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 7 Must-Have Hot Tub and Swim Spa Features Hot Tubs and Swim Spas Author:Rich's For The Home Posted:March 1, 2023 An effective and enjoyable way to get pain relief is in a hydrotherapy spa or swim spa. Powerful jets alleviate body aches, while the buoyancy from the water takes pressure off joints. Read More Rich's New Tigard, Oregon Store: A Chat with Manager Rick Campbell General Articles Author:Rich's For The Home Posted:February 1, 2023 Meet Tigard, Oregon store manager, Rick Campbell, who has been in the hot tub/patio/BBQ business more than 25 years in the Portland metro area. Read More Grill Islands - Easily Create an Outdoor Kitchen in Your Backyard Grills Author:Rich's For The Home Posted:January 2, 2023 Grill islands: Modular outdoor kitchens with grill(s), workspace, fridge, storage, and more. Read More Tartan and Sparkle Holiday Mantel - DIY Tutorial Mantel Decor Author:Rich's For The Home Posted:December 3, 2022 Step-by-step tutorial for your holiday mantel: How to create a classic tartan design. Read More DIY Winter Mantel Décor Tutorials: Golden Magnolia Wreath and Cinnamon Stick Votive Holder Mantel Decor Author:Rich's For The Home Posted:December 2, 2022 DIY Holiday Mantel Decor tutorial: Golden Magnolia wreath and cinnamon stick votive holder. Read More How to Transform Your Mantel to a Winter Wonderland Design Mantel Decor Author:Rich's For The Home Posted:December 1, 2022 We show you how to transform your fall mantel decor to a winter wonderland design easily and quickly! Check out our 15-sec time-lapse photo that shows us making the switcheroo. Read More