Asian Influenced Architecture & Design by F. Ashley Rooney: Time to curl up with a good book:

Architectural author, Ashley Rooney, has just published a new book which will help you successfully combine Western design motifs with Eastern traditional elements to create harmonious balance between indoor and outdoor areas.  Ms. Rooney provides some great insight on how to achieve a natural, minimalist look through the use of Eastern design elements, evoking a sense of tranquility and serenity.  Rich in photographs, the book showcases the dynamic Asian-influenced design of several talented architects and designers.  Featured on page #166, you will delight in catching a glimpse of Liz and Ralph Schumacher’s spectacular Japanese-influenced garden. 

Asian Influenced Architecture & Design is available for sale through Amazon.com.  

Faux Bois:  Three-dimensional trompe l'oeil: 

Visit Garden Accents to see our new faux bois collection.  Faux Bois {meaning "false wood" in French} is an art form that can be traced back to the 1800’s and employs the use of either plaster, paint, or concrete to fool the beholder into thinking they are admiring a creation made of wood.  Finely carved wood was often simulated through the artistic use of plaster or paint to create dimensional raised paneling or decoration on walls and doors or intricately carved items like picture frames.  Ferrocement Faux Bois takes this idea into another dimension and involves a combination of concrete, mortar and cement paste artfully applied to steel frames or armatures to create more substantial, durable three-dimensional representations of wooden objects. 

In addition to the obvious appeal of owning a hand-crafted Faux Bois piece, another attractive characteristic is its durability.  In today's world of space-age polymers, high-tech fabrics and other not-of-this world materials, faux bois provides the completely believable, rustic natural beauty of wood with the durability of steel-reinforced concrete.  A well-executed Faux Bois chair, bench or table is truly a piece of sculptural, functional art that must be seen to be appreciated and is at once both elegant and whimsical.  It's difficult for one's brain to comprehend that the rough hewn bark and beautiful wood grain you're looking at and touching is not from nature but instead has been created using steel and concrete.  Garden Accents has a wonderful selection of superbly crafted Faux Bois benches, tables, and settees to add to your collection of treasured garden accents.  Come in and see for yourself--we think you'll be amazed!

Out of this world savings on the Orbit:

Visitors to our indoor showroom often stop and admire the fantastic oversized round chaise lounge we have on display.  Since it's large, round and rotates, it has fittingly been named the "Orbit" and hails from the famed DEDON company.  The Orbit is the pinnacle of glamour, and actor Brad Pitt had seven of these signature Orbit "sofa-islands" flown to his Los Angeles home a few years ago.  The Orbit evokes a very luxurious St. Tropez kind of feeling and would look stunning on a terrace or poolside or indoors as an unexpected daybed.  Although it's large enough to fit two comfortably, it glides effortlessly on retractable and removable inline skate wheels allowing you to position it to catch any passing breeze or to follow the sun's rays.  A large circular chair with a high back on one side, the Orbit can be set outdoors in the summer or moved into a bedroom or living room as a comfortable reading spot during the winter. With a half-canopy that can be extended over the seat, the Orbit can shade its occupant from the sun or provide a sense of intimacy to a child and parent reading a story before bedtime. With the canopy removed, the piece would look perfectly appropriate under an impressive wall hanging, or beside an elaborately set table. The frame is covered in a state of the art synthetic wicker-look frame called Hularo which was developed over 16 years ago and is still considered “the original” in the industry.  The fiber is washable, extremely easy to maintain, resists saltwater, sunlight, and high and low temperatures, and additionally is an environmentally friendly material as it is non-toxic and 100% recyclable.  The canopy, cushions and throw pillows have been created using high quality Sunbrella fabric for durability.  DEDON devotees include the former king of Greece and Jordan's King Abdullah and Queen Rania.  DEDON's philosophy is to achieve harmony between a person's work and their nature "because only a satisfied person can make a comfortable chair" and is a very socially conscious company, providing above-average wages and excellent quality of life for its 2900 workers who help to bring their designs to fruition.

This is a great time to purchase your very own Orbit at a substantial discount.  It is time for us to say good-bye to our lovely display piece.  We've reduced the price dramatically.  Regularly priced at $10, 615, the Orbit is now sale-priced at $5,000.  This is an amazing value and includes the Orbit bed constructed of Hularo along with the Orbit bed cushion, canopy and seven throw pillows covered in an attractive indoor-outdoor Sunbrella fabric.  Please give us a call if you need dimensions or if you'd like to discuss delivery options.