Choosing Your Outdoor Furniture: What’s Best for the NorthwestBy JHCadmin, March 8, 2010My 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 homeGenerally, 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.)QualityAll 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.Recent Articles See All 5 Advantages of Kamado Joe Grills Grills Author:Rich's For The Home Posted:October 1, 2023 5 advantages kamado-style grills have over conventional charcoal grills, PLUS two of our favorites from Kamado Joe: Classic Joe III and Big Joe III. Read More Infrared Saunas: Relax at Home from the Inside Out Saunas Author:Rich's For The Home Posted:September 1, 2023 Eight benefits of relaxing in an infrared sauna, plus our favorite saunas by Health Mate: the Enrich, Inspire, and Essential series. Read More Outdoor Lanterns Add Dramatic Elegance: Tempest Torch and Tempest Lantern Tempest Torch Author:Rich's For The Home Posted:August 1, 2023 Gas lamps dramatic elegance to outdoor spaces. Learn about Tempest Torches and Tempest Lanterns. Read More 5 Trends in Luxury Outdoor Furnishings for 2023 Outdoor Furniture Author:Rich's For The Home Posted:July 1, 2023 Create a stylish, comfortable, multi-functional outdoor oasis that you’ll love spending time in. Read More Complete Fire Pits by Fire Garden: Big, Bold, Beautiful Flames Fire Pits Author:Rich's For The Home Posted:June 1, 2023 Dreaming of a fully-assembled, weatherproof fire pit that provides cozy warmth year-round? Check out Complete Fire Pits, a new line of fire pits manufactured locally by our friends at Travis Industries. Read More Minimalist, Modern, Danish Patio Furniture by Houe Outdoor Furniture Author:Rich's For The Home Posted:May 1, 2023 Rich’s customers love the Danish modern, minimalistic style of Houe furnishings, so we continue to expand our line each year. Check out our selection of dining tables and chairs, cafe tables, chaise lounges, rocking chairs, tray tables, and benches. Read More