Backyard Update

Create a new outdoor living space with worry-free furnishings

Some of the best outside time in the Sandhills is upon us, so why not do some simple updating in your backyard, particularly your outdoor furniture. There have been so many improvements in the materials used to make durable outdoor furnishings to withstand the heat and the continual dampness of the humid North Carolina weather that it is a worthy investment. The al fresco meals and casual neighbor get-togethers a new patio look will inspire will just be a bonus!

A couple newly relocated to the Sandhills from the Lowcountry area near Charleston bought a lakeside home in Pinehurst No. 7, bringing with them two Adirondack chairs made by the Casual Comfort line that had withstood three hurricanes over the last 10 years and “still look new.” Adding a sleek pool and leveled patio area to their new house, the couple wanted to add some deep-seated, comfy porch seating in the same line as well as a dining set for six. They were excited to find GreyFox Outdoor, a new store in the Sandhills that opened this past January, that carried the Casual Comfort line. Made of “poly lumber” which is largely created out of recycled plastics and bound by steel fasteners for strength, the Bayshore Furniture Collection is maintenance-free with cushions in Sunbrella Fabrics available in a variety of colors that dry quickly after it rains.

For their patio overlooking the lake, the couple chose navy cushions with grey furniture paired with pillows the owner had made of a white background fabric with light blue fish swimming a pretty pattern. The owner lined a decorative tray with the same material. Underneath the dining set is a mostly navy outdoor rug, and the combination is restful and inviting. Just below the brick outline of the pool is a ribbon of light blue tile, and that hint of sky blue ties into the furniture groupings in a subtle way that is pleasing to the eye. The pool was designed and installed by Ricky Britt of Spa and Pool World in Fayetteville who achieved the couple’s desire that it “mirror the lines and style of the home so that it would look like it has always been here.”

The landscape design and installation by Reaves Landscaping and Design in Pinehurst also contributes to the framing of the backyard. They were able to blend the existing koi pond into the setting with the pool and the new fencing seamlessly. “Our five koi fish seem happy”, the couple shares with a laugh, and “we will be outside most of the time!”

Local Sources:

Sam Glick, GreyFox Outdoor greyfox-outdoor.com

Ray Britt, Spa and Pool World spaandpoolworld.com

Reaves Landscaping and Design reaveslandscaping.com