Friday, February 26, 2021

Tile & Outdoor Wicker Decisions

Amanda Lindroth

 
Have you noticed that when you get involved in a new project, there are an overwhelming number of decisions to be made? A good example is tile. Having lived in the DC area for ages, everyone was all about wood floors. But in Florida, tile is king and I was fortunate to find a home with stunning limestone floors everywhere but the lanai and entrance. I have decided on shellstone for those areas, as shown in the photo above, and then went down the rabbit hole of tile size and pattern. 

Tile size used to be pretty limited - now every tile comes in lots of sizes and shapes and tiles are getting bigger and bigger, with 24" by 24" being very hot. And then there is the issue of pattern - I think I am gravitating towards French or Versailles pattern shown below that uses different size tiles - very European and elegant.


Shellstone in French Pattern

And I am just embarking on the world of outdoor wicker - again I am more knowledgeable about teak and metal; neither are great choices here in South Florida with the salt air and humidity. And I want something very low profile so as to not block my gorgeous views. And I am not a big sectional fan. I love vintage wicker and rattan like in the Amanda Lindroth space above, but it's definitely not as practical.

I think I'll just go out on the boat again and drink cocktails and forget about all this - LOL.


21 comments:

  1. I love Frontgate wicker, it is made for outdoors, which is perfect for your spot. The colors work well with your decor in Florida too.

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  2. The French tile pattern is very beautiful and timeless. It won't look dated in a few years the way some of the other trendy patterns will.

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    1. I agree - especially since the rest of the home is very Palm Beach and classic.

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  3. I have McGuire rattan lounge chairs and ottomans on my screened porch in California. They’re beautifully made and are holding up great.

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  4. We have a covered patio here in SoCal and I ordered beautiful pieces from Lloyd Flanders. I chose finish and fabric.

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  5. I have metal by Agio. It’s held up for 11 years and looks great on our covered patio. We keep it covered when we’re away. Costco has some nice sets, but I’m not sure Home Depot and Lowe’s have the quality. What’s the quote? “Only a rich person can afford cheap furniture.”

    It’s hard to find stuff that holds up because we’re really close to the water so things rot. We’ve replaced 2 pool heaters, but the furniture is doing great. I need new end tables and it’s hard to find big enough ones.

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    1. My lanai dining set is metal, so I feel like mixing it with wicker. The salt air is a challenge.

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  6. A word of caution on the broken edges shown in the photo. It might look charming at first, but those broken edges never clean well and a few years from now you will probably not be happy with the overly distressed look. I renovated a country club that had this floor and it really made everything look tired and dated. We switched it out for clean edge product.

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    1. Thanks - I used the photo to show the French tile pattern, not the tile edge. I haven't even seen an edge like that and it's ugly as well.

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  7. I have outdoor wicker from plow and hearth. It's not the crispest white but has held up remarkably well for 12 years. I just hose it off every now and again to clean.

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  8. Love the Lindroth terrace. Love everything about it including the painted bamboo/wicker furniture to match the railing shutters and light fixture. And of course love the French patterned stone configuration.

    If I were getting furniture for a covered outdoor area it would most likely be some sort of painted wicker & bamboo. Not a matched set but definitely mixed pieces of new and vintage. I'd have them professionally spray painted (in a delicious, fun color) and wouldn't loose sleep over it peeling way down the road. A bit of shabby chic is fine with me in fact I like it.

    I appreciate good quality furniture but am not willing to compromise on style. Besides, I am not looking for the furniture to outlive me so there's only so much I am willing to shell out.

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    1. I used to collect vintage wicker when I summered in the Hamptons, but just have one piece left - a beautiful chaise with Mario Buatta fabric.

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  9. I have had outdoor wicker from Pottery Barn (Palmetto) on an uncovered patio year round since 2007. The pieces are still perfect. I do take the cushions off in the winter and store them and I have bought new slip covers just to change the color. The slip covers are very reasonable and I can throw them in the washer a couple of times a year.

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    1. Thanks for the PB recommendation. Slipcovers are a great idea.

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  10. Love this from Ikea and insanely reasonable. Has a certain retro look PLUS, its modular. Imagine it painted in say, turquoise or coral? OR one color for the top and one for the legs--maybe green and blue? (in a specific subtle shades) It would pair nicely with other styles of wicker or bamboo chairs because it's fairly streamlined.

    At that price, I'd spray-paint it myself--hard to screw up if you prep it right.
    https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/jutholmen-3-seat-modular-sofa-outdoor-dark-gray-kuddarna-beige-s49422800/

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    1. That is a great piece and I love that it is modular.

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