2011 Best Outdoor Patio Furniture: The Five Finalists
2011 Best Outdoor Patio Furniture: The Five Finalists
The About.com Reader's Choice Awards 2011 Best Pool and Patio category honored the year's top pool and patio products, brands and manufacturers, as nominated and chosen by our readers. Along with several other About.com sites, this was the first year that the Pool and Patio site joined the Readers' Choice Awards, making it About.com's biggest awards event ever!
Nominations were counted and five finalists were determined in all five Pool and Patio categories.
The 2011 About.com Readers' Choice Awards received thousands of nominations during the open nominations period between January 13 to February 4, 2011. The voting period for the 2011 Reader's Choice Awards was February 11 to March 8, 2011. Winners in each category were announced on March 15, 2011.
2011 Best Outdoor Patio Furniture: The Finalists
The About.com Reader's Choice Awards 2011 Best Outdoor Patio Furniture category honors the year's top patio furniture brands and manufacturers, as nominated and chosen by our readers.
Some materials -- like wood, the original and very basic decking material -- have remained the same, while others have evolved as a reflection of the environment in which we live and include recycled plastics and wood fibers.
Don't simply go by looks or familiar name alone -- follow links provided to read about each finalist, and make an informed choice.
The finalists are presented in alphabetical order on the next five pages.
First Up: Brown Jordan
Brown Jordan: 2011 Best Outdoor Patio Furniture Finalist
History: Established in 1945 by Robert Brown and Hubert Jordan in Pasadena, California. The first pieces were made of tubular aluminum and vinyl lace and referred to as "leisure" furniture.
Products: Currently, Brown Jordan features more than 30 collections in a variety of design styles. Products include dining sets, lounge chairs, chaises, deep seating, benches, sectionals, bar stools, cushions, umbrellas, serving carts, table tops, table bases.
Materials:Teak, mahogany, aluminum, cast metal, stone, marble, polyethylene resinweave. Fabrics include Versatex mesh, Suncloth cushions, vinyl lace and strap.
Brown Jordan Website
Next Finalist: OW Lee
OW Lee: 2011 Best Outdoor Patio Furniture Finalist
History: Like Brown Jordan, OW Lee's beginnings were in Pasadena, California. In 1947, Oddist W. Lee was a wrought-iron gate manufacturer for the luxurious estates of Southern California. With requests from local patio furniture stores, Oddist began to design and sell high-end wrought-iron patio furniture. In 1954, he incorporated under the name OW Lee.
Products: Dining sets; bistro sets; deep seating; casual fireside; fire pits; customized draperies; tables, tops and bases; outdoor couture; cushions and pillows.
Materials: Hand-crafted wrought iron, wrought aluminum, custom-tailored cushions.
OW Lee Website
Next Finalist: Telescope Casual
Telescope Casual: 2011 Best Outdoor Patio Furniture Finalist
History: Since 1903, Telescope Casual has been making outdoor patio and porch furniture and accessories.
Materials: Marine-grade polymer, wicker, cast aluminum, sling, strap, outdoor fabrics and Telaweave.
Products: Sling chairs and furniture, tables and table tops, accessories, dining sets, deep seating, director's chairs, beach chairs, cushions, rockers, sofas, umbrellas, umbrella bases.
Telescope Casual Website
Next Finalist: Tropitone
History: In 1954, Bert Baker moved to Sarasota, Florida, and bought a small redwood furniture company. He quickly switched from redwood to welded aluminum to build his outdoor furniture, and renamed the company Tropitone.
Materials: Aluminum, weather-resistant outdoor fabrics, UV-resistant vinyl strapping, stainless steel fasteners, hardware and fittings, high-density nylon bushings and glides.
Products: Dining sets, tables, deep seating, chairs, faux-stone and tile table tops, pool furniture, umbrellas, shade solutions.
Tropitone Website
Next Finalist: Woodard
History: Founded by Lyman Woodard in 1866. Starting in the 1930s, the Woodard family developed the first collection of hand-crafted wrought iron furniture. The company uses both the age-old art of hand forming and high tech manufacturing processes.
Products: All Seasons Wicker, the Joe Ruggiero Collection, dining sets, benches, deep seating, love seats, sofas, chaise lounges, bar and counter stools, tables, table tops, table bases, outdoor lighting, outdoor accessories.
Materials: Wrought iron, aluminum, cast metal, wicker, cast tiles, Crypton, Joe Ruggiero and designer fabrics.
Woodard Website
Ready to vote?
The About.com Reader's Choice Awards 2011 Best Pool and Patio category honored the year's top pool and patio products, brands and manufacturers, as nominated and chosen by our readers. Along with several other About.com sites, this was the first year that the Pool and Patio site joined the Readers' Choice Awards, making it About.com's biggest awards event ever!
Nominations were counted and five finalists were determined in all five Pool and Patio categories.
The 2011 About.com Readers' Choice Awards received thousands of nominations during the open nominations period between January 13 to February 4, 2011. The voting period for the 2011 Reader's Choice Awards was February 11 to March 8, 2011. Winners in each category were announced on March 15, 2011.
2011 Best Outdoor Patio Furniture: The Finalists
The About.com Reader's Choice Awards 2011 Best Outdoor Patio Furniture category honors the year's top patio furniture brands and manufacturers, as nominated and chosen by our readers.
Some materials -- like wood, the original and very basic decking material -- have remained the same, while others have evolved as a reflection of the environment in which we live and include recycled plastics and wood fibers.
Don't simply go by looks or familiar name alone -- follow links provided to read about each finalist, and make an informed choice.
The finalists are presented in alphabetical order on the next five pages.
First Up: Brown Jordan
Brown Jordan: 2011 Best Outdoor Patio Furniture Finalist
History: Established in 1945 by Robert Brown and Hubert Jordan in Pasadena, California. The first pieces were made of tubular aluminum and vinyl lace and referred to as "leisure" furniture.
Products: Currently, Brown Jordan features more than 30 collections in a variety of design styles. Products include dining sets, lounge chairs, chaises, deep seating, benches, sectionals, bar stools, cushions, umbrellas, serving carts, table tops, table bases.
Materials:Teak, mahogany, aluminum, cast metal, stone, marble, polyethylene resinweave. Fabrics include Versatex mesh, Suncloth cushions, vinyl lace and strap.
Brown Jordan Website
Next Finalist: OW Lee
OW Lee: 2011 Best Outdoor Patio Furniture Finalist
History: Like Brown Jordan, OW Lee's beginnings were in Pasadena, California. In 1947, Oddist W. Lee was a wrought-iron gate manufacturer for the luxurious estates of Southern California. With requests from local patio furniture stores, Oddist began to design and sell high-end wrought-iron patio furniture. In 1954, he incorporated under the name OW Lee.
Products: Dining sets; bistro sets; deep seating; casual fireside; fire pits; customized draperies; tables, tops and bases; outdoor couture; cushions and pillows.
Materials: Hand-crafted wrought iron, wrought aluminum, custom-tailored cushions.
OW Lee Website
Next Finalist: Telescope Casual
Telescope Casual: 2011 Best Outdoor Patio Furniture Finalist
History: Since 1903, Telescope Casual has been making outdoor patio and porch furniture and accessories.
Materials: Marine-grade polymer, wicker, cast aluminum, sling, strap, outdoor fabrics and Telaweave.
Products: Sling chairs and furniture, tables and table tops, accessories, dining sets, deep seating, director's chairs, beach chairs, cushions, rockers, sofas, umbrellas, umbrella bases.
Telescope Casual Website
Next Finalist: Tropitone
History: In 1954, Bert Baker moved to Sarasota, Florida, and bought a small redwood furniture company. He quickly switched from redwood to welded aluminum to build his outdoor furniture, and renamed the company Tropitone.
Materials: Aluminum, weather-resistant outdoor fabrics, UV-resistant vinyl strapping, stainless steel fasteners, hardware and fittings, high-density nylon bushings and glides.
Products: Dining sets, tables, deep seating, chairs, faux-stone and tile table tops, pool furniture, umbrellas, shade solutions.
Tropitone Website
Next Finalist: Woodard
History: Founded by Lyman Woodard in 1866. Starting in the 1930s, the Woodard family developed the first collection of hand-crafted wrought iron furniture. The company uses both the age-old art of hand forming and high tech manufacturing processes.
Products: All Seasons Wicker, the Joe Ruggiero Collection, dining sets, benches, deep seating, love seats, sofas, chaise lounges, bar and counter stools, tables, table tops, table bases, outdoor lighting, outdoor accessories.
Materials: Wrought iron, aluminum, cast metal, wicker, cast tiles, Crypton, Joe Ruggiero and designer fabrics.
Woodard Website
Ready to vote?
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