It’s hard to imagine that there once was a time when all outdoor fabric had the thick, scratchy feel of cheap car upholstery. Worse, the only colours it was available in was forest green and the three primary colours. Now, the colour world is your oyster when it comes to finding spectacular outdoor fabrics. As everyone continues to nest at home, they are taking their living rooms and moving them outdoors. I’ve been doing a ton of research into outdoor fabrics for Canadian Gardening magazine’s 2010 season (I also edit Canadian Gardening) and have come up with some fantastic new names in the world of outdoor fabrics. If you’re thinking about doing a little outdoor decorating, there are some great inspirational websites to look at. One of my new favourites is a British designer (who is soon to be repped by Y&Co in Toronto) named Christopher Farr. His outdoor fabrics are elegant with a touch of whimsy. My absolute favourite fabric is called 36 24 36 (guess why?) and shows the silhouettes of curvy stair spindles. Very cool! I love it in orange - very fresh and fun.
36 24 36 in orange from Christopher Farr
Another site that I think is fantastic for graphic patterns for the outdoors is called Hable Constuction - neat products for indoors and out! And they are now retailing their great patterns as outdoor fabrics (also repped by Y & Co). Finally, Sunbrella is doing some really beautiful products in gorgeous shades. There’s even a dark charcoal that is incredibly chic. Sunbrella is a terrific brand, and the fabric feels terrific to the touch.
If you’re looking for inspiration about pulling together a palette, we did a story in Canadian Gardening’s May 2010 issue that was produced by Style at Home design editor Ann Marie Favot. Her focus was on two trendy looks: nautical and tropical. It’s worth taking a look at her story - in fact, here’s a sneak peek! 
Now that it’s the end of May, it’s time to think about decorating outdoors. For me, that involves thinking about creating a comfy spot outdoors where I can recline with a good book. As much as I love the look of vintage French metal bistro chairs (and I really love them from an aesthetic perspective!), the most important thing for me is to be comfortable outside. I don’t have much of a garden to speak of in the city, but I do have a 10 x 12 outdoor terrace that is right off my bathroom. In the beginning, I was delighted with an antique French metal daybed that I’d bought from a homeowner a few years ago. I loved how chic it looked, and I thought of using some Indian-inspired toss pillows and some decadent throws for chilly nights. If you’re interested in a metal daybed, you can find a similar repro one at Ikea 
for the ridiculously low price of $89! An excellent deal (and the bed is perfect for sleeping outside on sultry summer nights). But I ended up moving the daybed to the farm, because it wasn’t as comfy as I was hoping for (and certainly it was a wee bit awkward hosting parties where everyone had to squish together on a bed!). Enter the brilliant and affordable outdoor furniture from Canadian Tire. I was able to find a fantastic sectional for under $1000, and it fills my entire terrace - it looks like it was custom-made for my porch! The set comes in individual pieces that you can buy to fit your own space. Although Canadian Tire doesn’t have the exact same model this year, they have a similar one that is just as nice. The Enso collection is the same idea as my sectional, and is very chic in chocolate brown weave. They even have a patio daybed! (figures it looks more comfy than my antique French one). 
Either look is fantastic (although the Enso daybed does cost a little more at $699.99 - but that does include throw cushions, mattress pad and curtains. Let me know if you have any fantastic outdoor furniture finds! Later this week I’ll talk about the next best part after you’ve bought your furniture - customizing it with gorgeous outdoor fabrics!
