Summer Pleasures ( Patio Preferences Proper outdoor furniture turns yard into extra room BY CARON GOLDEN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS ID 5899 W Ma le .WestBloomfield 113 Mile Wesl of Orchard Lake 1-800-500-5522 810-851-5440 Your complete party outfitter ■ Complete Dinners ■ Complete Alcoholic Beverages ■ Banquets ■ Party Tray For All Occasions ■ ■ ■ Hors D'oeuvres Buffets ■ Hot and Cold Delivery and Service • CATERING FOR GROUPS FROM 20-500 PEOPLE FOR EVERY OCCASION! ■ Banquets ■ Barbecues ■ Bar Mitzvahs ■ Cocktail Parties ■ Garden Parties ■ Grand Opening ■ Meetings ■ Open House ■ Proms ■ Rehearsal Dinners ■ Retirements ■ Reunions ■ Seminars ■ Showers ■ Weddings Featuring J. Lohr Estates Monterey - Chardonna and P aso Robles Cabers - 258-5188 Ask for Sally Gracious Dining & Off Premises Catering S32 190 N. Hunter Blvd. • Birmingham 258-5788 BEER • WINE • SPIRITS 7 ado furniture has come a long way from the flimsy aluminum chairs with the fraying plastic straps that I remember from my South- ern California childhood. With fam- ilies treating their yards and gardens as outdoor rooms, more attention is being paid to the look and feel of the furniture — and there is now a wide range of styles to choose from. "More and more homeowners are extending their living space to their decks and yards," says Deb- orah Durham, an outdoor enter- taining expert "And decorating the deck or patio as you would any in- door room will enhance its ap- pearance, ambience and, ultimately, the overall enjoyment of the back yard." Each year, Americans spend al- most $6 billion on yard design and renovation. If you are planning on adding your two cents — or more — here are some suggestions for creating as comfortable a world out of doors as you have within your four walls. Wood classics. A low-slung Adirondack chair made of teak, a Mission-style rocker, a Chippen- dale-style glider swing. These are the pieces that invite us back to slower, more contemplative sum- mer days. Since durability is a fac- tor when purchasing outdoor wood furniture, look for pieces made of teak or mahogany. These weather nicely and don't split or splinter. Teak is also rot- and ter- mite-proof. Manufacturers of wood outdoor furniture, like Wood Classics of Caron Golden is a writer with Copley News Service New York, recommend letting the wood weather naturally to a soft gray. But they recognize that not everyone finds that color right for them. While many paints eventu- ally peel or chip, they have found some exterior house stains that work well on their mahogany fur- niture. And even if after letting your chair or table weather naturally for a couple of years, you can still change your mind and stain it with products sold at your local paint or hardware store. If you are ambitious and want to make your own furniture, there are two books out with practical designs for the home builder: Sum- mer Furniture by Tom Carpenter (Camden House) and Docks and Projects from Cottage Life (Cottage Life Books). Each is well illustrat- ed with step-by-step instructions. Precious metals. If your taste leans toward the more delicate, take a look at chairs and tables made out of wrought iron or alu- minum. A sweet rose design with flared legs makes for perfect seat- ing on a stone patio for a twilight espresso or early breakfast Set two chairs and a small table on a bed- room balcony surrounded by pot- ted flowers. Or place a bench along a garden path. If you like the ele- gance of the metal look but want to add some color, make sure your furniture is coated in a waterproof enamel finish. If your taste runs to whimsical, catalog retailer David Kay has a bright, springlike chair and table in a sunflower design. Forged out of iron, it's hand-painted for use in a sheltered area. Plastics and other materials. If PATIO page 53 ,7_/\