GARDEN FURNITURE AND LIGHTINGGARDEN FURNITURE AND LIGHTING is of two sorts: that which is designed for use and that which is mainly ornamental. In the first group are the tables and chairs, umbrellas and benches, swings and cushions used to furnish the terrace, or that portion of the garden designed for out-of-door living. These are all movable pieces and may be of any color that one wishes, to harmonize with awnings and porch rugs. Enterprising manufacturers have in recent years developed this field considerably, and it is now possible to get well made, well-designed furniture of this sort in wood or metal. The selection of such pieces depends somewhat on the degree of mobility required. Often it is both desirable and necessary to move groups of furniture from place to place in the garden to follow the shade of a tree or to take advantage of some floral display in a particular part of the garden. When this is so, the furniture should be light, easy to handle, but sturdily built. More important from the aesthetic point of view is that group of furniture which is placed out of doors not primarily for use, but for its effect in the artistic design of the property. Some of it is useful, and rightly so, but most of it is really just for ornament. Here can be grouped all statuary, pottery, stone and wooden benches that occupy permanently a particular location, incidental trellises and lattices too small to be either fences or garden houses, stone wellheads, sundials, birdbaths, wrought iron lamps, and the like. All these things used in moderation and with good taste are valuable additions to the garden. Their selection and, above all, their placement are of utmost importance. Badly designed furniture can instantly spoil an otherwise successful effect, and even good pieces badly placed can go far toward wrecking a garden's charm. Too great care cannot be taken in designing permanent pieces used in the garden, things placed for their value in the composition as well as for their usefulness, so that they will look well and yet be useful. Chairs should be comfortable and tables firm. We have found that for use on uneven ground or paved areas three-legged chairs and tables are much more practical than the conventional four-legged pieces, for they will stand firmly without teetering. Exposure to hot summer sun and rain soon tears to pieces any but the most carefully built furniture. Of course wooden furniture
must be housed for the winter, as must
marble and terracotta pieces and any other
article made of a somewhat perishable material.
Stone and marble benches are often desirable
aesthetically, but they are uncomfortable
and, since even cushions fail to remedy
this, it is best not to rely much upon
them for use. For most situations stock
designs will have to be used because of
the expense of having stonework sculptured to order, but these are usually in
tried-and-true classic types which always
prove harmonious. back
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