Just as many residential home owners desire to purchase lawn and patio furniture for their outdoor and recreational use, likewise many corporations and businesses have a similar wish to furnish their buildings with stylish and top-quality furniture as well. Commercial outdoor furniture is available in an array of styles, colors, and price ranges to fit every business budget, whether it is a large corporation or a small business. This outdoor furniture is used in many business settings, for example in restaurants and hotels, resorts and college campuses. Everywhere you go, there is a need for commercial outdoor furniture, and the possibilities are endless.


Styles of Commercial Outdoor Furniture To Choose From


Just as in residential outdoor furniture, there are many styles available in commercial outdoor furniture. Depending on the need, there is sure to be a fashion that will be suitable for the occasion. Cruise ships, for example, have an important need to provide a large number of outdoor furniture around its pools and decks. Amusement parks as well look for quality and a matching style that goes with the particular park’s theme. Food courts inside malls even need to purchase commercial outdoor furniture in order for the customers to sit down while they are dining in an often garden atmosphere in the center of the mall.


Commercial outdoor furniture can be designed in a traditional style, such as a picnic table, or a more modern look and everything in between. Plastic, wood, even metal is often used to make these pieces of furniture, and they are often sold at a wholesale price to the corporations because so many are being bought at once. Specialized companies design these pieces of furniture for a wide customer-base and often only sell to companies and businesses, not individual buyers. Purchasing commercial outdoor furniture can be an important addition to any business, providing a place for both customers and employees to relax while taking a break in the sunshine.


As with all types of furniture, there are variations in the price ranges of such furniture. There are low quality and top quality pieces of furniture from which to choose, and it depends on the company’s budget as to how much can be spent on such a purchase. For a larger company, obviously more can be afforded than for a smaller business, yet less expensive commercial outdoor furniture can be found that is still quite trendy, sturdy and attractive.

Part I of this series offers considerations for remodeling the interior of a craftsman style home. Part II examines some of the exterior features characteristic of the craftsman style and offers some ideas for preserving them if you would like your renovation to be in keeping with the home’s original style. It should be noted that variations of the features covered here can also be consistent with the craftsman style, so every possible option is not covered here and not every feature discussed here will apply to every home.

The craftsman style is characterized by aesthetics that are in harmony with the natural environment surrounding the home. The notion of blending with nature should be considered when making renovation decisions regarding the exterior of a craftsman style home.

A wide, unenclosed front porch with overhanging eaves spanning the full or partial width of the home is a recognizable feature of the craftsman style. Porches are often framed by substantial columns, often square or tapered and extending all the way to the ground. Because these front porch features exemplify the craftsman style, preserving the porch on your home to its original look to the extent possible is a great way to preserve your home’s craftsman style.

Visible brackets supporting the roof on the exterior of a home are exemplary of the craftsman style, as are exposed rafters, which were sometimes only installed for decorative purposes. Such touches should be preserved if possible to maintain the craftsman feel of a home. Some homeowners choose to add these details where they did not exist before to give their homes the classic craftsman look.

The windows of craftsman style homes are often grouped together in horizontal sets to allow sunlight to enter the home. Windows typically have noticeable frames and may be double-hung or fixed, with some homes adorned with a stained glass window. You may be faced with the decision to either refurbish existing windows, or to replace them with energy efficient new ones. When replacing windows, there is no one specific type that must be used in order to maintain the style of the home, though selecting windows with a similar look to those being replaced is a straightforward way to preserve the original look of the home. Some homeowners choose to install a stained glass window for added charm that is consistent with the craftsman style. Like windows, the siding material used on your home does not have to be one specific type. Some common siding materials used on craftsman style homes are horizontal wood boards and wood shingles or shakes. Stucco and stone are also commonly used, with many homes having more than one of these surfaces on the exterior.

Because original craftsman homes were designed for simplicity, they are typically smaller than many homeowners prefer today. Adding additional square footage onto an older home has become a common renovation project. For projects involving an addition to a craftsman style home, care should be taken to make the addition blend as seamlessly as possible with the original home. Matching siding, roofing and windows without sacrificing craftsman features such as a front porch or sleeping porch will give the home a cohesive, craftsman style appearance.

In the past, homeowners may have been tempted to go all out on their kitchen remodeling efforts. With the nation looming on the edge of a recession, however, more homeowners are re-evaluating their kitchen remodeling ideals. The new emphasis is on function over visual appeal, with the aim being a new kitchen that will serve the remodeler for years to come.


The average ultra-stylish kitchen remodel may cost upwards of $20,000 at today’s prices, but style-conscious homeowners need not drain their finances. They can get the both of both worlds if they consult with a kitchen remodeling provider that partners with leading manufacturers to provide good looks and top quality at affordable price points.


The British Website Pink News recently ran an article titled “Cooking up function and style.” Therein, the author stated the sometimes not so obvious: When it comes to homeowners’ remodeling of their kitchens, “style should never outweigh function, otherwise, the workhorse of their home will be all shiny appliances and no muscle power. Appearances, after all, aren’t everything.”


So what does the Pink News staff writer suggest? Here are just a few kitchen remodeling recommendations that can save you money while still getting you a new kitchen that’s both functional and stylish.


1. “Sticking with the tried and tested triangle workspace, with your sink, cooker and fridge freezer at each point, is a must if you want to create a functional kitchen.” – You can maximize your savings in this regard if you select a kitchen remodeling expert that partners with leading appliance manufacturers. Pink News cautions, “The choice is endless and it is easy to get carried away with gimmicky features or fork out for expensive appliances that you just won’t use to their full potential.”


2. “Good lighting and the best quality fittings you can afford are also a priority to satisfy both design and function.” – Again, your best bet is to go with a single comprehensive kitchen remodeling source for all of your design needs.


3. “Playing it safe with cabinet colors and styles pays off in the long term, especially when you come to selling your property.” – In today’s day and age, you can never play it too safe. That doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your personal preferences. It simply means that when you’re remodeling your kitchen, you need to ask yourself some pertinent questions before making a kitchen cabinet decision you-and your home’s future owners-will be stuck with for years to come. Pink News suggests, “When you are choosing the style of your cabinets, keep in mind that contemporary colors and finishes are likely to date fast. Shiny red colors might be a statement piece now, but what about 10 years down the line?”


Despite the plummeting value of the dollar, it is still possible to achieve the kitchen remodel of your dreams. You may need only to flip your mindset and place function over style. You don’t have to completely sacrifice either goal, however. To that end, Pink News’ top kitchen remodel recommendation is this: “The kitchen is the traditional heart of a family home, so the overall design is important if your family is to enjoy spending time there.”