By Kate Scriven
The days are warming and along with it comes the urge to be outside. To sit in the sun, drying out from the months of damp that characterize a Thurston County winter (and fall and spring), becomes a daily habit instead of a monthly luxury.
However, this also leads us to assess the status of our patio furniture and after months in storage and possibly years of use, it might not hold up to your ideal outdoor oasis. Or, you may be like me and have moved over the winter. My new patio space doesn’t quite match my old patio furniture (mainly…I need more of it) or you may have a new porch or deck to outfit you didn’t have before.
Options abound from big box stores to specialty catalogs at this time of year. Your mailbox is likely as full as mine with ads and flyers detailing the best options for your patio. However, for something unique, locally handcrafted, and built to last for years look to longtime local furniture store Woodshed Furniture.
Displayed proudly at their front entrance is a selection of solid cedar Adirondack style chairs, benches and tables that would make any outdoor space shine. “We work with two local craftsmen, one in Rochester and one in Lewis County, to craft these special pieces for our store,” share Woodshed owner Trisha Claridge.
And the items reflect their local, handcrafted origins with sturdy parts assembled with care and thought, ensuring years of outdoor use with little to no maintenance. Made from Western Red Cedar, an extremely stable softwood known for its resistance to warping and cracking, the pieces are relatively light-weight making them easy to move around in your outdoor space.
Chairs come in a variety of sizes and styles including rockers and “chair and a half” sized pieces, perfect for lounging. Benches are crafted in the same classic Adirondack style or with a more simple rustic shape. Ottomans and side tables complete the sets.
Unlike many wood furnishings, these come completely assembled and ready to place outside. The finish is durable and designed for outdoor use, yet lets the beauty of the cedar shine through. However, if you’d like to finish the items yourself, either with stain or paint, all items can be purchased as unfinished pieces as well.
“One thing our customers love is the option to purchase the Adirondack style chairs that fold,” shares Claridge. “This gives people the ability to fold and store furniture for the winter without having it take up too much space.” Durable and practical? That’s a recipe for success.
If you like the honest style of these summer staples, ask Claridge or one of the helpful staff at Woodshed Furniture about the option to special order table and chair sets. While they don’t stock them at the store, their relationship with the local craftsman allows them to order special pieces per customer request.
While they may not be sitting outside of Woodshed’s Lacey store, their beautiful wooden rocking chairs are a perfect match for a broad, covered country porch. Unfinished or painted, the chairs evoke the kind of slow summer afternoons that we all long for, sipping iced tea on the porch, watching the day turn to night. These may be the perfect fit for my new front porch and for my, hopefully, warm and relaxing summer ahead.
Summer also brings, along with outdoor celebrations, visits from relatives and out of town friends. This might be the perfect season to upgrade the guestroom or bonus space as well, ensure your guests visit in comfort. Woodshed’s selection of sleeper sofas, mattresses, and new bedroom sets is excellent, including a variety of styles and price points for all budgets.
So, kick back outside. Bask in the sun and dry out all the “mossy-ness” of the Pacific Northwest winter. And do it from the comfort of beautiful, quality, locally handcrafted furniture made especially for a perfect afternoon outdoors.
6127 Martin Way
Lacey, WA 98516
360-491-0700
