All posts by Claire Cashe

6 Ideas for Designing the Outdoor Patio Space

October 4, 2012 Claire Cashe Leave a comment

Patios are wonderful places to entertain guests, dine alfresco and relax outdoors after a long day at work. Whether you have a tiny apartment balcony or an enormous backyard deck, creating an outdoor patio area allows you to extend your living space without costing you a dime in construction costs.

Here are a few ideas you can adapt to design your own outdoors patio space:

1. Draw your patio space

Measure your available outdoor patio space and trace it to scale on graph paper. You need to know the exact amount of space you have available before you start buying furniture and amenities.

Assess your patio to determine what the typical traffic patterns should be. Plan to keep the high-traffic areas clear of built-in amenities and furniture.

Consider the layout of your landscape and evaluate any walkways, shrubs or trees that might affect outdoor patio plans. For example, you and your guests might not enjoy dining beneath a draping tree, but the tree might make a lovely decorating element.

2. List elements you would like to include on your outdoor patio

If you enjoy feeding your friends and family, plan to create an outdoor cooking area with a food prep counter, a grill, a dining table and plenty of chairs. Cocktail party throwers might prefer a patio that includes a built-in bar, a water fountain and a fireplace.

Other ideas include creating a cozy conversation area with comfy sofas or chairs arranged around a built-in fire pit. Reading nooks require walls or landscaping elements that add a little privacy.

Get out your outdoor patio plans and draw in any elements to scale. When drawing, make sure you keep any grills, fireplaces or fire pits well away from your house and large landscaping plants.

3. Consider the style of your home

A patio with aged-looking furniture and classic brick flooring will blend better with a traditional house, while outdoor furniture with simple, clean lines and sleek stone floors would probably blend better with a contemporary styled home.

A cottage-style home would look absolutely charming with artificial grass flooring, weathered furniture and a little, white picket fence enclosing the patio. Some small balconies can only hold a bistro table with two small chairs.

4. Find comfortable patio furniture

You want your family members and friends to feel just as comfortable outside your home as they do inside. Choose chairs with comfy seats or plush loveseats or sofas. Always include a lot of pillows and cushions so your guests can sink into them and relax.

Entertainers should find a dining table that accommodates a large party so guests will want to linger over their outdoor meals. Make sure you leave plenty of clearance around the table so your guests can move around easily.

5. Have fun with colors

If your patio is right up against your house, define your outdoor space with a bold color. Use vibrant colored rugs to add gorgeous texture and introduce colorful, fun patterns in seat cushions or outdoor curtains. Be sure to use only fabrics designed for outdoor use, however.

6. Light your outdoor space

Hanging lanterns or lights brighten up any outdoor space and add an additional decorative element. String twinkling lights to make a large space seem more cozy or romantic. Place outdoor lights on railings to make a small patio feel larger.

Use the above tips to design a comfortable outdoor patio that functions as both an entertaining space and a private retreat. Whatever style you choose, search around online to find the best prices. Online stores such as http://www.artificialgrasssuppliersuk.com often offer less expensive flooring options than you can find in brick-and-mortar stores.

How to Shop for Patio Furniture – A few Essential Tips

September 30, 2012 Claire Cashe Leave a comment

So you got the new house with this beautiful backyard or large deck. But it all looks pretty bleak without furniture. You want something fast, because all your friends are coming over for the house warming and they certainly will want to sit down, at least after they tasted your latest martini creation, right?

Problem is, there’s so much choice that it’s hard to know where to begin. And your headache is getting a bit more thinking about all the factors impacting a comfortable as well as attractive outdoor space wherein you can relax and entertain family and friends. If you are buying patio furniture for the first time and have no clue as to what to look for in outdoor furniture, the following guidelines will help you shop for the best patio furniture.

First, it is essential to take the weather conditions into consideration while looking for patio furniture. For example, dry and hot weather conditions can make some wooden products crack. Similarly, traditional wicker furniture fails to withstand moisture and has to be constantly maintained. All-weather wicker will be a better choice and aluminum for instance does not rust. If you are looking for something that doesn’t need much maintenance those two materials are a good choice. Wrought iron furniture can last for a long time withstanding heat, moisture and dry climates, but it stands the risk of getting rusty.

Also, you should take into consideration the space needed for outdoor furniture. For example, if you have a small outdoor area, you may opt for a bar table set or bistro set rather than having a huge dining set or sectional sofa. Best is to measure the area that you have available before you head out shopping. The size of outdoor spaces tends to be much harder to guess than indoor rooms.

Depending on space available and functionality required, choose your most important piece of outdoor furniture. For example, if you will be mainly dining outside, choose the dining set first, or choose a bar set, that can be used for drinks and dining. If you have enough space, you may want to add chaises, recliners, hammocks or day beds for relaxing outdoors. For a wonderful outdoor experience, pair everything with matching accessories such as pillows, umbrellas, fire pits, planters etc.

Following these easy guidelines will prevent you from just buying patio furniture blindly without knowing what patio furniture is best for outdoors. There are a couple of very prominent and reputable vendors in Canada. Dedon, Jardin Le Ville, Hauser, Andrew Richard Design are some of the brand names for outdoor furniture. Shopping with these brands is a save bet. The only pitfall is that they tend to be pricey and hence, not affordable for all of us.

Beliani has been providing its customers with durable patio furniture of great quality at unbeatable prices. They carry a variety of modern design furniture including, outdoor dining sets, sectional sofa sets, loungers and more.

Outdoor Furniture

Exciting Ideas for Patio Furniture

September 19, 2012 Claire Cashe Leave a comment

Beautiful patio furniture with vibrantly colored pillows and bold-patterned cushions can elegantly jazz up your outdoor living space. Choosing unique patio furniture not only enhances the visual appeal of your home, but it also speaks a lot about your personality and taste.

Patio furniture is a great addition to your patio both for commercial as well as residential use. Moreover, with the new design ideas for outdoor furniture, large numbers of businesses as well as residential owners now prefer the novel innovative designs of patio furniture for their outdoor living space. In this article, we will discuss the less known pieces of patio furniture, such as, outdoor day beds, sofas with canopy, hanging egg, eccentric pieces that will change you backyard forever. If you are making plans for outdoor furniture to embellish your garden, consider buying the following items:

Hanging Patio Daybed: If you love spending time outside, an outdoor daybed makes your patio experience more pleasant and comfortable. Available for both, hot as well as cold climates, they are en vogue at hotels, resorts as well as modern residential homes. Most of them are weather resistant and also colour fast-fade-resistant; they make your outdoor living area look like a peaceful retreat.

Covered Sofa: A covered outdoor sofa is a perfect addition to make your patio look divinely comfortable. This one is water and UV resistant and light weight. They are strongly built and are available in varieties of colour, shape, size and design. Choose an outdoor sofa that comes with removable cushion covers, so you can wash them, and look for high density foam cushions.

Hanging Egg: Buying a hanging egg will enable you to have lots of fun in your garden, on your porch or terrace. A hanging egg is generally attached to the roof but if you don’t have a roof handy, you can buy standalone egg chairs as well. An additional advantage of standalone egg chairs is that, they are mobile and you can use it anywhere in your home as per your convenience. Hanging Egg Chairs are perfect for those who are not fortunate enough to have a patio but have a balcony or are otherwise restricted with space. What a great way to relax and read a book!

So next time you’re shopping for outdoor furniture, consider checking out the above items to make your outdoor living area a unique space. Look into getting an ottoman for patio furniture. All of the discussed pieces will be more comfortable and allow you to change it up a bit, every time you come outside, if you have an ottoman. It will also complete the look of your patio. A well-placed ottoman that compliments the design of your patio set can easily make your patio look elegantly beautiful.

Check out Beliani Furniture Outlet for inspiration!

Backyard Living

Some of the Most Useful Outdoor Patio Accessories

September 8, 2012 Claire Cashe Leave a comment

Choosing the right patio furniture not only sets the visual appeal of your home but at the same time it elevates your spirit by setting mood for a perfect outdoor experience. While selecting unique patio furniture to adding an extra charm to your lawn, backyard or porch, the right accessories can enhance the design aspects. Accessories such as umbrellas, cushion storage boxes, patio covers, etc. will also greatly improve the functionality of your space.

Here are a few ideas of items you may want to consider adding:

• Umbrella for Outdoor Furniture: Patio umbrellas provide protection to you and your furniture from rain, sun and wind. The right umbrella will add comfort and class to your deck or backyard. Though most of the outdoor dining sets come with a market umbrella, you may also opt for freestanding ones. They offer shade to your poolside, garden, porch as well as to your backyard décor. Umbrellas are usually made of durable materials and are water resistant. They are available in various colors, patterns and sizes to suit your preferences. Patio umbrellas also protect your outdoor furniture from UV rays of the sun by providing up to 99% UV protection.

• Plastic Covers for Patio Furniture: In our climate, it is very essential to have covers for your outdoor furniture. Plastic or vinyl covers provide protection against, dirt, wind, snow, humidity and rain. They are easy to maintain and mostly affordable. You you can’t part with the extra cash for custom covers, a tarp will also do the job.

• Storage for Patio Furniture Cushions: Protect your expensive patio furniture cushions by putting them into a water resistant storage bag or a cushion storage box. Cushion storage bags and boxes are specially designed to protect your cushions from rain and dirt that can damage the cushions over time. Outdoor storage boxes are a convenient way to store your patio cushions when they are not being used. Keep them handy without having to run to the garage or basement every time it rains.

These are some useful outdoor patio accessories that are highly recommended for protection of your patio furniture and improved functionality of your outdoor space. The protective covers for outdoor furniture are made of various durable materials such as vinyl, polyester and synthetic materials to suit different weather conditions.

Backyard Living

5 simple tips to throw a successful outdoor patio party

August 28, 2012 Claire Cashe Leave a comment

Summer is the best time to throw a patio party so that you can have a great time with your family, friends and neighbors. All that you need to host a successful patio party in the backyard or the porch is good food, refreshing drinks and entertainment. If you are planning to organize the first patio soiree of the season, these 5 guidelines would help you to make your patio get together a unique celebration for your near and dear ones.

Choose a theme: The most important step to planning a party is to pick an attractive theme; for example, picnic theme, beach theme, cocktail theme, black-tie dinner party, etc. Or organize a patio party to celebrate your wedding anniversary, birthday and even holidays.
Choose comfortable outdoor furniture and decors: Once you have decided the theme of the patio-party, the next step is to choose comfortable patio furniture along with picnic tables. You should also choose decors to match your chosen theme. Decorate your patio with colorful balloons, personalized banners with a personalized message to welcome the invitees. If you are throwing the party in the afternoon, you can install patio umbrellas as a stylish means to provide shade to the guests. If you are throwing the party in the evening, you can choose stylish patio lights to illuminate your patio thereby enhancing the ambiance of your porch or backyard. Paper or glass lanterns are another way to cast an amazing radiance to enhance the visual appeal of your patio. You can also beautify your patio with decorative aroma candles. Tealight candles are an excellent choice for patio parties. You may also place a canopy as a safety measure to protect your guests from rain or insects.
Plan the menu: The next important step is to plan the menu for the patio-party. You can choose simple yet delicious recipes to impress your guests. Welcome your guests with beer, wine and other refreshing drinks before serving food to them. Ensure that you preheat the oven so that you can start cooking the dishes and serve your guests on time. Also, arrange for snacks and desserts to perfect the menu.
Install a grill and arrange for a refrigerator: Give your patio a classy look by installing a grill and placing a refrigerator. The grill would be useful for cooking food and the refrigerator would help the guests to enjoy cool beverages of their choice.
Arrange for music and games: While planning a patio soiree, ensure that you place a good music system to add life to the party. Music in the background would help elevate the mood of your guests and make your party much more enjoyable. Alternatively, you may also invite musicians and artists to perform at the party. A patio party is not complete without games. You can plan interesting games for your guests such as card games, chess and checkers. For those who are fond of outdoor games, you can set up volleyball net and even play bocce ball, football or Frisbee.

These are the 5 magical steps to throw a successful patio get-together. Next time while hosting a patio party, follow these tips to make your get-together an exceptional experience for your guests.

Backyard Living

„My Funny Outdoor Furniture Story“ Contest

July 25, 2012 Claire Cashe 129 Comments

Do you have a funny or exciting story to share evolving around outdoor furniture or living outside on the deck, patio or garden?

Patio furniture that collapsed, a cool party that you and your friends still talk about, a funny encounter or joke somebody told on a patio, great food or drinks enjoyed?

We are looking for Canada’s best outdoor furniture stories. Leave a comment to this post describing your funny story or tell us what happened the last time you were actually on a patio. We will randomly draw a winner.

There will be multiple contests throughout the year. You can participate in every draw, but may only submit one comment per draw/contest. The winners will receive a $300 gift certificate for outdoor furniture by Beliani.ca. Even though not a requirement for participation, we appreciate your tags and bookmarks!

You can enter an extra draw for a $300 gift certificate by following the link below and giving us your like on FB: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beliani-Furnitures/207403512637673

We will not share any emails nor use them for any marketing purposes, we simply ask for them so we can contact the winners. Your personal details will not be visible to other users.

By entering the contest you confirm to have read and agreed to the Contest Rules.

Good Luck!

Outdoor Furniture

Celebrities and their Patio Furniture

July 6, 2012 Claire Cashe Leave a comment

Patio furniture greatly enhances the visual appeal of your outdoor living space. If you are planning to decorate an outdoor deck or a small garden area, choosing the right patio furniture as per the size and theme of your patio would make your outdoor living space more inviting. Patio furniture also comes with accessories like Patio umbrellas and patio fire-pits to add comfort to you summer and winter outdoor soirees respectively. Besides this, you can also jazz up your patio with patio lamps, gazebos, garden benches hammocks, etc. to give your outdoor living space a complete look. Here are the examples of how celebrities have added glamour to their homes by embellishing their patio with the best outdoor furniture.

Ocean view from Cher’s patio (above)

Cher’s patio looks out of the world with the woven synthetic rattan outdoor furniture set. The Egyptian sculpture resting on the woven-reed table adds an extra charm along with the bronze oil lamps. The patio furniture and the accessories completely harmonize the heavenly view of the ocean. The cool ambiance of the patio beside the pool makes it a perfect venue for relaxing in the summer season.

Lance Armstrong’s Pool Cabana

Mere words are not enough to describe the beautiful pool cabana of former American professional road racing cyclist, Lance Armstrong. Chairs and sofa with outdoor fabric, similar to Beliani’s outdoor conversation set Rimini perfectly suits the beautiful and comforting ambiance. The shades of the chairs and cushions along with the chandelier perfectly complement the color of the wall.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pool Deck

Actor Gwyneth Paltrow has brilliantly decorated her private pool with the apt patio furniture. The outdoor sofa set beside the swimming pool perfectly matches the ambiance of this beautiful deck. The contemporary sofa and chairs are fashionable and finished in dark brown outdoor wicker, similar to Beliani’s contemporary outdoor sofa set Roma, to present a perfect balance between nature and civilization.

You might not be able to afford these fancy pools, cabanas or huge backyards. But you too can lounge and dine like the stars in your garden and on your patio. Beliani makes sure you are getting the latest modern designs in outdoor furniture for your home at outlet prices.

Yours to enjoy!

Outdoor Furniture

Best Outdoor Furniture Designs for this Season

June 10, 2012 Claire Cashe Leave a comment

Are you planning to buy some eccentric furniture for your patio?

If yes, we are here to guide you with the top four provocative patio furniture designs to add extra appeal to your deck or garden.

1. All Weather Wicker Patio Furniture Set: The Piazza Collection

This sectional sofa has been specially designed to add comfort and style to your outdoor living space. This sleek and stylish patio sofa set made of long-lasting and superior quality resin wicker gives your patio a traditional look with a naturally elegant appearance.

The Piazza comes with cushions made of fade-resistant fabric. It includes a corner love-seat, armless love-seats, corner club chair and a coffee table.

2. Rattan Patio Furniture: Rocking Lounger “Banana”

This semi-circular Rocking Bed Banana is a simple yet trendy couch that can easily add style to your patio thus creating a calm and comfortable atmosphere to curl up and take a nap. The natural color of rattan provides a graceful feel to your outdoor living space. This cozy and comfortable outdoor lounger comes with a pillow that extends all along to support your body. Rocking Bed Banana is made of all weather-resistant materials and hence it is durable and lasts long even in extreme weather.

3. All Weather Wicker Patio Sectional Sofa: The Vienne Collection

This amazing sectional sofa by the Vienne Collection is apt for hosting vivacious patio soirees and family gatherings. This classy sectional sofa comes with canvas colored seat cushions made of fade-resistant fabric. Each piece of this sectional sofa is made of a strong rustproof aluminum frame coated with weather proof resin wicker that makes it durable besides giving the furniture a modern and trendy look. This wicker furniture set is fully welded and properly woven for extra durability.

The Sectional Outdoor Sofa by the Vienne Collection comes with two sofas, ottoman with cushions and a coffee table.

4. All-weather Wicker Patio Furniture Day Bed: The Maldives Collection

This comfortable outdoor day bed made of long-lasting all-weather wicker, features a high-back with compact cushions made of fade-resistant fabric. Each piece of this gorgeous patio-bed has been made of durable and all welded aluminum frames. This exceptional patio bed has been aptly woven and specially designed to fit perfectly on your deck and porch irrespective of the size of your patio. For extra comfort, you can either drag the pieces of the furniture to get sufficient space or join them together to relax on this stylish day bed.

The modern outdoor day-bed consists of two interlocking lounges, canvas natural and raven-black cushions along with a coffee table. Being made of natural element, it can be easily rinsed off with water and mild soap.

Provide your patio with a fresh new look by adorning it with the best furniture designs of the season. Patio furniture is always a useful addition to your outdoor living space and remodeling your patio with new furniture occasionally gives your patio a vibrant look thereby providing you with a feeling of deep relaxation.

Outdoor Furniture

Jazz up your Patio Parties with an Outdoor Patio Bar!

June 6, 2012 Claire Cashe Leave a comment

Are you planning on throwing any patio parties this year?

An outdoor bar can be an excellent addition if you have sufficient space on your patio. Outdoor bars are highly in vogue these days and are preferred not only by the bar owners, but it is also the preferred choice of households. Nothing can be more refreshing than relaxing on your patio and enjoying a glass of wine amidst the fresh air. If you plan to throw a wine party or a cocktail evening to enjoy with your family and friends, an outdoor bar is an ideal companion for your patio for spring, summer and fall. If you are planning to host a sophisticated patio party for your friends, make sure that you add a stylish outdoor bar set to your deck or patio to give it the right ambience.

Patio bars are available in a wide array of designs and colors so that you can choose the best pattern and shade to suit the theme of your patio. Outdoor bar sets are also available in a variety of materials. You can choose bar sets made of wrought iron, teak outdoor bar sets, rattan bar sets, all-weather wicker outdoor bar sets and patio bar sets made of eucalyptus wood. If you are hosting a beach theme party, a tiki bar set will be an ideal addition to your garden or terrace. Usually, outdoor bar sets consist of a bar, a bar table along with bar stools. Some patio bar sets include accessories like drink cabinets and mini refrigerators. Portable patio bar sets are also available so that they can be easily removed as per your convenience.

This elegant patio bar set by Beliani is ideal for both commercial and domestic use. This outdoor bar set consists of a dark brown wicker with 6 chairs and a tempered glass top. This comfortable bar set is spacious enough for your entire family as well as friends. Your guests would love to sit and relax at the patio bar while enjoying drinks. The all-weather wicker furniture is made with a powder coated aluminum frame. The cushions are specially coated so that liquids can be wiped away easily. Beliani is known for its high-quality patio furniture that is ideal for the Canadian weather. This environmentally friendly bar set by Beliani is rust free and can be used in any season as it is weatherproof and resistant to dirt, mold and ultraviolet rays.

Time to set up your outdoor space and have some fun!

Outdoor Furniture

Contemporary Designs in Outdoor Umbrellas

May 11, 2012 Claire Cashe Leave a comment

The outdoor living space has become an extension of our house. Homeowners are craving for additional ways to create an ideal open-air environment, as soon as the temperatures allow it. So while you are planning to put in a lot of time, money and effort for that perfect ‘outdoor living space’ you certainly want it to look good and fashionable. You can choose from the numerous umbrella options to get that extra visual detail! There are quite a number of outdoor umbrella designs available in the market that can convert your simple outdoor area into a stylish retreat.

Offset Umbrella or Cantilever:

The cantilever is a stylish and unique umbrella that has gained more and more market share in the past years. Its popularity has grown from a niche product to a widely acknowledged product. While offset umbrellas are known for their unique look, quality and the ability to withstand any weather have made them popular all around the globe. They provide a visually appealing aspect to your outdoor environment by blending with any kind of design scheme and adding style to the mix. Versatility is another amazing factor with cantilever outdoor umbrellas. Whether lounging by your favorite water, be it the beach, lakeside or the backyard pool cantilevered side post umbrellas can adjust their shading canopy according to your position. While not all cantilevers have the same functionalities, the high end models go as far as allowing a 360-rotation. Turn your side post umbrella in any desired direction to protect you and your family form the sun!

Done with the dining, where you have a pole right in the middle of the conversation. What’s more, you can enjoy a quick nap by positioning the cantilever near the relaxing chaise lounge. A cantilever umbrella would be appealing and efficient in any outdoor space.

The tricky part with this kind of umbrella is the canopy being held from one side, therefore the load falls on only one side. The base needs a good strong design to keep the umbrella erect under all weather conditions. This makes it usually a little more costly compared to a conventional market umbrella. Some cantilever umbrellas are designed to use a plastic base filled with gallons of water to give the base extra bottom heaviness. These kinds are difficult to move as they are heavy and water will need to be drained to be able to move the umbrella to a safe place. Other designs use a cross base that can be used with patio stones or to be screwed into a wooden deck.

Market Umbrellas:

A traditional central pole umbrella is called a market umbrella. These types of umbrellas were used mainly in the market places in the earlier times. However, nowadays market umbrellas are used in every possible location! Market umbrellas have different styles of canopies to them. A post with a canopy on top of it is the most common type of market umbrella. The size of the canopy can range from 6’ up to 11’ or more complete with unique custom bases or lever arms. These umbrellas are popular in pool side settings as they give a wide range of shade.

Market umbrellas in a café setting are usually made with a heavy metal base. This looks attractive and is less bulky than plastic water bases, providing ample space for sitting outdoors. All advanced umbrellas come with some type of venting system on the top allowing hot air and wind to escape. Market umbrellas usually cost in between $80-150, while the most basic cantilevers start around $150.

Beliani Blog

All posts by Claire Cashe

6 Ideas for Designing the Outdoor Patio Space

How to Shop for Patio Furniture – A few Essential Tips

Exciting Ideas for Patio Furniture

Some of the Most Useful Outdoor Patio Accessories

5 simple tips to throw a successful outdoor patio party

„My Funny Outdoor Furniture Story“ Contest

Celebrities and their Patio Furniture

Best Outdoor Furniture Designs for this Season

Jazz up your Patio Parties with an Outdoor Patio Bar!

Contemporary Designs in Outdoor Umbrellas

Indoor & Outdoor Furniture and Lifestyle Blog