Aug052020

Choosing Your Outdoor Furniture Bar

An outdoor furniture bar is a great place to hangout after work or on the weekends. It is a great signature piece to any set of outdoor furniture. There are only a few things to consider when figuring out how to build an outdoor furniture bar: Site selection, design, style, material, and seating.

Site selection: where are you going to build your new outdoor furniture bar? You can build it anywhere. The main thing you need to find is a flat level surface. A freestanding outdoor furniture bar set off a garden path is a beautiful idea for a secluded romantic spot. Another option is just to put it on your back patio, or deck. If you need power to the bar for margarita machines, refrigerators and the like then building the bar closer to the house saves you the time and expense of having to run power out to the middle of your back yard.

Design: how elaborate an outdoor furniture bar are you looking for? Every bar starts off as just a tall table you can sit at. It’s what you do with the bar that makes it unique. There’s no limit to the options you can put in. If you’re a wine connoisseur then you’ll want to incorporate some overhead wine glass racks. If beer is more your taste then what about adding in a small keg cooler and tap? If a tropical theme is more your theme then you’ll want an ice maker, a few heavy duty blenders and a big supply of little drink umbrellas.

Style: Once again what style suits you and your home is a personal choice. Tiki bars are easy to build with just some thatch and a little bit of bamboo. A cheaper option is to use some PVC tubing to build up a bar that matches your outdoor furniture bar. If the outdoor furniture bar is exposed to the elements then you’ll want to build with weatherproof materials. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a nice wood bar, just that the wood needs to be something like a redwood or teak that will stand up to sun and rain.

Material: As stated above you need to build with something durable. You have a little bit more leeway if the outdoor furniture bar is built on a covered porch. The biggest thing to look for is water resistance. A good rule of thumb is that anything that can be used to construct an out door furniture bar can be put to use in building an outdoor bar. PVC, metal, resin, and water resistant woods all make great choices.

Seating: This is the fun part. Hopefully you won’t have to build any bar stools. You can find plenty of options at an outdoor store. Pick something that works with the style and design of the bar. If you went with a tiki bar theme then look for woven thatch stools. The goal here is to bring all the style elements together into one unified theme.

Learning how to build an outdoor furniture bar is easy. There are only a couple preparation steps needed. Pretty soon you’ll be sipping a refreshing cocktail on a hot summer night. Cheers!

Aug042020

Building An Outdoor Furniture Bar!

Let’s have a Party!

Many houses have their own bars. It is not very uncommon to have such an area in your house where you may fix drinks for your guests and entertain them. Aside from the usual indoor traditional type of bar, the more adventurous ones will be happy to know that there is a more fun and lively option-an outdoor furniture tiki bar.

Designed and inspired by Polynesian culture, these self-made pubs often feature large wooden or stone carvings of humanoid forms. Among the things you would often see are carvings, small totems, masks, bamboo, grasscloth, torches, plants, palm tree motifs, tropical fabrics, and they often involve serving elaborate rum-based cocktails called mai tai and rum runners.

If you are thinking of putting up a bar in your house, an outdoor furniture tiki bar made of bamboo might suit you.

Below are some of the usual reasons for having one.

• Unique. Although having an outdoor furniture  bar in your house is not so uncommon, it is still the less popular option because people automatically go for the traditional types.

• Relaxed Atmosphere. There is no question that an outdoor furniture  bar promotes a more relaxed, carefree and lively atmosphere than the usual bar, making it the perfect centerpiece for your home parties.

• Great for Outdoors. An outdoor furniture tiki bar made of bamboo is often installed outdoors. They are perfect as a poolside, beachside, patio, or backyard bar. If you have a large area outside your house where you often entertain guests, putting an outdoor furniture tiki bar there would be a great idea.

• Easy to Build. It is one of the simplest to build among other outdoor furniture bars. It is also very easy to design because you can be adventurous and wild in your décors. There are many do-it-yourself instructions online on how to build your own outdoor furniture bar from bamboo.

Aug042020

Investing In An Outdoor Furniture Bar For Patio

One of the easiest things to do if you want to make your patio really sharp looking is to invest in an outdoor furniture bar for patio. This is generally a nicely finished bar itself, with or without a built-in sink, a set of high patio bar stools and a couple of high patio bar tables. These days with the drop in the economy the way it has been, it is very possible to find a great looking bar set for a really excellent price. The major internet retailers of patio furniture have all got competing sales and promotions going on in a great effort to woo your business their way. If you have a few minutes to spend hunting through some websites, you are very likely to find a great deal on patio bar sets. But you will want to be sure that what you have in mind is what is best suited for your particular patio or deck. The first thing to think about is to decide on what material you want to go with. Wood is one of the most common choices, with teak and cedar or pine being the top favorites. While oak is a great looking wood, the fact is, that it tends to splinter outdoors and might leave you or your guests with a few slivers stuck in places you don’t want them. Teak is the leader in popularity because it holds up well in the weather and when you buy at the right time and place, it is very affordable. Whatever kind of wood you go with, however, you will want to be sure that you keep it sanded and refinished from season to season; otherwise your outdoor furniture bar may not last as long as you want it to. Another tip with wooden patio bar furniture is to make sure that the screws holding the pieces together are either stainless steel or brass. There are few things that look worse than rust stains creeping down the sides of your bar set when you are trying to make a good impression on your guests. If you are not the wood outdoor furniture bar type of person, then another choice would be stainless steel in that kind of retro mid-century modern look. You can find some great bar sets in this classic material; you just need to make sure that you have the right kind of furniture covers to keep your set looking great. Left out in the elements throughout winter your beautiful and chic stainless steel patio bar set will be looking like it belongs in the dump if you don’t cover it during the winter months. Whatever material you decide is your style, you are certain to find great discounts on outdoor furniture bar or patio bar online.

Jan292012

Am I rich? My friends all say that I am :$?

I don’t mean to brag, I just want an honest answer.
- I live in a 5400sqf house that overlooks a river valley and forest. It has 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, and all bedrooms have walk-in closets. My bedroom furniture is from Restoration Hardware. The kitchen is pretty big with an 11′ island, 2 sinks, and appliances all from GE monogram (4′ wide fridge and stove, dishwasher, wine fridge, microwave). I have two fireplaces, one large 2-storey stone one in the family room, and another in the master bedroom. I also have a home gym, home theatre, library and a bar in the basement.
- the furniture is all from really nice and expensive stores
- I have 2 cats and 2 dogs
- the backyard has an outdoor kitchen, dining area, pool, vegetable garden, hot tub, outdoor stone fireplace, and cabana.
- both of my brothers play rep hockey, and I figure skate (000/year)
- I have 00 figure skates and I get new ones every two years.
- I shop mainly at aritzia, fcuk, a&f, and scotch and soda.
- us three and my mom all have Canada Goose jackets
- my brother and I both have iPhone 4s, and my other brother has a blackberry.
- we all go to public school because our parents think it gives you a better education than private school.
- my dad has an iphone and an iPad, and we kids all have iPod touches. My mom has a blackberry.
- we go on vacations 2-3 times a year. In the summer usually to someone else’s cottage or out west, during Christmas break we usually go skiing and visit family, and during march break we either go skiing, to Europe, or to the Carribean. We always stay in the nicest hotels and resorts.
- we often go to hockey games, baseball games, and concerts throughout the year
- we have three cars: a Lexus suv, a Lexus convertible, and a Honda pilot. My dad also has a Harley.
- my dad is a member of a really fancy yacht club.

Sorry, it does sound a little like I’m bragging, but all I’m looking for is an honest answer.

Jan242012

Whats the best weatherproofing technique for outdoor wooden furniture?

I’m painting/decorating some wooden bar stools and am looking for a good protective technique that will really seal the decorative paint and protect against rain and other unpleasant weather. Also, I am thinking of decoupaging one or two with magazines and was wondering if this would get ruined if left outside, even with a protective coat.

May262011

A few questions about a cat I've adopted?

I’ve just adopted a 12 year old cat from a friend who is moving houses and can’t take the cat with her. She was close to having her put down as she couldn’t find a new home. I never considered myself much of a pet person but I was horrified at the prospect of her future, so I offered to take her. I have never had a cat before and as it was a very quick decision, I haven’t had much time to do my full research and actually, I would prefer advice from people "in the know" as opposed to reading text book answers on the internet.

So… I have a few questions. Please don’t be condemning in your answers. If you disagree with anything I have written, please bear in mind I am a complete novice at looking after a cat!

She was kept in a conservatory (2 metres by 4) and had a cat flap, so she could go outside. I live in a smallish flat between a tube station and a very busy main road and do not want her to go outside for fear of being killed/injured/infected.

Is it cruel to keep her completely indoors, with the knowledge she has been an outdoor cat?

Is it cruel to buy her a leash /harness and take her out into the garden with me for a few minutes a day so she can have some fresh air or is this unnecessary?

Her previous owner used to give her 1 pouch of wet food (sprinkled with cat biscuits on top) once a day. Should I change her diet in any way if she is to change to an indoor cat?

Through work, I do spend one/two nights away from home occasionally. I have been looking at reviews for timed feeders and they seem to be ok. I was thinking of a 2-day one. Is this the way forward or is it safe to leave out a larger quantity of dry food. To clarify, if I was away for 2 nights, it would be from about 6pm on a Friday night to Midday on Sunday. (36 hours). And if this was the case, is it ok to feed her at 6pm Friday, the timed feeder on Saturday and as soon as I get in on Sunday or wait until 6pm on Sunday to remain consistent in her feeding times?

If she stays an indoor cat, is there a humane way to cover her claw tips or have them not so sharp? I don’t care about my furniture,(she doesn’t seem to be much of a furniture scratcher), I do however value my skin and although it’s not intentionally nasty, she has a habit of digging her claws into me when she is padding around to settle down… AND IT HURTS!!

Last but not least. I am a smoker, but do not smoke in my house. I stand at my kitchen door and blow the smoke outdoors. I know cats can jump high but is there something I can put in my doorway, a bit like a tall baby gate without bars, that i can keep there semi-permanently, that would give me a small head start if she decided to come into the kitchen and try to escape out the door whilst I was smoking. I don’t use this door for any other reason than to open it whilst smoking, so I don’t mind blocking it up to say… chest height.

Thank you very much in advance

Nov072010

what could be going on in this girls life that she would do such a thing?

I had some friends over for a dinner party last weekend. It was a couple that I had known for several years who came in from New England, "Linda" and "Joe" my neighbor’s from across the street "Karen" and "Pete" and their daughter "Jane". Jane is only 15 but she’s a little trouble maker and I’ve had several problems with her, she wasn’t even allowed at my house but I okayed it this time because she was grounded and her parents didn’t want to leave her at home alone. In the past this girl has lied to me, she stole alcohol from my house, she teased my foster-son because his mother died of cancer, and she broke into my yard while I was away and used my pool (I found out through security cam video) This girl is bad news. Last weekend she took it too far and she destroyed my friendship with her parents.

Here is what happened:
I have a deck in front of my house use it to relax on we have outdoor furniture and a fireplace. Jane was sitting near the fire along with her parents, and my friend Joe. His wife, Linda was helping me in the kitchen. My husband and foster son were on the back deck BBQing. At some point Karen and Pete come inside to help set the table leaving Jane and Joe outside on the deck, alone. About 5 minutes later Joe comes inside and we start talking about how it was still 70F outside where I live (California) and it’s raining and cold where he was living. Everything seemed fine until Jane comes in the house, she asks her mother if she could have a sip of her wine and Linda says "that’s a no-no in my house, i’m a social worker you know…and i’ve seen kids kill themselves thinking they could drink." I added "sorry no underage drinking in my house" and Karen than added "you heard the women!" pissed she left the room. Later all the adults were in the dining room (dinner wasn’t quite ready) and my fosterson and Jane were sitting in the living room where we have a full bar (it’s usually locked but since we had guests over and there is a trap door under the bar into the wine cellar we had it open) My foster son comes into the dinning room and says "umm Jane’s getting into the bar" Karen and I come out and Jane is trying to open the liquor cabinet in the bar, and a scene ensued.
Jane now crying, says she just wanted to "drowse" her sorrows because she was "molested by that creepy guy" ( she was trying to get out of being grounded for another 4 weeks) when her parents asked her to explain she said that when they left her out on the deck with joe that he walked up to her and showed her his penis told her "you better suck it and you better not tell" and than shoved himself in her mouth. As you can imagine Joe was freaked out he just keeped saying "never happend, never happend I just asked her how she was doing in school, id never do that." of coarse her parents took her side and were about to call the police when I told them to hold on let’s all sit down for a sec before the police are called and talk about this, but no they just screamed at me and said I was enabling a child molester and that I should be ashamed they left and the police were called. Linda and Joe didn’t leave my home since the police were coming. While we were waiting for the police my foster-son said "why don’t we just review the security cameras like we did when the brat broke into our pool" so I did and the camera showed Joe sitting about 4 feet away from Jane, than it showed Jane talking to Joe, the audio was really hard to understand but this is what we could make out:

Jane: do you like the snow?
Joe: Not as much as when I was a child
Jane: I like the snow
Joe: do you have snow around her?
Jane: not that kind of snow, the kind that goes up your nose (laughing)
<silence for about 30secs>
Joe: how are you doing in school are you a good student?
Jane: <says something but we can’t make it out>
Joe : Oh, I see. I better go back inside and sit with the wife

Joe than walks away the opposite direction of Jane at no point did he come close enough to Jane to shake her hand let alone what she was claiming.

The police asked Janes parents to come back over to see the video themselves, they did and they said sorry to all of us (but I don’t think I will be talking to them again) They just made excuses for her saying that "She has a learning disability and it causes her to have a low self esteem and act out." when I asked what her learning disability is they said "dyslexia" I think it’s something else because there has to be some other cause for her inexcusable behavior.

Sorry I know it’s a long one but thanks for the advice.

Aug062010

BBQ/Pool Party?

Want a Caribbean/Hawaiian theme being that we just brought all new outdoor tiki furniture including a nice bar area and patio, etc. We’re also planning on buying the tiki torches, and we got a nice bamboo fence too…. So the theme really fits

I really need advice on music though… I know I could probably find some good party cd’s if I go to a party store or something, but where else can I look… I want ideas for downloading, so if anybody knows any good carribbean songs, that would be really helpful.

Aug052010

Made an outdoor bar at home and everyone wants to come over and drink.?

Last year we took out our broken hot tub and put a Tiki Bar in an enclosed Gazebo added wicker furniture speakers and TV and it is a great hit with friends & family. However, nobody brings beer or liquior. We provide drinks, snacks, music and sometimes babysitting when they bring young kids. (we have bon fires when it is cold at night.) A friend was out with a group of people & called me to say everyone is coming to Tiki bar, I laughed and said yah right! At first it was funny but, now We are tired of MOOCHERS!!! I can’t believe people can be so inconsiderate. I recently told people to bring some beer if they wanted to drink in Tiki bar and they brought a six pack for themself and does not ask to come over anymore. I never went to a friends house empty handed.~ I need some advice.~ I don’t want people to stop coming, I just want them to pitch in on the cost or bring a bottle from time to time. Feeling USED and Abused!!!

Aug032010

Do you know what company makes the wrought-iron patio bar sold at the Expo Design Center?

A few years ago I purchased a heavy, outdoor bar on wheels, but did not purchase the bar stools. There is no brand name on the bar. I know this company used to have a website. If anyone else has this furniture and remembers the brand name, you’d be a great help!
I bought my bar at the Laguna, CA store.