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The Queensland Gardening Pages
Information & resources about plants & gardens for Brisbane & Qld

Outdoor Living Accessories

including furniture, hammocks, umbrellas, rugs, BBQs & ovens


This page is intended for information about accessories used for relaxation or entertaining in the garden or on verandahs, patios and decks. It's also intended to present a variety of merchants supplying such products to Qld.

Thatched huts and Balinese-themed items are dealt with on a different page: Balinese Style Gardens, although some of the suppliers below may also supply some within their range.

Shadehouses specifically for growing plants are dealt with here: Shadehouses, Arches, Trellis

Related Topics:




Outdoor living products and suppliers

Please note that some products may only be suitable for use under cover, while others may be strictly for outdoor use only. Be sure to check with the supplier regarding the suitability of any item for its intended purpose. The following list may include online retailers and mail order suppliers. For the most up-to-date information on opening hours, items in stock, prices etc, be sure to contact the business directly.

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ICON HOMEWARE

WEBSITE

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Create a statement in your home or garden with Icon Homeware.

Select from the extensive range of cookware, dinnerware, manchester, home storage, lighting and decor.

For the garden, there's outdoor furniture including outdoor sofas, ottomans & bean bags. Also BBQs, garden torches, oil burners, decorative accessories, pots and planters.

Great brands, low prices, brilliant service. Shop online now at the Icon Homeware WEBSITE
 
HERITAGE CONCRETE SLEEPERS

100 Muniganeen Road,
Muniganeen, Qld 4352
Ph: (07) 4696 7533
Mob: 0409 134 221
www.heritageconcretesleepers.com.au

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These High Strength Concrete Sleepers with Fibre Mesh Mix offer the durability of Concrete but the look of timber without the worry of Fire, rot or termites, ever. The colour is mixed in the concrete, not just painted on the surface.

Our Sleepers are suitable for retaining walls, garden edging, raised garden beds or garden steps. They are easy to install. No nuts, bolts or screws required.

Also available are pavers slate-style or cobble stone look, interlocking concrete blocks, garden seats and pre-cast slabs suitable for Wheelie Bins, Gas bottles, air-conditioning units etc.

Buy direct from Heritage Concrete Sleepers or from one of its distributors. Visit the landscape display at Muniganeen (near Highfields) or the WEBSITE for design ideas and more information.
 
240 GOOD REASONS
WHEELIE BIN SCREENS


Mob: 0402 512 139
wheeliebinscreens.com.au
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Ugly rubbish bins spoiling the look of your garden or courtyard? 240 Good Reasons Wheelie Bin Screens are the elegant solution.

Attractive woven screens on powder-coated steel frames disguise your bin while retaining easy access for rubbish disposal.

Can also be used to hide compost bins, garden tools and pool pumps, or to create privacy on balconies and other outdoor areas.

Simple self-assembly takes minutes. Just add extra panels to hide 2, 3 or more bins.

Delivery Australia-wide. For more information, or to order online, visit the WEBSITE.
 
ZANUI

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Create your dream home by shopping online and with Zanui. From kitchen, living room and bedrooms to the home office, patio and garden, Zanui's collection of stylish pieces will delight and inspire.

The outdoor range includes an extensive selection of furniture (tables, chairs, loungers, sunbeds and more), plus BBQs and outdoor cooking accessories, patio heaters, hammocks, umbrellas, and letterboxes. Complete your personal oasis with an outdoor rug, decorative pots, water features or other garden art.

The garden tools, gloves and watering cans available are both practical and stylish. They make great gifts, too!

Browse the entire collection now at the Zanui WEBSITE
 
PARADISE SHADE UMBRELLAS

Redlands District, Qld
Ph: 0430 930 858
www.paradiseumbrellas.com

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Shade in the right places is crucial to enjoying outdoor living in Queensland's hot & sunny climate. Paradise Shade Umbrellas Redlands District supply and install stylish shade umbrellas for patios, decks, pools & spas throughout Redland City.

Suburbs serviced include Cleveland, Capalaba West, Capalaba, Alexandra Hills, Wellington Point, Victoria Point, Birkdale, Ormiston, Thornlands, Sheldon, Mt Cotton. DIY kits also sent Australia-wide.

Select from a range of styles & colours including giant umbrellas that can be swung out over seating or pool with 360° rotation, tiltable umbrellas and wall mounted umbrellas, even remote-controlled umbrellas.

Models suitable for commercial applications such as cafes and resorts, as well as factory shade roller blinds, also available.

Visit the WEBSITE for more information & pictures or call Mick or Mell for a consultation.

GARDEN EXPRESS

Garden Express

To check what's currently available, visit the Garden Express WEBSITE

Retail suppliers of furniture and related outdoor accessories in or to Brisbane or Qld are sought to list here. For example: outdoor chairs and tables, umbrellas, shade sails and shade structures (for people), barbeques (BBQs) and grills, hammocks, swinging seats, outdoor rugs and mats, outdoor refrigerators and coolers, fans, outdoor heaters or fans. Products and equipment to control flies and mosquitoes in and around outdoor entertainment areas would also be appropriate.

Manufacturers may also wish to feature new and innovative products for sale which make outdoor living safer or more enjoyable and products that can withstand Australian conditions of sun, heat and humidity (e.g. rot-resistant, mold and mildew resistant or fade resistant)

More information about advertising

News

Renovators look outdoors
A poll of Archicentre architects indicates outdoor living additions are becoming popular among Australian renovators (Daylight Saving a Boost to the Outside Room Trend. (October 2008)

The American landscape, 2008
Spring Makeover for Your Landscape gives an overview of landscape trends in the USA. University of Illinois Extension (March 2008)

Americans to pursue yet more elaborate outdoor living
Leading American landscape architects are predicting a demand for outdoor living rooms and dining rooms in addition to the outdoor kitchens which have become so popular in recent years, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects. Read more at their website: Landscape Architects Identify Outdoor Design Trends For 2008

Deadly Decks Warning After Collapses in VIC and NSW Archicentre, Royal Australian Institute of Architects (December 2007)

Outdoor Living Space and Amenities Increasing in Popularity About the 2006 Home Design Trends Survey by the The American Institute of Architects

More thoughts and ideas...

The trend for "outdoor living" continues to grow around the globe. The line between "indoors" and "outdoors" is becoming increasingly blurred as people are opening up their homes and creating new living areas on patios, decks and in gardens, allowing them to cook, dine, work or just relax "al fresco".

If you work from home, outdoor rooms will allow a refreshing change of scene without having to venture too far from the office. Laptops and mobile phones help make work portable.

Make any weekend a holiday by turning your backyard into your own personal holiday resort. Many Queensland homes already have a swimming pool. Even if you don't, you can still create a tropical ambience at home with furniture for lounging, colourful drinks and some tropical plants and accessories. More ideas for creating a tropical themes here: Tropilocus.

Whether understated or over-the-top, having a theme in mind will be a useful aid when selecting from a vast range of outdoor accessories available.

Suitable lighting will extend the use of your outdoor living areas into the night, which is especially important if you plant to entertain. You can also create special effects with artistic use of coloured lights, highlighting of feature trees or architectural elements, or underwater lights in pools or water features. (Obviously, be sure that any electrical equipment used outside the home is suitable for the purpose, and installed by qualified and licensed professionals as necessary.)

Under a covered deck or patio, furniture and other accessories may not need to be as quite as tough as those designed for full outdoor use. However, they are likely to be exposed to more adverse conditions (dust, reflected UV, moisture, insects etc) than they would be indoors. So, these are not not the places for your most precious pieces, perhaps. Also, security can be an issue. Sadly, there's always the chance of theft or vandalism in accessible areas.

Residents of cool climates are adding fireplaces and heaters to their outdoor areas. For most Queenslanders, sun shading will be a more pressing need. If you're building a new home, you have the oppportunity to work with sun and shade in the orientation and design of the building. Most people have to work with an exisiting construction, but there are still many ways to add shade, from patio extensions to umbrellas, and in a variety of materials. Louvres or retractable awnings offer more control for winter sun and summer shade, which might also help to regulate temperatures inside the house.

If you do decide to add heating or cooking equipment to your patio, fire bans and smoke restrictions might affect your options. Check with local authorities if necessary. Another environmental problem in many parts of Queensland are storms and even cyclones. Remember to secure or safety store loose items in advance.

Links to background information

These links cover issues associated with outdoor living, plus some of the materials you might find outdoor accessories constructed from.
Outdoor living areas Some tips for helping you design your outdoor living area
Tips for the Remodeling Homeowner to Create an Outdoor Retreat The National Association of the Remodeling Industry, USA
Effective shade structures Discusses the design of shade structures and implications for UV protection. The Medical Journal of Australia
Projects: DIY Pergola JAW from Western Australia shares his experience
Pergolas Royal Horticultural Society, UK
LPG Australia Information and news for consumers and industry from the Australian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association
Mosquitoes Gold Coast City Council
Mosquito Control Redcliffe City Council
Living with Midges on the Gold Coast Gold Coast City Council
Mosquito Traps Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County
Retrofitting Existing Landscapes to Conserve Energy (note effects on paving or decking on reflected heat) University of Florida
Removing sap and honeydew from cars University of Minnesota
Maintenance of Outdoor Furniture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Maintenance of Outdoor Furniture Iowa State University
Cleaning Outdoor Furniture in Family & Consumer Newsletter March 2006, Alabama Cooperative Extension System (PDF)
Reviving Your Outdoor Furniture University of Kentucky
Aluminum Outdoor Furniture--Cleaning Michigan State University
Wicker Outdoor Furniture Michigan State University
The Adirondack Chair The center for Turning and Furniture Design, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Adirondack chairs promise relaxation Mississippi State University, USA
Timber.net.au Timber Development Association of NSW
Buying Timber and Wood Products Environmental Investigation Agency
Western red cedar (Thuja plicata)
Qld Dept Primary Industries
Unasylva - No. 201 - Teak Forestry Dept, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Kwila Intsia bijuga (formerly Afzelia bijuga syn. Afzelia australis), I. palembanica. Qld Dept Primary Industries
Intsia bijuga (Kwila or Merbau timber) Tree Conservation Information Service, Global Trees Campaign
Intsia bijuga and I. palembanica USDA Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory
Intsia bijuga Kwila, Ipil. James Cook University, Qld
Unasylva - No. 205 - RATTAN Forestry Dept, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
More about bamboo here: Queensland Gardening Pages - Bamboo
See also Tropical Theme Gardens - Materials, which has more information about some of the more obscure timbers, thatching products etc from which huts and furniture are sometimes constructed
American Galvanizers Association Lots of information about galvanised steel available at this website
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