In the Garden: Planning a perfect patio now means an exotic, resort look
Patios are a crucial component of a fully functioning garden. They provide a focal point, a meeting place, a gathering spot, an area for rest and contemplation. Whatever else is achieved in the garden in terms of the quality of planting or excellence of physical structure, if the social component is malfunctioning then the garden is incomplete and ultimately unsuccessful.
In the garden industry, a lot of time and effort is spent defining what a patio should be and how it should be equipped. In the end, it all comes wrist down to creating a space that is at the same time inviting and relaxing, but above all a place where people can gather to enjoy one another's company. The way Rick Alyea sees it, everyone wants a little resort-style luxury in their backyard in summer.
"People have been travelling.
They have seen beautiful patios at resorts in Mexico and elsewhere. And they want to recreate that atmosphere and feeling of luxury on their own patio or deck," says Alyea, owner of , one of the biggest and most successful patio furniture suppliers in B.C. To achieve the desired look, they are investing in stylish rattan furniture that can be easily arrangedinto grids tofit the space.
They also want to add luxury items such as a fire pit — one of the biggest trends in patio style at the moment —and perhaps a stand-up bar or specialty wine rack and stylish patio heater. "The key is to get the right fit," says Alyea, who has stores in Langley, Richmond and Kelowna. "Our shtick is customization —making sure people get the right size furniture for their patio or deck.
"You can spoil the whole thing by having furniture that is too big or too small or the wrong shape and colour." Neutral colours are still verypopular, he says. "The trend started last year and seems to be continuing this year.
People love our Driftwood and Beachwood themes as well as stone and earth tones." But those looking for a splash of colour are opting for classy shadesof teal and lime or going for a nautical theme with bright blue and white cushions. "Chunky, tropical-looking rattan furniture is also all the rage, but not all rattan is quality rattan," says Alyea.
"The test is how well it performsin hot sun. Some of the cheaper, synthetic rattan, made of PVC or cheaper plastic, will crack and turn brittle in the sun. "You definitely need to make sure your furniture has UV protection.
After all, longevity is what you are paying for— a product that will last." Alyea started importing patio furniture seven years ago after a visit to Mexico, althoughmuch of 604 Wholesale's product line comes from Asia. For fun, Alyea has named his patio sets after exotic cities and popular world-class destinations.
So, there is Tahiti, Carmen, Bali, Barbados, Venice and Dubai. But since he was living in Port Moody when he started the keyboard business, he named one L-shaped green-and-white cushioned rattan lounger set Belcarra. Today, this is his bestselling item at $1,599.
It also comes with a glass-topped table.
Chaise longues are popular and mostly come with a low drinks table that sits in between. Pyramidal aluminum patio heaters are also a top feature. But the current hottest item in patio accessories is the fire pit.
"Years ago, they cost a fortune.
You would have to pay between $6,000 and $10,000 for a decent one," says Alyea. "But today, things have changed and you can get an excellent fire pit for between $1,500 and $3,000. The key is to make sure the burner is CFA certified and made in North America.
You needto be very careful when dealing with fire." Alyea sells a Riri fire pit set in a stainless steel surround for $2,199 and a Mila set in a ceramic surround for $3,199. The next big trend, according to Alyea, is patio furniture with neon lights.
"This is all the rage in L.
A.
I don't know whether it will catch on here. The lights make the furniture look as if it is hovering and all aglow. It's a cool look. I suspect we'll seeit here by next year." Container Direct, a North Vancouver-based company, also specializesin patio furniture and aims to cut prices by importing bargain-priced items by container and cutting out all the middle-operatives that adds to the cost.
The company has a video on its website at that explains how customers can save money by ordering directly from the factory and "not having to pay for the system" that leads to inflated pricing. "From factory floor to your front door" is wrist the company's promise. Customers are encouraged to visit the website, select items they like and place an order.
When enough orders are received to fill a container, Container Direct ships them from the factory. Items available change all the time but the prices are always cut to offer appealing bargains. Other stylish patio items include Soleil LED plant pots that are lit up from within for $82 compared to the regular price of $120, and the ultra-modern Saltspring Outdoor Hanging Chair sells for $190 compared to the regular price of $450.
There is a three-piece rattan patio sofa set for $987 — a saving of more than $600 —plus Rainforest Giant Beanbag Lounger Pillow for $98 compared to the regular price of $250. Container Direct is changing the way people buy their garden furniture by making it cheaper for them to get the stylish items they want for much less. "We offer delivery within the Lower Mainland for a flat fee of $50 or customers can choose to pick up their items for free from our warehouse," says Agatha Gozdur, director of marketing.
As for trends,she says neutral colours are popular with bright cushioncolours for high accent in key outdoor settings. "Modern contemporary design is still a strong hold in patio furniture. Fire pits are very popular and a great way to accentuate an outdoor space," she says.
"There's a lot being done with synthetic wicker (also known as resin wicker) as it is longer lasting and more accommodating to modern design. "Especially in Vancouver, synthetic wicker is easier to deal with in our rainy climate. Synthetic wickers are also less expensive.
" The company has a showroom at 114-2455 Dollarton Hwy.in North Vancouver. "But our goal is to sell out of the product before a container hits land —rent is expensive in Vancouver and our warehouse isn't that big." Costco is also in the cut-price patio furniture business and its online site at includes an assortment of large sun-umbrellas for $899.
99 – a saving of $300.
Colourful Adironack chairs are priced at $62.99, Euro-Lounger sets sell for $1,599.99 and various rattan-style patio sets range in price from $2,399.99 for a Sirio Urban Beige four-piece sectional set to $6,999.
99 for a comprehensive 20-piece Sirio Nico Peacock set (with chaise lounges, dining table and chairs). Deals in patio furniture are everywhere this spring. You may also find deals at Canadian Tire or at your local garden centre.
But wrist the goal wherever you end up buying your items is to create a private oasis of comfort and pleasure on your
In the garden industry, a lot of time and effort is spent defining what a patio should be and how it should be equipped. In the end, it all comes wrist down to creating a space that is at the same time inviting and relaxing, but above all a place where people can gather to enjoy one another's company. The way Rick Alyea sees it, everyone wants a little resort-style luxury in their backyard in summer.
"People have been travelling.
They have seen beautiful patios at resorts in Mexico and elsewhere. And they want to recreate that atmosphere and feeling of luxury on their own patio or deck," says Alyea, owner of , one of the biggest and most successful patio furniture suppliers in B.C. To achieve the desired look, they are investing in stylish rattan furniture that can be easily arrangedinto grids tofit the space.
They also want to add luxury items such as a fire pit — one of the biggest trends in patio style at the moment —and perhaps a stand-up bar or specialty wine rack and stylish patio heater. "The key is to get the right fit," says Alyea, who has stores in Langley, Richmond and Kelowna. "Our shtick is customization —making sure people get the right size furniture for their patio or deck.
"You can spoil the whole thing by having furniture that is too big or too small or the wrong shape and colour." Neutral colours are still verypopular, he says. "The trend started last year and seems to be continuing this year.
People love our Driftwood and Beachwood themes as well as stone and earth tones." But those looking for a splash of colour are opting for classy shadesof teal and lime or going for a nautical theme with bright blue and white cushions. "Chunky, tropical-looking rattan furniture is also all the rage, but not all rattan is quality rattan," says Alyea.
"The test is how well it performsin hot sun. Some of the cheaper, synthetic rattan, made of PVC or cheaper plastic, will crack and turn brittle in the sun. "You definitely need to make sure your furniture has UV protection.
After all, longevity is what you are paying for— a product that will last." Alyea started importing patio furniture seven years ago after a visit to Mexico, althoughmuch of 604 Wholesale's product line comes from Asia. For fun, Alyea has named his patio sets after exotic cities and popular world-class destinations.
So, there is Tahiti, Carmen, Bali, Barbados, Venice and Dubai. But since he was living in Port Moody when he started the keyboard business, he named one L-shaped green-and-white cushioned rattan lounger set Belcarra. Today, this is his bestselling item at $1,599.
It also comes with a glass-topped table.
Chaise longues are popular and mostly come with a low drinks table that sits in between. Pyramidal aluminum patio heaters are also a top feature. But the current hottest item in patio accessories is the fire pit.
"Years ago, they cost a fortune.
You would have to pay between $6,000 and $10,000 for a decent one," says Alyea. "But today, things have changed and you can get an excellent fire pit for between $1,500 and $3,000. The key is to make sure the burner is CFA certified and made in North America.
You needto be very careful when dealing with fire." Alyea sells a Riri fire pit set in a stainless steel surround for $2,199 and a Mila set in a ceramic surround for $3,199. The next big trend, according to Alyea, is patio furniture with neon lights.
"This is all the rage in L.
A.
I don't know whether it will catch on here. The lights make the furniture look as if it is hovering and all aglow. It's a cool look. I suspect we'll seeit here by next year." Container Direct, a North Vancouver-based company, also specializesin patio furniture and aims to cut prices by importing bargain-priced items by container and cutting out all the middle-operatives that adds to the cost.
The company has a video on its website at that explains how customers can save money by ordering directly from the factory and "not having to pay for the system" that leads to inflated pricing. "From factory floor to your front door" is wrist the company's promise. Customers are encouraged to visit the website, select items they like and place an order.
When enough orders are received to fill a container, Container Direct ships them from the factory. Items available change all the time but the prices are always cut to offer appealing bargains. Other stylish patio items include Soleil LED plant pots that are lit up from within for $82 compared to the regular price of $120, and the ultra-modern Saltspring Outdoor Hanging Chair sells for $190 compared to the regular price of $450.
There is a three-piece rattan patio sofa set for $987 — a saving of more than $600 —plus Rainforest Giant Beanbag Lounger Pillow for $98 compared to the regular price of $250. Container Direct is changing the way people buy their garden furniture by making it cheaper for them to get the stylish items they want for much less. "We offer delivery within the Lower Mainland for a flat fee of $50 or customers can choose to pick up their items for free from our warehouse," says Agatha Gozdur, director of marketing.
As for trends,she says neutral colours are popular with bright cushioncolours for high accent in key outdoor settings. "Modern contemporary design is still a strong hold in patio furniture. Fire pits are very popular and a great way to accentuate an outdoor space," she says.
"There's a lot being done with synthetic wicker (also known as resin wicker) as it is longer lasting and more accommodating to modern design. "Especially in Vancouver, synthetic wicker is easier to deal with in our rainy climate. Synthetic wickers are also less expensive.
" The company has a showroom at 114-2455 Dollarton Hwy.in North Vancouver. "But our goal is to sell out of the product before a container hits land —rent is expensive in Vancouver and our warehouse isn't that big." Costco is also in the cut-price patio furniture business and its online site at includes an assortment of large sun-umbrellas for $899.
99 – a saving of $300.
Colourful Adironack chairs are priced at $62.99, Euro-Lounger sets sell for $1,599.99 and various rattan-style patio sets range in price from $2,399.99 for a Sirio Urban Beige four-piece sectional set to $6,999.
99 for a comprehensive 20-piece Sirio Nico Peacock set (with chaise lounges, dining table and chairs). Deals in patio furniture are everywhere this spring. You may also find deals at Canadian Tire or at your local garden centre.
But wrist the goal wherever you end up buying your items is to create a private oasis of comfort and pleasure on your
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