There is still snow on the ground, but before too long spring will be here, so this is the perfect time to start thinking about your outdoor furniture!

When I go to Paris I love relaxing on the chairs in the Tuileries, around the fountain…so comfortable! They have these dark green metal chairs scattered around and when you sit in one you can lean back so you’re relaxing in a reclining position…I’m sure you can imagine how hard it is to nab one of them on a beautiful spring day!

I actually was able to locate the vendor who makes them (Fermob), and they come in a rainbow of colors. I’m a fan of dark green and black, but these chairs would look great in any color and the best part is that you can use them as single, stand alone pieces or in little groupings.

Check out this chair I found on eBay --


Fermob Chair

Besides metal, I love teak outdoor furniture because it’s durable and when left untreated, turns to a beautiful silvery-gray.

Check out these chaises --


Teak Chaise

However, if there is one trend to note with outdoor furniture, it has to be the amount of color and fun, bright patterns in everything from cushions to umbrellas.

Here are some nice eBay finds:

Outdoor Chaise Cushion

Patio Umbrella

Maybe it’s because I grew up close to New England, but I’ve always had a thing for braided rugs, especially the classic oval wool ones with which we’re all familiar. I actually just got a beautiful one with a monochromatic weave that I’m using for a project in Connecticut. I think they’re wonderful because not only do they come in all sorts of cool color and shape variations, they’re totally durable and often times they’re reversible. You can use them anywhere in your home and there are even some made from polypropylene that you can use in an outdoor space.

Here are just a few great examples of braided rugs I’ve seen on eBay.


Hand Braided Jute Area Rug


Braided Rug Spring Meadow


Cotton Braided Rug Seascape

I was furniture shopping a few days ago and saw this amazing couch made by the eco-friendly furniture maker Eco-Terric. All of their pieces are made from sustainable materials. Not only are they great for the environment, they offer the perfect balance between style and comfort.

I’m actually looking to get one for myself, because unlike many of the traditional comfortable couches on the market, this one is not obnoxiously big and overstuffed…for one it’s very deep (42 inches), and it’s also low to the ground with wonderfully thin arm rests. So while their couches are a step away from the modern streamlined look that I currently have in my apartment, they are so ridiculously comfortable and easy on the eyes that I can’t wait to get one for myself!

I also think that as shoppers become increasingly aware of the benefits of buying eco-friendly furniture, more and more items will be found on eBay :)

Twice a year the Javits Center hosts the International Gift Fair—setting the stage for some of the world’s best resources for home, gift and lifestyle items. It’s a great fair for me to check out because they literally exhibit everything from handmade vases, candles, silverware, and china all the way up to large home furniture pieces.

This is really where all the wholesalers introduce new pieces to retailers allowing them to curate their stores and bring great finds to the public.  For me as a designer, it’s cool to see amazing pieces that I’ve stumbled upon in my travels or spotted at little design shops around the city. I actually came across a lot of wonderful reproduction vintage desk lamps and mesh baskets (how great would one be for storing mail!). I also saw these beautiful old canisters made from green glass with metal lids that I loved…they were aged and patinaed and just full of bumps with paint pealing off....a great authentic quality to them.

I will definitely bring up more finds from the fair in upcoming posts so stay tuned!