By TAMMY M. SMITH
With so many patio sets available in a range of sizes and prices – and with exciting new bells and whistles – the outdoor chef will want to find a setting to show off those steaks, chicken and fun, fruity drinks.
“Cast aluminum is what people want now,” said Carolyn Braden, owner of Carolyn’s Patio Furniture in Gulfport. “The high-backed aluminum sling chairs are very popular – anything that requires little upkeep.”
When buying a patio set, consumers can choose their chair combination: All stationary, half stationary and half swivel-tilt, or all swivel-tilt.
“We usually do two swivel-tilt and two stationary,” Braden said. “Often, older people will prefer the stationary chairs.”
Customers usually prefer darker frames, but the pecan shade is also popular, she said.
To shade the table, umbrellas usually come in two styles – market or standard. The standard umbrella is the familiar petal-shaped one, while the market umbrella has vents at the top. That’s a plus in breezy locations.
“When you have strong breezes, the vents help keep the umbrella in place,” explained Braden.
Like dining outdoors after the sun sets? You don’t have to be in the dark.
Braden offers a candleholder with a round globe that clips onto the stem of the umbrella. With a citronella candle, you have the combination of bug banishing with a light source in a convenient location.
Drew Adams of Patio-Deck & Casual Furniture in Gulfport offers electrical lighting that attaches beneath the umbrella.
He agrees that cast aluminum is the dominant trend in outdoor furniture.
“It’s doing very well,” he said. “People are also getting away from glass tops and going more for mosaics and stone.”
Another popular look is the “grass” umbrella.
“They are the hot thing this year. I can’t keep them in stock,” Adams said.
Want to really impress your guests? Flames are always good for “oohs” and “aahs.” Adams demonstrated one table with a large center holding a shallow bowl of glass chips and colored stones. When he flicked a lighter, a slender flame appeared in the center of the chips (a small butane tank beneath the table feeds the fuel). The table can also be equipped with a small grill in the center.
