Al Fresco Living

Dallas furniture experts reveal this year's hottest patio decor trends

It's not too early to start fantasizing about warmer temps, especially because that rise in mercury means the start of Dallas' favorite pastime: patio season.

You should also get a jump on assembling your own outdoor oasis, and the experts at Sunnyland Furniture know exactly what's on-trend this year. Sunnyland has been a Dallas furniture fixture since 1946, and in 1989 David and Debbie Schweig bought the family-run company and doubled down on offering stylish merchandise at discounted prices, all with some of the best customer service in the city.

Today, Sunnyland has one of the biggest showrooms in the country plus an onsite warehouse and design consultant on staff. Its 365 delivery service means that local customers only pay a delivery fee once per year, no matter how many trips are made to their home. And, of course, set up is always included.

Here, David Schweig and outdoor design consultant Teresa Scott offer their tips for putting together the patio of your dreams.

Embrace individuality
Long gone are the days of one-size-fits-all outdoor furnishings. We now live in a world of complete personalization, and outdoor manufacturers have responded with furniture pieces that speak to a variety of trends and styles.

"This year has seen a wave of outdoor blues, mainly dark and spa hues, frequently used on cushion sectionals, accent pillows, and rugs," says Schweig. "In the past few years, dark finishes and weaves were a mainstay, but now light gray and driftwood weaves and finishes are the bestsellers."

White and neutral finishes continue to be on-trend, giving outdoor collections a modern and crisp look. White also pairs well with dark blue or patterned cushions, but combine it with gray or black and white striped cushions if you're going for an ultra-contemporary look.

Light it up
Nothing beats the ambiance of outdoor lighting, whether that's string lights, flameless candles, or fire features. Fire pits are now a highly sought-after outdoor centerpiece, and now they come in a variety of options.

"There are bar-height fire tables, large dining-sized fire tables, small coffee-table-sized fire tables, and low-profile fire pits," says Scott. "And fire glass has become a popular way to enhance the look of outdoor fire pits and fire places."

LED mood lighting is even being introduced into fire pits, like the O.W. Lee Zen fire pit which glows in over 1,600 colors and can be customized with different finishes and tabletop variations.

It's hip to be square
Square-shaped chairs are replacing curved arms, while geometric shapes are being used in the designs of everything from sofas and chairs to tables and accent pieces. Larger club chairs now have a seat at the table, and are replacing narrow, stiff dining chairs.

Cushion designs are also getting crafty, with hidden cushion seating taking on a common problem. Outdoor manufacturer Woodard has designed the Reynolds collection, which has reticulated foam hidden inside its woven furniture.

"It's a big hit for those looking for style and comfort without the fabric, and also keeps pesky squirrels from tearing cushions apart," says Scott.

Pool lounging
Give the inflatable unicorn a break and stretch out on some in-pool furniture. More and more pools are being built with Baja shelves big enough to accommodate chaises and loungers that rest slightly in the water, and many — like the Ledge Lounger — have matching in-pool umbrella tables and coolers.

Stay classic
Some items, says Schweig, never go out of style. Ceramic garden seats have been a mainstay for years, he points out, and not only do they come in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes, but can serve as accent pieces and additional seating when needed.

Show some love
It's important not to skimp on taking care of the outdoor furniture you spent so much time picking out (and enjoying). When it comes time to store cushions, umbrellas, and pillows for the winter or before inclement weather hits, hose off debris and dirt and scrub with soap and water when needed. For special materials like ipe and teak, it's important to follow manufacturer's instructions for sealing and cleaning. Utilize protective covers and your outdoor furniture will look like new for years.

The Sunnyland experience
The sales team at Sunnyland Furniture has a wealth of patio furniture knowledge, and the company's low turnover (many employees have been there for 10 years or more) means that there's a good chance if you return to the showroom even years later to purchase more pieces, the original sales person will still be there to help you again.

Sunnyland has also worked diligently over the last 48 years to have a positive impact on the Dallas community, participating in sponsorships, fundraisers, and donations. Even its logo reflects this, with the 11 rays of sunshine representing commitment to its customers, its team, and its community.

At Sunnyland's Big Green Egg events, ticket sales always benefit a local charity — for example, at the Turkey Time Eggfest it partnered with Focus on Teens, which provides drop-in centers for homeless teens on high school campuses within Dallas and Fort Worth independent school districts.

Each year, Sunnyland also hosts the Dallas Kosher BBQ Championship. As the title sponsor, Sunnyland transforms its parking lot into a two-day event venue. With more than 20 vendors, celebrity judges, live music, and entertainment, the barbecue draws more 1,800 attendees from around DFW and benefits the Congregation Beth Torah and the Community Home for Adults.

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Sunnyland Furniture is located at 7879 Spring Valley Rd. and can be reached by calling 972-239-3716 or visiting www.sunnylandfurniture.com.

Build your own outdoor oasis.

Photo courtesy of Sunnyland Furniture

Build your own outdoor oasis.

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Your Expert Guide

Oak Cliff: The underestimated historic and culturally rich 'hood

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman

Kay Wood

There are so many great places to live in Dallas that it helps to have an expert on your side. The Neighborhood Guide presented by Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there, providing in-the-know info about your possible new community.

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Bishop Arts is a huge attraction, but Realtor Kay Wood wants people to know that Oak Cliff is a lot more than just Bishop Arts.

"Oak Cliff has a really rich and complex history," the Briggs Freeman agent says. "I think it's one of the most underestimated neighborhoods in Dallas."

Wood has lived in Oak Cliff with her high school sweetheart-husband since 2008, but she's been helping people buy and sell homes there for the past 15 years, currently with her business partner Brian Davis.

"The neighborhoods here are close to everything but still relatively affordable compared to other areas of DFW," she says. "I love all the historic homes with their architectural interest and variety, the strong sense of community engagement, and how there's so much to explore. Whether you're looking for the best new restaurant, the most authentic taco, film festivals, the zoo, the best public high school in Texas, parks, nature preserves — I could go on all day!"

Wood offered up a few of her personal favorites about life in "the Cliff." Here's her guide to the area:

Where to eat & drink
The list is long: Nova ("you have to get the hummus," Wood says), Encina (pro tip: don't skip the blue cornbread), Cibo Divino for pizza and wine on the patio, coffee from Peaberry ("my husband swears their Vietnamese coffee is the best in town"), oysters at Boulevardier, the Perfect Picnic at Eno's Pizza Tavern, tio's elotes next to El Si Hay, the pistachio ice cream at Joy Macarons, and the spicy lobster ramen at Ten Ramen.

Wood advises picking up a great bottle of wine from Neighborhood Cellars and some steaks from Cooper's Meat Market. And, of course, there are tons of taco options in the neighborhood: "We can't get enough of Maskaras, Trompo, and Taco y Vino," she says.

Where to play
Marvel at the best skyline views in town while playing a round at Stevens Park Golf Course, take a walk through Twelve Hills Nature Preserve, bike along the Trinity River, or play disc golf at Founders Park.

The Kessler Theater is "such a great and intimate venue" for concerts, while the Texas Theater adds a touch of history to movie-watching. Escape to The Wild Detectives for books, music, and poetry, or head to the Dallas Zoo for a wild day out — "our whole family loves to feed the giraffes," Wood says.

What to see
Oak Cliff is home to the Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial at Kiest Park and the La Reunion Monument at Stevens Park Golf Course that honors some of Dallas' earliest settlers.

On Jefferson Boulevard, you can pop into the Oak Cliff Cultural Center for regular art shows, and "my daughters love to walk down the street and look at all the quinceañera dresses in the shop windows," she says.

Where to live
A few years ago, Wood helped her buyers purchase 626 Rainbow Dr., a rare, two-acre midcentury modern estate that's wrapped on three sides by a babbling creek.

"When you're there, it's really hard to believe you're less than four miles from downtown Dallas," she says. The buyers hired local architect Eddie Maestri to update some aspects of the house while carefully preserving its midcentury style. There was an original barn that had been previously converted to a studio, but the buyers reinvented it as a guest house and added a pool and outdoor kitchen.

"It's hard to say what a 'typical' Oak Cliff house would be, because we have some of the very best examples of almost every architectural style in town," Wood says.

"In Winnetka Heights, you'll find Craftsman architecture (four squares, bungalows, Sears catalog, etc). Kessler Park has Tudors and Colonials and Texas eclectics from notable local architects like Charles Dilbeck and David R Williams. Stevens Park has all of these, as well as Spanish Revival and Dutch colonials. Wynnewood, North Kiestwood, and Wynnewood Hills have some of the best midcentury moderns in Dallas, as well as wonderful ranches. East Kessler has cutting-edge contemporaries that take advantage of the rare-to-DFW hilly terrain. You could teach a pretty comprehensive architectural history of Dallas without ever leaving Oak Cliff."

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Kay Wood lives, works, and plays in Oak Cliff. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email kwood@briggsfreeman.com, or call 214-908-5442.