Home Infatuation and Design Expert Melissa Galt Discuss Patio Furniture and Accessory Trends for 2010

As the outdoor room continues to expand, homeowners are searching for furnishings that are functional, durable and fashionable but most importantly will complement their families’ distinct lifestyle.

Mike Voyles, president of Home Infatuation, a luxury outdoor retailer, and Melissa Galt, designer, lifestyle expert and member of the new interactive decorating site Ava Living, view personalization as a key design trend for the outdoor room for 2010.

 “Personalization is an evolving part of the outdoor room,” says Galt.  “With a sagging economy, homeowners are spending much more time outdoors and viewing their outdoor space as an emotional, as well as a practical investment. It’s not about matching, but making it yours, combining what you have with what you want.”

Here are some outdoor room trends that Design Expert Galt and Home Infatuation are seeing for 2010:

The Walls Come Down. As the barriers between the indoors and outdoors disappear, homeowners are refocusing on refashioning their backyard to improve their lifestyle and increase the resale value of their home. Opportunities abound for people who are transitioning their activities from inside to out and innovative products offer a new freedom when decorating. The separate living area has been replaced with seamless indoor-outdoor connections from the living room to outdoor entertainment areas featuring comfy “chofas”, portable fireplaces and all-weather high def TVs.

Less is More. With clean lines, geometric shapes and lack of fussy extras, the movement towards modern minimalist style is a key trend and a practical way to redefine a space. You don’t need a lot of “stuff”, just blended indoor-outdoor pieces that create a sense of continuity and comfort. For example, today’s modern modular sets offer a cozy fit with creative and flexible seating in different-sized spaces.

Portable Design. The hallmark of great design is flexibility with pieces that can be moved from one space to another. Whether you are upgrading your home or moving to a smaller residence, find quality-driven “foundation” furnishings that can work on any patio, sunroom or deck.

Following Fashion.  Accessories dominate today’s closets as quick and affordable ways to change or enhance personal style. You can apply the same design techniques with a patio or terrace. It’s easy to spruce up the old wicker chair or add pizzazz to that neutral-colored chaise with pillows offering punches of color; create a foundation with a chic outdoor rug or enhance a dining space with contemporary designed dinnerware in striking patterns and colors.

Materials that last forever. Longevity and ease of care define today’s superior outdoor furniture pieces.  Frame materials such as aluminum, outdoor wicker, sustainably grown teak and all-weather outdoor cushions define quality and durability. Easy-to-clean and mildew-resistant fabrics rival indoor materials and offer zippered cushions that can easily be reupholstered as color trends or personal needs change. “When you invest in quality furnishings you receive a large return in comfort, style, boost’s relationships and even good health,” remarks Galt.

Personalize with complementary styles. Homeowners decorating their outdoor space strive for a ‘Wow’ factor by blending accessories in different styles, colors and fabrics in modern and traditional elements. For example, pillows with chocolate animal prints can work beautifully with a neutral colored loveseat and a terra cotta area rug. “Take an existing piece of furniture and introduce an elegant lamp, a garden sculpture or a work of art,” notes Voyles of Home Infatuation.

If your home needs help, find the right designer online.  Consumers and designers don’t have to be in the same city to work together and become partners in style, with the introduction of AvaLiving.com,  a virtual meeting place that enables homeowners to actively engage in the design process at their own pace and in an a la carte fashion that helps them spend smarter.  The revolutionary community destination, Ava Living gives consumers access to professional-level designers starting with its Designer Room Review (DRR). The service – the first of its kind — offers site visitors a free appraisal of an existing room from multiple designers. The customer can then purchase affordable and specific advice by tapping the skills, vision and product resources of the designer they choose to work with.

Multifunctional products set the mood for outdoor entertaining

High definition outdoor TV’s, portable bars, fire pit dining tables, beverage tubs and tabletop accessories can set the mood for a great outdoor event. Fire pits not only add warmth, but can be used for cooking, covered with a table insert and even double as a beverage tub. With materials from granite tops to heavy duty copper to travertine stone, this portable piece is ideal for a limited space and as a gorgeous focal point for the multifunctional outdoor room. High definition all-weather LCD TV’s, beverage tubs and dinnerware offer a finished space that is opportune for entertaining guests.

Patio heaters offer backyard curb appeal. With sleek designs and sophisticated metal finishes, outdoor patio heaters now look like pieces of sculpture and are a natural match to today’s premium grills, while enabling homeowners to enjoy the patio well into fall. Raising outdoor temperatures to 25 degrees F with adjustable temperature settings, they offer quiet sanctuaries on brisk mornings and outdoor entertaining well into the evening.

Outdoor Draperies are Functional and Elegant. Reminiscent of the bedroom but ideal for your patio and pool area, outdoor draperies graciously define outdoor living areas and provide shade without blocking the breeze. Today’s draperies are available in weather-resistant materials as well as vivid colors and patterns.

About Melissa Galt

An acclaimed speaker, interior designer, and mentor, Melissa Galt has been profiled widely in publications including Women’s Day, Southern Living, The Atlanta Business Chronicle, Catalyst, Plan House, Atlanta Style and Design and many more.  She specializes in 90-day home transformations as Melissa declares that we must “decorate to live, not live to decorate.” She is a pioneer in lifestyle design much like her great grandfather, the American architect and icon Frank Lloyd Wright. Melissa proves that with design as the cornerstone of a well lived life, clients find themselves energized, passionate, prosperous and enjoying life by design. Melissa travels from Atlanta, GA and can be found online at www.melissagaltinteriors.com.

About Home Infatuation

Home Infatuation offers everything required for distinctive outdoor living. The company addresses the wish lists of homeowners with its diverse menu of products for the Outdoor Room, from luxurious table tamps to all-weather high def TVs.  Home Infatuation chooses products from around the world, delivering a high level of customer service and a quality experience. Home Infatuation now offers international shipping.  For more information, call 877-224-8925, or visit www.homeinfatuation.com.

About Ava Living   

Ava Living (www.avaliving.com) is an international vertical social network combining interior designers, consumers, suppliers and advertisers from around the world.  Ava Living inspires and informs consumers while providing access to simple, professional-grade design tools to execute their a la carte design projects from inception through execution.  The mission is to serve as a showcase, marketplace, and ecommerce meeting spot to create more design consumers, increase the velocity of consumer spending in the design industry, and transform the international design paradigm.  Ava Living is founded by successful entrepreneur veterans and 15-year business partners David Bassett-Parkins and Hanh M. Ngo.