Tables

Xpand Patio Table We've all had surprise visits from friends and relatives or had "one too many" show for an intended small gathering. You're not about the haul out the dining room table to accommodate everyone. The Xpand Patio Table by Xpand Furniture is the perfect solution. This is a unique table design that expands without the use of leaves. All you have to do is pull slightly on the ends and it expands in the center, making entertaining a snap. It looks great when it is closed and equally great when it is open. It is engineered to move so smoothly and evenly the table can be expanded and contracted while glasses and dishes remain safely in place.

Besides being a great conversation piece, it allows for maximum flexibility. Retail prices begin at approximately $2,300. The patio table is produced in Teak and Akazie, woods well suited to withstand outdoor environments. Expandable benches are available in sizes that are coordinated with the Xpand patio table.

Xpand Furniture Xpand Patio Table

Leisure seating

MVS Chaise by Maarten Van Severen If you like the modern look you'll love this piece of sleek outdoor furniture. Made out of Polyurethane foam with an upholstered feel, this modern chaise is height adjustable with a headrest cushion. The stainless steel base is designed specifically for outdoor use. Price for the outdoor chaise is $2,845. www.Vitra.com

Egg by Pierantonio Bonacina This swing chair works well in any setting and is especially great for small backyards. Hang from a covered terrace in the city for an urban retreat. The chair features a steel frame and a shaped seat cushion and includes a nickel-plated hanging chain and fixing catch. Hang outside from a tree and enjoy nature at its best or hang inside and enjoy all year round. Sells for $1,928. www.EuropebyNet.com

Large 'X' Loveseat Rachel Horn of Rachel Horn Interiors and Finca Home, creates beautiful, handcrafted iron outdoor furniture made in Mexico. Horn, an American interior designer, was born and raised in Mexico, educated and trained as an interior designer in California, and returned to Mexico six years ago to open an office, where she is now designing gorgeous luxury second homes in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, for a largely upscale American clientele. Her collections have appeared in House & Garden and Western Interiors, and in an upcoming issue of Veranda. This simple, hand-wrought iron loveseat with muslin cushions makes a wonderful modern, or traditional, accent to any backyard setting.

MVS Chaise by Maarten Van Severen

Egg by Pierantonio Bonacina

Bistro sets and Patio sets

Lou Manfredini, who regularly appears on network TV and hosts a Chicago radio call-in programs, recommends these outdoor furniture sets from Ace Hardware (go figure!) to transform any backyard into the perfect entertainment haven:

Bellagio Balcony Set Contemporary yet comfortable, this bar-height balcony set is perfect for a party of two and is sure to make romantic fireworks even more enticing. Its black aluminum chairs are accented by red polyester cushions with black piping and an all-aluminum table. Suggested retail price: set of two chairs is $268.98; table is $159.99.

Sonoma Patio Collection Great for large get-togethers. It offers an inlaid glass-top table and chairs with built-in headrests. Both table and chairs feature a powder-coated brown finish. The set of four chairs is $339.96.

Tiki Bar Set This solid hardwood bar will give any yard and summer party the feel of a South Pacific island retreat. It makes the ideal centerpiece for any adult backyard get-together. Suggested retail price: Tiki bar is $599.99; set of two stools is $49.98.

Sonoma Patio Collection

Tiki Bar Set

Day beds

Daydream Four-Poster Daybed by Dedon You'll feel like a movie star taking an afternoon nap on this four-poster daybed. Place three or four around your pool and yard for a luxurious feel. Dedon's four poster lounge is hand woven from special Hularo fiber, a long color-fast and weatherproof synthetic (so a little rain won't ruin your beauty rest). Sells for $5,232.

Daydream Four-Poster Daybed by Dedon

Structures

The Ultimate Backyard Office While the idea is to enjoy the outdoors, structures, like a gazebo or cabana, can actually enhance the outdoor experience, as well as protect you from the sun's rays and pesky bugs. The experts at Cedarshed Industries, a company specializing in high-end gazebos, pavilions, cabanas, playhouses, and other outdoor structures, have seen an increased demand for these kinds of outdoor products. They recently released its design for the Ultimate Backyard Office, a customizable 10'x12' structure with lockable windows and doors and attached deck that makes an attractive alternative to the spare bedroom or garage.

Cedarshed uses high-quality western red cedar, which is naturally aromatic, nontoxic, insect resistant and beautiful either with a clear stain or weathered to a silvery gray. Each structure comes as a customizable do-it-yourself kit that includes panelized roof, walls, floor, doors and windows, all necessary hardware and instructions designed for assembly in 1-4 days using only basic carpentry skills. Cedarshed's wide range of styles, shapes and sizes fit any yard, patio or deck. Gazebo prices range from $4,144 to $8,424; sunhouses start from $2,374 and playhouses start from $1,424. The Ultimate Backyard Office starts from $12,999. These kits and others can be purchased online at www.Gazebos-and-garden-sheds.com

Beach Cabin by Pierantonio Bonacina Whether beachside or in the backyard, the whole family will love the beach cabin. Designed by Mary Bloch, this sturdy piece is constructed from woven natural cane on a rattan frame with aluminum stands. A waterproof canvas cover and quilted seat cushions, offer comfort and convenience as well as a safe haven from the sun's harsh rays. The Beach Cabin includes a matching footstool. This piece works well in any setting and is perfect for the backyard with minimal privacy. It's also great for a beach-side back yard. Sells for $3,531.

Gardenhouse by Vixen Hill Create a private outdoor sanctuary where you can enjoy your backyard without getting eaten alive by mosquitoes or scalded by the sun's intense rays. Approximately 15 feet in diameter, the Gardenhouse features screen panel inserts for upper and lower opening, with screened-in cupola and upper tier; cedar floor and step, standard double door, two-tier cedar shingle roof, and Queen Anne baluster inserts on the bottom and Queen Anne curve inserts for the upper opening. Price starts at $16,200.00. You can also design your own gazebo. We like Vixen Hill products because they combine classic design and cabinetmaker joinery with computer-aided engineering, and their products exceed the requirements of National Building Codes.

Beach Cabin by Pierantonio Bonacina

Gardenhouse by Vixen Hill

Tabletop

Lounge Chip & Dip designed by Neil Cohen Whether you're relaxing with your family in the backyard or throwing a neighborhood shin-dig, you can't go wrong with the Lounge Chip & Dip platter. Designed with subtlety and flair, this tray is the epitome of a lounger lifestyle. Your chips have their own sloping bevel and your dip its own bright hollow. $150.

Lounge Chip & Dip designed by Neil Cohen

Umbrellas

Vizor Outdoor Umbrella by D'Firo Design We've all been there, moving our chairs, our food and bodies under an outdoor umbrella that fails to provide shade where we need it. The problem lies with outdated umbrellas that only provide useful shade when the sun is directly overhead. Fortunately, there is a way to stay cool, comfortable and safe all day long - with the added benefits of style and design. D'Firo Design's patent-pending Vizor is the only shading device on the market specifically designed to produce targeted shade over the course of the day. The sleek asymmetrical canopy can be rotated effortlessly from the comfort of your chair via a small release handle. The Vizor provides twice the shaded hours of an 11' octagonal umbrella, and three times that of a standard 9' umbrella. Yet, the graceful canopy closes easily over any standard outdoor table. The result is shade where you need it and a UV protective canopy where it will do the most good: between you and the sun.

"It is a sensible solution that is long overdue," explained David Lenahan, designer of the Vizor who began considering the problem some years ago while sitting under a patio umbrella that wasn't shading him. Lenahan, who has over 30 years of experience as an architect, is naturally driven to question the elements of shelter and design. He was amazed to learn that shading products haven't evolved significantly in hundreds of years. "The existing products on the market were not, by any stretch of the imagination, solutions for the 21st century," observed Lenahan. "They are primarily focused on fashion, and do not consider the predictable movement of the sun."

The asymmetrical Vizor canopy, available in a selection of contemporary colors, can be purchased online at D'Firo Design for $995. The uniquely styled base, designed to complement the Vizor, is available in a black powder coated finish for $349.

Patricia Table When you're outside relaxing you need a place to set down your frosty margarita. This delicate hand-wrought table with a floating glass top fits in with most decors. Goes perfectly with the Large X Loveseat by the same designer.

Vizor Outdoor Umbrella by D?Firo Design

Patricia Table

Fountains

Beckett Garden Accents Slate fountains present a sleek and tranquil point of interest for any backyard. Beckett Garden Accents offer slate fountains for high-end backyards and patios. The sound of trickling water is soothing, and the water element brings a natural beauty to any landscape or climate with little-to-no-maintenance.

"Water features and décor go hand-in-hand," says Larissa Gleason, marketing manager, consumer division of Beckett Corporation. "The vast array of decorative fountains available today meets the versatile needs of the discerning home decorator, while making a unique statement. This line offers consumers the opportunity to explore water features in new capacities beyond traditional concrete fountain designs."

Beckett Garden Accents provide accessibility for both the water gardening enthusiast to get creative with other water elements, while through a compact, lightweight design. Affordably priced, Beckett Garden Accents are available by special order through Home Depot and other lawn and garden centers, costing between $415-$500.

Beckett Garden Accents

Mystic Water Gardens of Los Angeles