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Outdoor living part of the West Coast lifestyle

Sheri Peterson
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The Wildwood Outdoor Living Centre on Elk Lake Drive has a great selection of colourful Adirondack chairs.

Sheri Peterson

For the Saanich News

Ahh springtime, everything outside is brighter, fresher and more vivid. We’ve waited a long time for spring this year and everyone seems to be in a better mood now that the weather is warming up and the blossoms finally arrived.

I always look forward to switching the patio or deck into outdoor enjoyment mode. Suddenly having an extra space to go and relax makes the house or condo suddenly a little bigger. The trend in outdoor living spaces is not going anywhere, if anything it has morphed out of a trend into a way of life for most people. We can sit outside early in the season with all the advancements in outdoor fire pits and heaters. No longer do you have to sit in uncomfortable plastic deck or camping chairs. Full sofa sets or sectionals with weatherproof cushions and frames have become a standard in outdoor living.

I made a visit to Dig This in the Broadmead shopping mall and found outside their store a lovely selection of outdoor resin wicker and cast aluminum-framed furniture. The one style that caught my eye was a light taupe aluminum-framed sofa, called Wellington that looked really comfortable. When I looked it up online, I was amazed at how many pieces and options were available: sofas, love seats, sectionals, swivel rockers, dining chairs, bar stools, tables of all sorts, and a whole lot more.

There was also at least 100-plus fabrics to choose from for the cushions. This style would really complement both a modern and traditional home, it is truly transitional.

Of course, my eye is always drawn to colour and Wildwood Outdoor Living Centre on Elk Lake Drive has that huge yellow Adirondack chair out front. When I went into the garden centre, I found they have a great selection of really colourful Adirondack chairs that are made from recycled plastic here in Canada. These classic looking chairs are made to look like painted wood, but you never have to paint them.

They come in 16 colours that won’t fade, rot, split or crack. I am sold, because I love the comfort of Adirondack chairs, but not the maintenance. They are also available as rockers, and the company makes footstools, tables, dining chairs, barstools, lounge chairs and many other options. The hardest part would be deciding on which colour.

I think it’s safe to say, that outdoor living spaces can be warm, comfortable, stylish and very inviting. We can use them for up to six months of the year, just need a few extra blankets and hope for no rain.