These Two Products Completely Changed My Outdoor Deck

Living in coastal Southern California, it’s no secret that we spend a lot of time outdoors. And after moving from a condo to a home with two decks, I had built-in incentives to get some fresh air. Our final furnishing project (for now) was the exterior space, and I made an effort to research the brands prioritizing durable and sustainable materials and production practices. In the end, we carved out a cozy corner with two main characters: the Polywood Latitude Corner Sectional and the Outer Fire Table.

If you’re looking to refresh your outdoor space or furnish a new one, Labor Day is the perfect time. From August 20 to September 7, you can save on select styles during Polywood’s Endless Summer Sale.

Courtesy of Blake Bakkila

Courtesy of Blake Bakkila

Let’s start with the sectional. Polywood was founded in 1990, introducing the world to outdoor furniture—and more specifically, the Adirondack chair—manufactured with recycled plastic. Now with a second production and shipping facility in North Carolina and dozens of showrooms across the country, many of which are out West, they’ve become a household name thanks to their proprietary high-density polyethylene (HDPE) lumber. 

Polywood products are built to withstand extreme elements, and for the Latitude designer collection, they paired the lumber frame with quick-dry performance cushions and a foam fill with airflow and drainage. Over the past two months, it’s been a truly low-maintenance, easy-to-clean product that looks brand new each time it gets a good wash. From a comfort standpoint, the foam provides plenty of cushion and bounce, so you feel supported without experiencing any sinkage. Hauling them up our stairs was no small feat, but once that was handled, it created the perfect outdoor nook for gathering alfresco.

Courtesy of Polywood

We paired the clean-lined sectional with a round fire table from Outer, a Santa Monica-based company that splashed onto the scene in 2019, when founders Jiake Liu and Terry Lin made a deal with Lori Greiner after presenting the brand’s modular outdoor sofa on Shark Tank. I was initially drawn to their fire features because of the glass fiber reinforced concrete, which made it relatively lightweight (126 pounds), more sustainable than standard concrete (it requires less energy and less off-gassing), and better for more weight-sensitive spaces like our deck. It also comes with bonus accessories, like a cover so it can double as a coffee table and a cooktop for grilling.

Courtesy of Outer

Courtesy of Blake Bakkila

The fire feature arrived in several boxes, and then the delivery team returned a few weeks later to complete the white glove install service. For the past month, we’ve hosted weekly s’mores nights on Sundays. The table emits just enough heat to feel snuggled-up versus sweaty, and the ceramic spheres add a unique aesthetic component to the set. Plus, it’s simple to use and comes with a chic side table with a marble tabletop to disguise the propane tank tucked inside.

Courtesy of Outer

These two pieces are major investments, but they’re performing and holding up so well that I feel confident our Sunday s’mores nights will likely continue long after Labor Day.

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