10 Must-See Suggestions For Outdoor Furniture, If You're Into That Kind Of Thing.
I am into that kind of thing, especially as we're wrapping a major landscaping project.
First things first: Congrats to last week’s winner of the book giveaway, Kate Scannell, and thank you so much for everyone who left a comment and recommended a book. Knowing that so many of you are avid book readers makes me all kinds of happy, so I’m going to pick two more winners from that post. (You get a book stack and you get a book stack!) Also, if you’re looking for even more recommendations, the lovely Grace Atwood just did a roundup of book picks from 16 Substack writers (including yours truly), so take a peek if you’d like more suggestions. Thanks for including me Grace; I’m always thrilled to talk about All Fours.
Also! Thank everyone who shared amazing outdoor furniture recommendations with me on IG last week. We are currently wrapping up our first big home project—landscaping both the front and back yards—which is something we’d been saving for and dreaming about for years and years and years. We’re working with the incredible teams at Terremoto and DG Landworks, and the result is a true transformation that also feels like a restoration. Our house is older (for California, anyway), and after we bought it, we discovered that there were lots of aspects of the property that hadn’t been given much thought or care in many decades. We’ve spent a handful of years slowly trying to do things the right way, and now the landscaping is finally getting that same attention too.
There will be many photos once we get a bit more sorted and give all the lovely plants a moment to settle in and thrive. But right now, in the short term, we’re thinking through furniture, as the space has changed so much from its previous life. This aspect of decor is not my sweet spot, and I’m still trying to do my best to educate myself about the options out there, but wanted to share some of the initial suggestions with y’all.
One thing worth noting is that much like the interior of our home, we prefer to use vintage pieces whenever possible. Yes, this is better for the environment, but also usually older pieces are better made, too, which is really nice for outdoor furniture in particular. Historically, I’ve found wonderfully weird stuff at The Estate Sale Co. in Palm Springs across from the Parker, but to be fair, it can be quite hit or miss.
Also: I feel so lucky that we’ve been on this journey while the brilliant and witty Annie Meyers-Shyer—she of the perfect sheets recommendation—has been documenting her own massive project @thisoakhouse. Annie is a must-follow if you’re interested in homes, and I have found it oddly comforting and satisfying that we are (independently) using some of same vendors, many of which she’s kindly shared and discussed on her phenomenal feed.
Additionally, I have spent a fair amount of time checking out any and everything related to the design duo behind Nickey Kehoe. Todd Nickey’s Pasadena garden is a stunner, and I love the green and white striped Schumacher fabric he used for his chaise lounges. I also always look to the design duo behind Pierce and Ward for inspiration (Dakota Johnson’s mid-century house is so dreamy), Habitually Chic for vintage and unexpected photos, and incredible properties like the Mezzetore Hotel in Ischia and Sea Ranch Lodge, too.
So long story long: Much more to come with our yard, but here are some of your top suggestions for outdoor furniture. As always, I welcome any of your suggestions, so please share any thoughts in the comments.
As always, if you have any questions for me regarding this story, or anything, really, please don’t hesitate to drop me a comment below, and I will answer you! (And why am I prompting you to comment? Because while I love DMs and always try to answer you there, my inbox is messy, and comments here are much easier for me to find and use as source material as I’m working on new things. Also, I love comments; they make me feel seen.)
Fermob: This French outdoor brand is a classic, and has been in business since the late 19th century. You might be familiar with the brand’s work, especially if you’ve been to any of the major parks or gardens in Paris. The Luxembourg Stacking Side Chairs are the hero product, and while everything is pricey, it also lasts for literal decades.
Hay: This beloved Danish brand was created by a husband-and-wife duo, and appears on every tasteful list of essential options for outdoor furniture. The Palissade lounge chair is particularly beloved.
Amber Lewis: Beloved interior designer Amber Lewis aka @AmberInteriors always has incredible pieces for sale via her shop.
Sarah Sherman Samuel x Lulu and Georgia: I’ve long adored Sarah Sherman Samuel’s work—her episode of Second Life was a treat—and there’s much to be admired in her outdoor collection for Lulu and Georgia. I really like her handwoven indoor/outdoor rug and indoor/outdoor dining table.
Teak Warehouse: Lots of write-ins for this store, which has a showroom in Hawthorne that’s apparently not to be missed?
Kingsley Bate: A bit more trad than I tend to run, but apparently it lasts “forever and ever and ever” according to one message. Also I love that it showed up on the very cool Thayer Hardware’s IG feed (#iykyk), mixed with the aforementioned Fermob chairs.
House of Leon: A newer, LA-based brand, this recommendation came from my friend Ashley Macuga at Collected Interiors who likes the wrought-iron Provence collection. Maybe it’s just because I’m writing this from Ojai right now, but I also think the brand’s teak Ojai Outdoor Daybed is pretty dreamy, too.
Terra Outdoor: A friend said this brand offers “high quality products and amazing customer service,” which had me clicking. Then my husband let me know he already had a slew of the brand’s products on his research list, like this simple, stylish dining chair and vintage beam table.
Burrow: I’ve been a little wary of internet-beloved outdoor home brands, but Burrow has me reconsidering my stance. Especially because my husband has already flagged these teak sun loungers, which are quite good, if I do say.
Arhaus: This brand is newer to me, but I keep seeing it on chic people’s feeds and hearing about it, as Arhaus just opened a store in LA. It’s on the more expensive side, but they also have really excellent sales, and right now they have a slew of key pieces marked down.
Okay friends, that’s it for now. If you want to follow me on @hillarykerr, I’d love it. And if you have anything to say or ask (preferably nothing terribly mean), please drop me a note either via DM or in the comments below.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read this post. I’m truly so glad you’re here. If you like what you’re reading, please consider sharing this newsletter. (And if you have the time to like it, that would mean a lot to me!) All products mentioned are independently chosen, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated.
First of all: thank you for participating in (and sharing)! my post. I am so grateful to you. <3
Outdoor furniture is so hard!!!! When I moved into my new house I really lucked out... when I saw the house, I liked the outdoor furniture so much that I asked the old owners if I could buy it from them. Luckily they said yes. It wound up being vintage Brown Jordan (you are so right about older things being made better) and I really really love it. It is so sturdy but also very chic.
The cushions are made from this Thibaut fabric which I recommend to anyone doing custom cushions; it is so sturdy but also beautiful -- and even when it's soaked with pollen/dirt/etc. you can toss in the washing machine and everything comes out: https://www.thibautdesign.com/catalog/product/details/product/fawn_w78355/material/woven-fabrics/colorway/forest_931/
I did my own little mini backyard reno this year (well it is still going! put in a small pool, redid garden, etc.) and I added chaises, a small table, and an umbrella from Business & Pleasure Co. and have been really impressed with all of it.
I will say that I splurged on two teak swivel chairs from Restoration Hardware a couple years ago and they have not been worth the money. I'm disappointed in the quality! The climate is different here though - so much rain and humidity - so it could just be that you should not get teak furniture in such a wet place.
I couldn't agree more with your love for Todd Nickey's home. My home couldn't be more different than his (it's a small historical home in downtown Charleston) but I was really inspired by his gardens. We planted wisteria a year ago and I am waiting patiently for it to someday bloom (they say it can take 4-5 years for it to flower). I showed the photo (view from pergola) of the pool to my landscaper and dream of a similar vibe as the plants grow. Green and purple, lush, just feeling like the pool is in an oasis of plants that may or may not have been there forever.
Anyway, this is a marathon comment but I am excited to see what you do... similar to you this stuff is out of my wheelhouse and tricky at times... but also so fun!
Very excited to explore these brands! Thanks for sharing. I will say I’ve had mixed experiences with Arhaus. Love my indoor sofa and chairs from there - they’ve been great for years. But the outdoor fire pit I got was absolute garbage and was peeling and falling apart and had to be thrown out after one season on a covered porch which was disappointing. Probably my fault for just trusting the brand and not being more discerning about materials but I don’t think I would buy outdoor from them again without touching and seeing in person.