OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS
Sprucing up the great outdoors: furniture designs
and strategy tips to awaken your patio and garden

From the pages of the CA-Modern magazine
By JC Miller

California's benign climate, especially the warm, dry winter season found in Palm Springs, allows for gracious outdoor living. For the mid-century modern home, well-furnished patio and garden areas can effectively expand its scope of living space and at the same time bring a heightened level of outdoor enjoyment to its owners and house guests.

By design, California's mid-century modern homes have a special relationship to the garden. Prominent early modern architects such as Richard Nuetra, Rudolph Schindler, and John Lautner found this to be true. In fact, they went so far as to design homes that were quite literally open to the landscape, with only rollaway panels of plastic or curtains of air separating the interior of the home from nature.

The atriums found in many Eichler homes, the pool decks, and the patios adjacent to Palm Springs' Alexander homes are quite literally outdoor rooms that build on this innovative tradition of design. "I absolutely believe that we are inspired by the designs of the great mid-century architects," says Ron Radziner, a principal of the Los Angeles-based architectural firm of Marmol Radziner + Associates. "Our work is in many ways a continuation of that work. It's not a direct influence -- more like an abstraction -- but it is definitely there."

The expansive walls of glass and uninterrupted sight lines characteristic of California modern architecture bring the garden and all of its elements into the home. To complement this seamless transition, choices for outdoor furniture and accessories deserve to be made with the same care and attention given to the selection of a living room sofa or the table in the dining room.

"The garden, landscape, and approach to the house are all just as important as the interior," points out Radziner, whose firm has extended its modern-oriented design services to include its own line of indoor and outdoor furnishings. "Furniture for a house or garden should be a genuine response to the site, to the location. Proportion, materiality, how the piece sits in the home or the garden -- working all of that out is what makes for a complete environment."

Scale, function, and anticipated use are important factors to consider when making patio furniture decisions. An assessment of the garden and outdoor spaces to be furnished is a good place to begin. What sorts of activities are envisioned for the garden or patio? How much space is available for the planned functions?

Outdoor areas may be used for a variety of purposes -- from serene contemplation to a spirited cocktail party. If your patio functions primarily as a quiet place to enjoy the sunshine and read the Sunday paper, and only occasionally hosts a social gathering of 20, then you may prefer to orient the quantity and scale of its furnishings toward smaller, tranquil use. And then when it's party time, the existing furniture can be moved around and additional pieces brought in.

This idea of scale comes into play when selecting individual pieces of furniture and also when making decisions about how much furniture can be accommodated in a given space. Typically it is a good idea to design enough space around individual pieces and furniture groupings to allow for circulation through the garden or patio. Because many pieces of modern outdoor furniture have an almost sculptural quality, the space around them allows them to be appreciated from all angles.

Also, consider how a piece of furniture or a grouping relates to the house or other important elements in the garden. Pieces large enough to stand on their own away from the house can seem overwhelming if placed in a small seating area or intimate patio. Conversely, small chairs that invite guests to pause and come together on a small entry patio can get lost in the larger scale of the landscape.

Durability, ease of cleaning and maintenance, and resistance to the elements (particularly water and ultraviolet light) are all-important factors to consider when choosing outdoor furniture. The emerging outdoor-oriented lifestyle that fascinated mid-century architects and designers 60 years ago encouraged them to explore new materials that could function equally well indoors and out.

After World War II, fiberglass, aluminum, and nylon became an important part of the designer's palette. These materials contributed to one of the most remarkable characteristics of good modern design -- multi-functionality. In earlier years, it had been all but unthinkable to take the dining room chairs outside; but in postwar California, it was not only possible, it was encouraged.

Some classic mid-century designs are as appropriate poolside as they are in the living room. Industrial designer Charles Eames' fiberglass shell chairs and sculptor/designer Harry Bertoia's wire-mesh chairs and stools are two examples of seating that can move easily from indoors to the patio. The Umbra company's Oh chair, designed by Karim Rashid, is an inexpensive contemporary design that can also make this transition.

Mike Stephenson, founder of Vessel USA Architectural Pottery, the San Diego-based company that produces the classic Architectural Pottery line of indoor and outdoor pottery, agrees that good design can often work as well on the patio as well as in the living room. "Being from California, it just seems natural to me that things should work as well outside as in," says Stephenson. "Because our pieces are very refined and linear, they work well indoors. But they also look great outside, where the geometric lines make for a nice contrast with the organic forms of plants."

Since the mid-century, imaginative designers have dreamed up a dizzying array of furnishings and accessories for the garden and patio, including rolling drink carts, sunshades, floating pool snack caddies, and more recently outdoor heaters and even air conditioners. But it is basic items such as tables and chairs that are the mainstay of the well-furnished garden.

Of all accessories for the garden, a sturdy and stylish table and chairs are among the most important pieces to consider. Dining outdoors is one of life's great pleasures, and beautiful and functional furniture can make the experience even better. Once again, some thought needs to be given to the number of people that need to be accommodated and the space in the garden that is available for dinner parties.

Square or rectangular tables respond well to spaces that are closely related to the house, such as atriums or alcoves. Round or oval tables are more suitable for irregular spaces and can seat odd numbers of people more graciously. Fortunately, there is a myriad of both vintage and contemporary designs that respond to most situations and satisfy almost any taste. Built-in tables and bar-height counters are other options for casual dining and entertaining in the modern garden. Pieces such as these provide a focal point for garden furniture and can help create circulation paths through the garden by pointing to fixed destinations.

When selecting chairs for a patio dining set, it is important to remember that these pieces will be the most mobile furniture in the garden. Beyond stylish good looks, the ideal patio dining chair also needs to be light enough to be moved easily and include a handle or some means to transport it without causing strain. The surface of the outdoor dining area should also be considered. Chairs with small feet that stand efficiently on concrete or terrazzo may sink awkwardly into a gravel surface, while seating with pedestal or runner-style supports may function on the same footing with considerable elegance.

Lounge chairs and chaises provide a comfortable place to relax and spend longer periods in the garden. When considering lounge-style seating for the garden, keep in mind that these pieces should be comfortable enough for longer periods of lounging. Deep upholstery and adjustable backs and footrests allow for naps or sun bathing for hours at a time. Pieces that have some degree of mobility can be shifted to follow the sun and shade patterns in the garden. Low occasional and accent tables complement lounge seating, add a degree of sophistication, and provide a critically important place to set a cold drink and reading material.

Furnishings for the modern garden are not limited to tables and chairs. One of the remarkable innovations that came about in 1950s California was the reinvention of garden ceramics, which keyed a flourishing art pottery industry. Drawing on historical models, California pottery at the time was becoming famous for both its vibrant beauty and functionality. This design tradition took a modern turn in the late 1940s when ceramic artist Legardo Tackett began encouraging his students at the California School of Art in Los Angeles to make large-scale sculptural vessels that functioned with equal ease both inside and outside the home.

The bold, geometric forms of these early student efforts -- truncated cones, biomorphic tubs, and stout cylinders -- would eventually become the design trademarks of Architectural Pottery. These planters, sculptures, and garden accessories gained notoriety in part because they were prominently featured in 'Art & Architecture' magazine's now famous Case Study House program. The indoor-outdoor use of pieces by Architectural Pottery, and other companies such as Gainey Ceramics of Los Angeles, became symbolic of the casual outdoor-oriented lifestyle of California.

Many of these classic pieces are still available as flea market finds or in vintage furniture stores. Today, modern homeowners can recapture some of the look and feel of the Case Study program through new, reissued examples of classic pottery, available from several manufacturers and online retailers.

"We spent four years finding out everything that we could about the original [Architectural Pottery] company," says Stephenson, whose Vessel USA began to reintroduce many of Architectural Pottery's original pieces in 1994. "We researched the original designs, spoke to the production manager who was there in the 1950s, and worked with Max Lawrence, the original owner. Our goal was to make our collection in every way the same as the original."

Resources

In addition to the companies highlighted in our 'Garden of Delights' below, here are some other resources to explore:

Contemporary and new reissue designs
• Design Within Reach
• Richard Schultz Design
• Marmol Radziner Furniture

Vintage modern designs
• Retro@Home (Emeryville)
• Vintage Oasis (Palm Springs):
760-778-6224
• Modern Way (Palm Springs)

Garden ceramics
• Gainey Ceramics

Patio furniture restoration
• Vaider Metal Refinishing (Rohnert Park): 707-584-3655
• New Dimensions Furniture (Napa):
707-255-7543
• Patio Furniture Doctors, Inc.
(Palm Springs)
• Rick Drury Associates (Palm Springs):
760-799-6862

Photos by JC Miller, Barry Sturgill; also courtesy Hip Haven, Ikea, Knoll, Inc., Marmol Radziner + Associates, Modernica, Show Los Angeles, Steichen Lewis Designs, Vessel USA Architectural Pottery

What'll It Be:
New or Vintage?

One of the perennial questions that confronts the modern homeowner when furnishing both the home interior and the garden is whether to purchase vintage originals, new reproductions of period pieces, or new contemporary designs
-- or have pieces custom made to their family's needs.

There is something fascinating about the original furniture designs from the postwar period that can really add to the style of the garden. Part of the appeal may be rooted in the genesis of these designs.

In response to the indoor-outdoor innovations of mid-century residential architecture, designers and artists began creating new and exciting forms for garden furniture and accessories following World War II. Some of the period's furniture originated, quite literally, in the shipyards created to supply the American fleet during the war.

In that era, the curvaceous patio chairs and lounges designed by Walter Lamb were fabricated from bronze tubing and cotton cording salvaged from damaged navy vessels. In the Bay Area, architect and furniture designer Luther Conover fabricated patio loungers in his Sausalito studio from sleeping bunks removed from decommissioned troop transport ships.

Bertoia, inspired by his work with Charles and Ray Eames, created the curvaceous wire diamond chairs and stools that are still in production today. The Eameses are, of course, famous for many remarkable furniture designs, notably their fiberglass shell chairs that can often be found in the garden.

Vintage pieces provide the appropriate look, but they are becoming increasingly scarce and pricey, and often require attention to make them serviceable. Flea markets, yard sales, internet auctions, and vintage furniture stores are all good sources for period garden furniture.

A critical eye is an asset when evaluating older patio furniture, assuring that the structure of the chair or table is sound. Webbing and upholstery can be replaced with relative ease, and finishes can be restored, but some serious structural defects can render a piece unsalvageable.

New reissues of classic designs are yet another option. They offer the vintage look, and also provide the advantages of new materials and construction. A variety of innovative retailers, including Design Within Reach and Modernica, are offering new versions of many classic mid-century designs. In some cases, these designs are licensed reissues made to the same specifications as the originals.

In 1966, Richard Schultz designed a line of patio furniture for Florence Knoll's seaside home. Intended to resist the corrosive salt air, the cast aluminum construction of these pieces proved to be extraordinarily durable. New pieces from this collection are still available today.

A third option can be found in contemporary designs. Many 21st century pieces are a good match for the mid-century modern garden. Architects Leo Marmol and Ron Radziner, for instance, originally created their bold structural pieces to complement the gardens associated with their original house designs.

"Some of our clients told us that they were having difficultly finding furniture appropriate for the spaces -- the right dining room table or chairs, things like that," recalls Radziner. What started as customized projects eventually led to the company's in-house line of furniture.

As with any type of furniture, contemporary patio furnishings are available in a variety of styles and price ranges. The Swedish home furniture giant IKEA provides a constantly changing selection of clever and appealing designs. Sometimes sporting odd-sounding names and made from a wide variety of materials, the playfully modern offerings from this retailer are occasionally available at surprisingly low prices.

It is not likely that most of these pieces will endure as well as a cast-aluminum Knoll chair or bronze piece from Brown Jordan, but they are an affordable way to add great modern style, and perhaps a bit of whimsy, to your garden.

Facelift for a
Scrap Heap Survivor

The price tag read $25. It was a vintage modern patio dining set by one of mid-century America's biggest names!

But what was the catch? Well, a quick glance at our recent purchase revealed the obvious -- our sad set definitely had seen better days. When spotted at a Berkeley salvage yard, this small-scale iron table and chairs seemed destined for the scrap heap.

A closer look, however, seemed to indicate that with a little work, these forlorn pieces had some potential as an affordable restoration project. The fly swatter-style chair backs identify them as the work of Russell Wright, one of the postwar period's most talented and prolific designers for the home.

Closer inspection also revealed that the table and chair frames were solid and relatively free of rust -- thanks to layer upon layer of paint. Although very dirty and rust-stained, the glass top of the table was miraculously unbroken. So, in spite of some skeptical looks from passersby, the set was loaded into the truck.

After a brief stop at a coin-operated car wash for a quick hosing, the chair and table frames were sent off to a metal-refinishing shop where they were bead-blasted down to bare metal. Once clean, the frames were prepared for powder coating, a heat-intensive process that bonds a tough polyester coating to the surface of metal. More durable and longer lasting than paint and available in a wide spectrum of colors, a powder-coated surface is an ideal finish for outdoor furniture.

The cost of a patio-furniture refinishing project can vary widely depending on the size of the pieces, the complexity of their construction, and the number of pieces involved. On average, a patio chair may cost $75-100 each to clean and refinish, a table $100 (for a small one like ours) and up. We also discovered that there are limits to the size of objects for bead blasting and powder coating.

While the frames were being refinished at the shop, the tabletop was washed thoroughly and soaked in CLR, a lime-and-rust-removal product available at most grocery and hardware stores. Though less than perfect, the top now looked clean and attractive. A two-inch-thick layer of latex foam and cotton batting material was stapled to new plywood seats that had been cut for the chairs. The project was finished off with fade- and water-resistant upholstery fabric that was purchased as a remnant from a local fabric store. The design of these chairs made them especially easy to reupholster.

The only tools needed for this facelift project were a circular saw, a staple gun, scissors, and a screwdriver. The total cost of the restoration was slightly more than $300, including our original $25 investment. Not a bad price for a great-looking vintage modern set -- and one that will likely provide another 50 years of service and enjoyment.

Garden of Delights: Seven Easy Pieces

If you're looking to get started furnishing your garden or patio with a few choice modern selections, consider elements from this collection. These seven pieces of stylish outdoor furniture and accessories will complement your modern garden style and match virtually any budget.

1. Karlsund Lounger. This affordable wicker and steel lounge chair is available from your local IKEA store. The natural wicker seat will weather over time, so keep this one under cover.

2. Case Study Lounge. Available as a chair and ottoman combination or as a single piece, this curvaceous lounge chair recalls the classic mid-century designs of Van Keppel & Green. Available from Modernica in Los Angeles:

3. Dream Girls Lounge Chairs. A new interpretation of a classic mid-century design, these adjustable steel-mesh lounge chairs were recreated for the upcoming movie Dream Girls. They are made to order and are available in a range of colors. From 111 Antique Mall, Palm Springs and Cathedral City: 760-320-2411.

4. Butterfly Chairs. The epitome of casual seating, the original 'butterfly' chairs were designed for Knoll. However, this simple design proved hard to copyright or control, and it was made by the truckload by dozens of different manufacturers. When recovering vintage frames, measure them carefully when ordering new covers because frames can vary widely in size. New frames and covers in all imaginable colors and materials are available on line. From Cyberlloyds.

5. Diamond Chairs. Another signature piece from Knoll, the Diamond Chair, designed by sculptor Harry Bertoia, is still in production. Available as a lounge chair, dining chair, bar stool, and asymmetrical chaise. Made of welded steel rods, these pieces are extremely durable. Upholstered pads improve the comfort of this classic design and add a splash of color. From Knoll, Inc.

6. Bullet Planters. These colorful fiberglass planters on iron tripod stands are iconic pieces of mid-century design. Used singularly or in groups, they can add eye-catching punctuation to a pool deck, patio, or even the living room. Vintage bullet planters in good condition can still be found, and there are a number of manufacturers who are producing planters in a range of colors and sizes. From Hip Haven.

7. Architectural Pottery. These bold planters achieved celebrity status in the famous Case Study House program. Handsome sculptural forms, quality craftsmanship, and fine materials combine to make these into heirloom pieces that will be passed on to your modernist children (or maybe grandchildren). From Vessel USA Architectural Pottery.