Weather-Worthy Outdoor Decor

We’re one week away from the first day of summer and it’s the time of year when everyone is loving the loggia so we thought we’d share some of our favorite weather-worthy outdoor decor pieces. Did you know we’ve now introduced beautiful planters, which we’ve added to our selection of concrete pedestals and our array of durable accessories, all of which bring panache to your outdoor spaces? Be sure to check back in a few weeks when we launch our summer products, as we will have a variety of new planters that are dripping with Mediterranean charm.

Outdoor Decor for All Seasons

The Sicilia Large and Medium Blue Planter flank the Catania Large Blue Planter.

Made of terracotta with greenish undertones and a milky white and blue drip overlay, the Sicilia Large Blue Planter is a garden ornament, patio pot or interior accent that looks as if it was left to age for centuries. Whether it has a plant in it or not, it will be a vintage-inspired decorative piece of value. We also offer the Sicilia in a medium size.

Joining our faux bois furniture and birdbaths in our garden lineup is the Faux Bois Large Planter made of concrete in a Portland finish. As is the case with all of our products that honor the lauded fake-wood movement, the plant pot is reinforced with wrought iron. When introduced into a setting, the whimsical decorative planter will be a classic from day one.

Decorative spheres have a special place in the history of interior and garden design. We created the Gray & Gold Small Sphere to not only add a storied shape to a space but a surprising hint of bling. Though the gray decorative balls are made of concrete, the asymmetrical application of a luminous gold finish over the raw gray surface shines when light strikes it. We also offer the gold decorative sphere in a medium size, and we have gray and silver versions in small and medium sizes.

Joining our lineup of concrete furniture with cleaner lines, the Bosco Accent Table is made of steel that has been dexterously covered in concrete to make this a weighty and earnest table for the home or garden. The Portland finish on this concrete occasional table will make it durable when placed out of doors.

The Abalone Small Concrete Ball has a sparkle to its surface with abalone shell mixed into the concrete. This gives the decorative gray ball a hint of texture as well. We also offer the Abalone ball in a larger size and in a black finish.

Made of steel that has been dexterously covered in concrete, the Higham Accent Table is weighty and earnest. In a Portland finish, this concrete table is built to endure and can be placed in the garden or indoors. We also offer the Higham in a cocktail table.

Versatility is built into the design of the Corinth Large Concrete Pedestal. The concrete in a natural finish not only makes it the perfect pedestal to hold sculpture in an interior, the fact that this durable gray pedestal with a heavy dose of patina is weather-worthy makes if just as perfect for the garden as it does for indoors. We also offer the Corinth Pedestal in a medium size.

The Abalone Small Concrete Pyramid has a sparkle to its surface with abalone shell mixed into the concrete. This gives the decorative gray pyramid a hint of texture as well. We also offer the Abalone pyramid in a larger size and in a black finish.

Our Goodstone Accent Table is a cement cube sitting atop an indented wood plinth. The stippling and gradation of the polished concrete finish will add visual interest to any setting. This little concrete table can also be used as an end or side table, or as additional seating when needed.

Summer Bummers

Designer James Farmer nails Cecil’s advice to choose matching planters in this vignette from his garden. Photo credit Jeff Herr.

Last year, Rachel Wolfe, writing for The Wall Street Journal, asked our Vice President/Creative Director Cecil Adams to chime in on “The 4 Worst Patio-Decorating Mistakes—And How to Avoid Them.” He wasn’t shy about sharing his take on what he considers to be taboo: “My personal pet peeve is when someone has a jillion flowerpots of all different shapes and sizes, all jumbled up and on plant stands and etageres that bear absolutely no relationship to one another. I’m good with a collected look but it ought to at least be somewhat harmonious. Please don’t have some long trailing vine coming out of an otherwise dead looking pot or a bunch of random herbs that have seen better days.

The well-pruned plant brings harmony, as is evidenced by this Bonsai nurtured by our President Brownlee Currey.

His answer to what he recommends people do instead: “If you don’t know what the plant is or if it looks ugly, prune it or replace it. Gain harmony by organizing your pots by color or material, and try to gain some balance with your use of plant stands and the plants themselves. If you like gnomes, drop a few in there—you can have a sense of humor and harmony at the same time. There are so many places to see good design these days so there really is no excuse. Also add some solar powered lighting so you can enjoy your garden at night.” Excellent advice from someone who truly understands how to make any space, indoor or out, sing!