|
||
Do you find yourself trying to relax outside unsuccessfully? When it's nice out you're probably like me and want to be outside enjoying it. However sometimes it's hard to find the right outdoor furniture that will keep you comfortable. You may have or may not have heard of an Adirondack chair before. An Adirondack chair can come in plastic or an elegant wood look.
What is an Adirondack Chair?
The Adirondack chair is a specially designed chair that is used for outdoor settings. The chair was originally designed so that the seat and back came together at an angle to help provide better sitting on steep mountain inclines.
This unique design also helps boost the comfort of the Adirondack chair. Another feature that became the hallmark of the chair is the wide armrests. Originally designed out of wood the Adirondack chair now comes in either plastic or wood. Each type of material offers numerous benefits.
The plastic version of the Adirondack chair offers convenience as well as the benefit of low maintenance. Since plastic is a very durable material, you will be able to leave it outside without having to worry about harsh weather conditions.
The plastic doesn't need to be protected from the weather like wood normally would. Also since it is light you can easily move it near your hose to wash it off or keep it indoors and take it outside when you want to use it. The final huge benefit of the plastic Adirondack chair is that you can get it in practically any color. This allows you to match your other furniture with ease.
Many people still prefer the look of a wooden Adirondack chair rather than the plastic. Besides having a classic look to it the wooden chair offers an outside solution to your sitting needs. Since it's made of wood it's highly unlikely that your chair will get blown over in the event of high winds.
The wood that's used in America most of the time is cedar. Cedar is very advantageous for the Adirondack chair because it doesn't rot easy, is resistant to insects, and you can have stains and marks easily removed.
How Can I Get Started With Choosing An Adirondack Chair?
Relaxing in an Adirondack chair is easy however there are a few steps you should take to ensure that you select the right chair. Selecting the right chair is important to giving you the countless number of years of comfort that you want.
The first thing you'll want to decide whether you want a plastic or wooden Adirondack chair. This is important because if you decide to get a wooden chair you should review the design carefully. There are certain aspects of a wood chair that you will want to know about. If you continue to learn about your chair and follow these tips you will be able to protect your investment.
You will want to know what type of wood the chair is made out of. This way if you need to protect it you can find out how often to do so. You'll also want to know the angles, bracing and curvature of the chair.
When we go shopping and come across a set of Adirondack furniture, it is easy to see ourselves lounging outdoors at some summer cottage on a chair or swing made in this style. The elegant Adirondack chair was designed for this very purpose: relaxing outdoors and simply enjoying the day. The sloping back, wide armrests, and simple design make any country getaway more relaxing when lounging on a chair made in this style.
While we now can go shopping for an elegant Adirondack chair on the Internet and compare prices with hundreds of different retailers—the actual origins of this furniture style are far from the hustle and bustle of modern life. In fact, it was probably boredom that gave birth to Adirondack furniture!
At the turn of the 20th century, America was still the number two power in the world behind Great Britain. The nearest furniture store in those days might have been fifty miles away or more—even up in Westport, New York where the elegant Adirondack chair was born. A man by the name of Thomas Lee owned a vacation lodge in the Adirondack Mountains called Westport Mountain Spring.
At the time of his creation, the elegant Adirondack chair was a completely new phenomenon: a piece of outdoor furniture designed for relaxation. The angled back, a defining characteristic of the elegant Adirondack chair, was actually included in the design so that visitors to Westport Mountain Spring could better sit and enjoy the view. The steep inclines and angles of the area made it difficult to relax when sitting in a traditional chair.
Of course, Thomas Lee created a classic with his elegant Adirondack chair and it became an instant sensation for his guests. Thinking he was onto something and wanting to see his elegant Adirondack chair in every furniture store, Thomas went to a local carpenter by the name of Harry Burnell and asked him to find a way to make the chair quickly and for the lowest price possible. Unfortunately for Thomas, Harry also realized the appeal of the stylish Adirondack chair and applied for a patent—and the rest is history.
While the road from its origins has been long and filled with many stories, the magnificent Adirondack chair is now a standard at many cottages, lake retreats, and backyards all around the world. So, the next time you are browsing the Information Superhighway while doing a little online shopping for some outdoor furniture and eventually come across a stylish Adirondack furniture—take a moment to think of old Thomas Lee and just what a strange ride his chair has taken in the last 100 years or so.