Comments on: help! we need an affordable outdoor dining set

By: shelterrific » Blog Archive » help! i need grilling tips

shelterrific » Blog Archive » help! i need grilling tips — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:32:07 +0000

[...] order to take full advantage of our first summer with a deck, we just had to buy a grill. As a longtime city-mouse, I have never [...]

By: Furniture Store Fan

Furniture Store Fan — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:31:27 +0000

Mary has a good idea in piecing things together. This way you can try the products at a reasonable price and see what you like for the deck. Patio furniture has gotten so darn expensive!! Craigslist may be a good option as well, but the time of year is likely not good to be looking due to the higher interest level.

By: Angela M.

Angela M. — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:31:21 +0000

Thanks for all the great advice! Mary, you are right. I LOVE the idea of doing something more pieced together. The problem I have with all these sets is that they are SETS. But if you buy old furniture — old wooden furniture — will it last if you leave it outside? Can you weather treat it? I guess if you buy it cheaply enough you won’t care…. Also, the trouble is I’m in HURRY. I don’t know if I have time to shop around. I want to sit and dine NOW…..

By: Kate F.

Kate F. — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:16:23 +0000

I vote Ewins–the backs and umbrella hole will greatly increase your use of the table, and how long you lounge.

We have a really narrow porch and we outfitted it with Ikea stuff this weekend. There were some great larger options (we needed the things that fold down to, like, 7 inches) but maybe the one near you is already sold out? I was at the Stoughton, Mass. store.

Target’s Smith & Hawken line definitely has some decent stuff, too. And I think Martha Stewart Everyday (at K-Mart) used to do outdoor furniture, too, though I don’t know about the style factor.

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:06:01 +0000

I noticed that Target had a lot of great choices and don’t overlook Wal-Mart because they carry the Better Home & Gardens line which is really fabulous too!

One other spot that I have seen some great stuff at is Overstock.com and you can’t beat that flat shipping!

Hope that helps a tad!

By: Mary T

Mary T — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:45:51 +0000

Hmm, you know, the other thing you could do is just assemble mismatched pieces from flea markets/antique sales, like old wooden kitchen table and chairs. That would look sooo cute, especially if you had colorful pillows for them.

By: Mary T

Mary T — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:43:36 +0000

I have no resources for you, sorry — we got ours on Craigslist and it’s the opposite of what you’re looking for (ours is modern, metal, and glass!). But it sure is comfy. That would be my only bit of advice: find similar chairs and sit in them before you buy. You want to be sure that you’d going to *want* to lounge on your patio in them, not get a backache.

By: Jen (SLC)

Jen (SLC) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:39:11 +0000

I had been looking for an outdoor set for a while, and I ended up buying mismatched metal pieces at a second hand furniture store this weekend. The table is white, but the chairs are those lovely 1950′s ones that last forever. I’ve got them in several different bright colors, and they look great out in our yard.

By: Megan

Megan — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:33:43 +0000

I just bought IKEA’s Applaro drop-leaf table ($150), 2 armchairs ($60 each), 2 reclining chairs ($60 each), and 2 folding chairs ($30 each). For under $500 I think it’s a great set, and am hopeful it’ll last a long time.

By: allison

allison — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:25:53 +0000

They are both nice. I bought this picnic table for 100 bucks for my country place and I love it..it makes me really happy to have blueberry pancakes while sitting out there.. I also think if there is any blue stone around you can make a cool table use some more stone or wood for legs..but these are both nice choices you have!!
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=115049-18866-PT6-KD&lpage=none