customers can love year after year – because we know how long it will last – and attention to detail to give each collection its’ own unique flair.

And that brings us to…

Comfort:

It’s hard to pack so much into a comfortable piece of furniture but a durable, stylish uncomfortable chair is of no use to anyone. Think of the difference between driving in a luxury sedan versus a high-powered speedster with sports suspension. The speed and performance of the sports car may be amazing but you’ll also feel every bump and rut in the road.

Apostrophe Outdoor Furniture is constructed to last, look good and, most importantly, feel good. The cushions don’t just resist moisture and sagging – they also offer incredible support for a seat that you can sink into. Seams, buttons and straps are re-positioned to avoid creating uncomfortable lumps and bumps. The water and fade resistant fabrics we use are selected not only for their durability but also for their softness and suppleness.

 

Ultimately only you can decide what best suits your lifestyle and budget but for many the idea of replacing inferior quality sets every other season has become monotonous and wasteful.

When it’s time to upgrade to finely designed heirloom quality furnishings that are backed with the confidence of industry leading warranties, Paddy O’ Furniture is here to help. Come visit our award winning showroom and consult with the most knowledgeable staff in the business!

Tips For Your Kentucky Derby Party

Whether you’re deeply interested in horse racing, love fancy hats or just can’t pass on a good time you don’t have to make the trip to Churchill Downs for a great Kentucky Derby party. Use these tips to plan your own festivities and enjoy the race from the comfort of your own home.

Set the Scene

Having the proper ambiance for your derby party is important for setting things off right. Whether your patio furniture is old or brand new give it a good cleaning and dusting before the party. 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner features a specialty solution that will clean both frames and fabrics leaving them guest-ready.

 

The Riviera Collection’s slim, dark frame and deep cushions give it a beautiful, equestrian aesthetic.

Don’t forget the extra seating! Having guests over means you’ll need more seating than usual. Add ottomans that can double as end tables or snag a few extra chairs in a complimentary color that you can place in pairs around the party.

Add some pops of color to your party area with an outdoor rug or throw pillows. Use traditional Southern flowers like roses, magnolias, hydrangeas and wisteria for a subtly refined look. Try arranging them in mason jars or painted tin cans for a rustic feel. Galvanized buckets make excellent beverage coolers and will add a nice ‘barn-chic’ touch to the decor.

 

Get the Refreshments Ready

The Kentucky Derby is a Southern tradition and that is reflected in the majority of dishes and cocktails you’ll see throughout the weekend.

First off – it’s not a Kentucky Derby party without a Mint Julep.

Mint Juleps are a must for any Derby party.

 

These classic cocktails are sweet and cooling, with a pleasant herbal tang from the fresh mint. If you’re looking for something with less sweetness but still traditional try the Whiskey Sour. Both cocktails are bourbon based, making it easy to give guests a choice.

Once you’re done with cocktails it’s time for food! The official Kentucky Derby website has you covered with recipes for main dishes like Cheesy Shrimp Grits, Bourbon Glazed Short Ribs and Lamb Lollipops. Accent your entree with A perfectly paired side dish like Sweet Potato Hash.

Ready for dessert? Food & Wine has you covered with this list of 11 options and recipes. (We’re partial to the Mini Black-Bottom Cheesecakes)

Plan a Few Games

Because the actual race only lasts about 2 minutes it’s not enough to dazzling your guests with a gorgeous patio and delicious vittles may not be enough – you must entertain them as well.

Luckily, the event lends itself to a few easy options. Try setting up a Hat Contest with the best chapeau taking the prize. Also good – having guests pull horse names out of a hat to give them someone to cheer for, or taking ‘bets’ at the door with winner taking bragging rights. Create your own leader board to keep track. Another option – set up a garden game like horse shoes, corn hole or croquet and play on teams. It’s enough activity to keep the energy up but not so much that you can’t sip and cocktail and hold a conversation while you play.

Cinco de Mayo Cocktail: The Watermelon Margarita

The margarita is a drink with a storied history and a million variations. This Cinco de Mayo put a little twist on the old stand-by with this refreshing watermelon version.

Because of the fruit’s natural sweetness this cocktail won’t need much sugar, which means each serving is a mere 105 calories. To finish, add a bit of lime juice for a touch of citrus and rim the glasses with sugar. Garnish your completed cocktails with lime wedges and melon balls for a little extra flair and enjoy!

 

 

Ingredients

2 teaspoons sugar

1 lime wedge

3 1/2 cups cubed seeded watermelon

1/2 cup tequila

2 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon Triple Sec

Lime wedges or watermelon balls (optional)

 

 

 

 

Preparation:

 

1. Place 2 teaspoons sugar in a saucer. Rub the rims of 6 glasses with 1 lime wedge; spin rim of each glass in sugar to coat. Set prepared glasses aside.

2. Combine watermelon and next 4 ingredients (through Triple Sec) in a blender; process until smooth. Fill each prepared glass with 1/2 cup crushed ice. Add 1/2 cup margarita to each glass. Garnish with lime wedges or melon balls, if desired.

 

 

Recipe courtesy of myrecipes.com

Mother’s Day Brunch Cocktails

With Mother’s Day fast approaching you may be racking your brain to come up with the perfect gift. But rather than something that comes in a box or a bow – why not give the special Moms in your life the experience of a lovely mid-morning meal outdoors?

The Arizona weather is just right this time of year to take in a leisurely brunch on the patio and a signature cocktail is the perfect finishing touch. Here are a few recipes that will get your Mother’s Day Brunch off on the right foot.

Winterize Your Patio

Winter makes a late debut in the Valley of the Sun but it will be here nonetheless. Without proper care the dropping temperatures and occasional frost can take a toll on your outdoor living spaces. Preventative measures are the best way to prevent damage to your property and keep your investment beautiful for years to come.

Accessory Spotlight: Outdoor Rugs

Give your patio, deck, or porch a whole new look in a snap by adding an outdoor rug.

Don’t worry about over committing to vibrant colors or bold patterns with your patio furniture. Go neutral on your main pieces and cycle through a few different rugs during the year for visual interest. Outdoor rugs come in nearly every color under the sun and a variety of chic, fashion-forward patterns as well.

Creating a Killer Patio for Entertaining

Summer may be over but spending that time outdoors entertaining family, friends, and finding fun activities to enjoy with the kids is still top priority. There is a growing theme today where the new kind of vacation is a “staycation”. Creating spaces at home for leisure and entertaining can be fun when you can find all the right furniture.

There is no doubt you are going to need different types of furniture and styles to suit you needs. Running through just a few events that you could hold at your home I have selected a few set ups to make it easier to entertain and a few yummy treats to go along with it!

Hosting a small dinner party with friends in your backyard just got a whole lot easier and more comfortable with this grouping here. The Apostrophe outdoor table constructed in teak paired with Apostrophe outdoor chair gives such a clean elegant dining experience you may never want to eat inside again! For this reason, teak patio furniture is a customary outdoor furniture choice for those seeking to pair natural beauty with strength and longevity.

The Apostrophe Outdoor Patio Jambi table. Durable and easy to care for.

Now that everyone is done eating there is always time for conversation after and check out these cocktail ideas that even the kids of all ages could enjoy. Invite everyone over to join you on the sofa. Another design by Apostrophe brings a classic, traditional looking sofa with lines that are calming and smart. Its seamless transitional style takes the comfort of the indoors outside.

The Apostrophe Outdoor Patio Cushion Sofa.

Not hosting a dinner party and just need seating idea’s for outdoor? Pile the family on this comfortable yet stylish collection. Better yet you could imagine yourself in the gardens of Europe toasting to the day away! The Calenzano is ornate, enchanting and considered an old world gem.

Outdoor furniture goes beyond function with Calenzano plush seating. Comfort and style take the stage

Now that you have the seating covered you are going to need to keep them busy with these tasty treats from savory grill menu items, fun beverages and how about a yard game or two! Either way you do it, summer should be fun and entertaining! Now where is your calendar? You have a party to plan!

How to Purchase Patio Furniture Online

Finding the right patio furniture for your home can be a daunting task, and making such a large purchase online can present an even greater challenge. Luckily, Paddy O’ Furniture has some quick, easy steps that will make the process more manageable so you can enjoy a stress-free online shopping experience.

The truth is most of us are already doing our furniture research online. It’s not uncommon to spend days, sometimes weeks, comparing styles, colors, designs, and prices. The internet gives shoppers unprecedented access to furniture options, giving us a variety of resources to find exactly what we want all from the comfort or our couches. But, with so many items to choose from, the task can become overwhelming. Managing all those choices is part of what makes the Paddy O’ shopping experience so unique.

Paddy O’ Furniture works hard to create a luxurious outdoor furniture shopping experience online for our customers. See someone online that you like? Come into a showroom and try it out! Did you come into a store and fall in love with a piece, but need more time to think it over? No problem. Visit us online to complete your purchase when you’re ready, or add it to your ‘favorites’ for safekeeping so you can compare it to other possibilities later on. Whether you’re shopping online, in our stores, or both It is possible to find quality, stylish, outdoor furniture at Paddy O’ Furniture.

Here are a few tips about our website to enhance your browsing experience:

1. Look through all of our patio furniture collections. They’re arranged in categories like ‘Plush Seating’ and ‘Outdoor Dining’ to help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Our site also allows you to drape pieces in different fabrics so you can better visualize the finished piece. You can even use our online room planner to furnish your dream patio down to the smallest detail!
2. Read the product descriptions and note the dimensions. Make sure you have measured your patio space to ensure you are getting the right size furniture for your design.
3. Need a little help reviewing the options? Call us! The staff at Paddy O’ Furniture is always available to answer questions or send you more information. We conveniently have a “Request Information” button on all of our product pages to make it easy to find out more information about a product before you purchase.
4. When you’re shopping online at the Paddy O’ Furniture Website be sure to sign up as a Paddy O’ Subscriber for specials, exclusive discounts and advance notice of the best deals on luxury patio furniture!

Finding the right patio furniture for your outdoor space can be simple and fun on the Paddy O’ Furniture website! Take your laptop outside and browse while imagining yourself enjoying your new lavish patio furniture!

Outdoor Design Trends from the Philadelphia Flower Show

So, it is officially Spring!

You know how we know?  Over the last week, the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society hosted their annual Flower Show.  Known as the “Olympics of Horticulture”, this 185 year-old institution is the largest in America.  This show is THE place to début new trends, ideas, products and plants that will rock your garden, yard, and meadow.  If you were not lucky enough to attend, you can see a lot of beauty and great tips at the Philadelphia Flower Sow YouTube page. But the Paddy O’ team plans on letting you in on some of the big tips, trends, and designs featured at this great show!

Landscaping is moving from picture perfect to wild and rugged. Talented landscapers takes time to develop a look – even if it looks like raw forest. New lands and pieces of land maybe groomed and designed to look wild and unruly, but that is an obvious choice your making with property that should look rugged and untamed.

Trends in hardscaping are exactly what we expected – it is all about outdoor living.  Smart spaces that are comfortable, functional, and eco-friendly. It’s not just pouring a big dump of cement and spreading it flat anymore, modern outdoor spaces include reclaimed wood, recycled stone.  Water features are popular and make sure to integrate plenty of light.  Patio’s are back with a vengeance.

Once you designed, landscaped and/or “hardscaped” your space, it’s time for the furniture.  This year’s hottest items include durable and weatherproof furniture in bright and bold colors. Vibrancy in patterns and textures will keep your outdoor living experience as alive as possible.

This year is all about expanding your gardening and design horizons, so step outside of the same old gardening plot and trying something new. If we have your outdoors gears turning and you’re ready for Spring, be sure to come in to your local Paddy’O Furniture for more information and ideas.

Stay Warm On Your Patio

Paddy O’ Furniture truly believes that your outdoor space is for every season. But, Mother Nature doesn’t always work with our beliefs. When the weather is a bit chilly, there is no reason to fly inside into your home, all you have to do is find the right way to warm up your patio!

Our team of expert outdoor specialists sees 2 distinct possibilities in helping to heat your patio: Fire pits and Patio Heaters. Both were initially made for commercial use – specifically for use in bars and restaurants to keep visitors warm during cold winter days. Patio heaters dominate many commercial outdoor spaces, keeping al-fresco dinners warm late into the fall, and smokers comfy now that their habit isn’t allowed indoors. Today, fire pits and heaters are widely used in many households, basically to warm an area that is 10 to 40 feet in diameter.

They are available in different designs and styles to suit any patio or home decor. For people who love patio life and must spending long hours outside on a cold day, either is a perfect choice. On the other hand these are also ideal decor pieces.Both of these options have unique traits that might work for your client, and we’ve decided to feature some of them below!

Fire Pits

Fire pits are a great way to extend your party space to the outdoors. A fire pits is an attractive add-on to any gathering or outdoor fun everyone’s mood. A fire pit gives guests a more intimate feeling while meeting around and spending time with one another. So, regardless of the season, consider a fire pit as a gorgeous way to extend your outdoor living space.

Don’t get nervous about the idea of having an open flame out there on your patio. Our collection of fire pits is available with several beautiful top options. Made of the highest quality aluminum and/or ceramic tile, a fire pits are a perfect addition to your backyard entertaining area. Live flame enhances any entertaining atmosphere, and heightens the enjoyment your guests and family. S’mores anyone?

Patio Heaters

The use of patio heaters holds several benefits and you can use in a multitude of decks, pathways, garden areas and patios.

If you need to heat your outdoor area, patio heaters are an inexpensive and easy choice. What is even more amazing about propane gas patio heaters is how they can make your backyard the envy of all of your, neighbors and party guests.

Over the last few decades, patio heaters have become advanced and stylish,able to safely blend into any outdoor area. Paddy O’  Furniture is proud to feature the outdoor patio heater collection that are available with several stunning styles. Depending on the decor of your patio, we have the portable or residential heater to finish off the space. Now, even late Fall and early Spring become perfect times to use your patio! No sweater required!

So don’t let that outdoor deck or patio you love so much stay out of your life! Jack Frost shouldn’t be enjoying it all on his own. Paddy O’Furniture has plenty of options to keep you warm without wearing arctic sweaters!