SAN FRANCISCO, Ca., July 5 — All that aluminum. All that vinyl. Well, sure, it's weatherproof, but it's also — how should we say this? — hideous. Trouble is, it's hard to find furniture that reflects your good taste and repels the elements, right? Wrong.
Mercantila Does Adirondack Furniture!
How did the Great Camp movement spruce up your campy deck? In the Beginning. It all began in upstate New York — and we mean upstate upstate, not White Plains. Insert snide Appalachian humor here if you must, but know this: in the 1870s, it became quite the fashion to plop large, Swiss Chalet-style buildings in the rugged range tucked in just south of Canada and just west of Lake Champlain. Those Great Camps, and their attendant furniture, were built from native elements (wood, stones, etc.) to blend with the landscape and fend off the area's rather inhospitable elements.
Innovations
By the 20th century, New York vacationer Thomas Lee had developed the first Adirondack chair (straight back and seat, wide armrests, constructed of 11 pieces from a single pine board). Scads of tourists, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt, became smitten with the whole harmony-with-nature idea, and the Adirondack style spread to all corners of the country. The upshot: varied settings meant access to more natural materials, which means Adirondack style is now available in all different types of wood. It also opened the market to more manufacturers, who quickly began one-upping each other to introduce more durable, comfortable, and classically gorgeous pieces to the market.
What’s In It For You?
Comfort. Sit up straight! Square those shoulders! Chin forward! Sound relaxing to you? Didn’t think so. And, thankfully, neither did today’s manufacturers, who have brought ergonomic sensibilities, rounded backs, footstools, cushions, etc., to the Adirondack market. (And they’ve kept those nifty wide armrests.)
Charisma. White, red, green, blue, yellow, distressed, washed, stained. Basically, if looks are the most important thing, you’re — well, you’re shallow, but you’re in luck. These babies come in any color and finish under the sun.
Climate resistance. Finished or not, these products are constructed to endure the elements. Spend a few more dollars for hardwood and you might as well start thinking about how your grandkids will want to divide them after… on second thought, just relax and enjoy.
Company. These things just ooze the best of summer. Seriously — stick a few of these stylish pieces in your backyard, and watch your neighbors cleverly sidle over for indulgent conversation and mint juleps .
Meet your match:
What’s in a chair? Different finishes and kinds of wood, for one thing. For another, Adirondack furniture isn’t just chairs; you can get settees, rockers, loungers, gliders, ottomans, and so on. But we certainly have our favorites, so let us save you some time and offer our best suggestions.
| Top gun: Baldwin Chair; $299.99 |  Generous proportions, ergonomic engineering, contoured armrests, cup holder, and air-dried, shrink-proofed cedar goodness. Lean back and feel all the weight dissolve from your shoulders, back, and tailbone. (Manservant accessory not available.) | | Top shelf: Uwharrie Chat Settee; $788.99 |  Over five feet of luxurious width seats up to 800 pounds. Add a cushion set, and you may never leave. You won't even have to get up to add a coat of finish — the piece weathers in a classic, time-worn style that doesn't affect structural integrity. So if a "chat"; turns into a War and Peace read-aloud, you're covered. | | | Save & Share |  Save 10% on any Chair Pair!
10% off; 2 units minimum. Enter coupon code ADRS8J at checkout. Coupon valid through 7/15/2006 at | | |
| Clearance |  Great American Free Shipping Sale.
Get a good deal on a Great American - Free Shipping on all chairs by Great American Woodies. | |
| Top Brand | This eco-friendly company, based in the furniture-titan lands of North Carolina, builds all of its products from pressure-treated pine grown on Southern plantations. Uwharrie's pieces are weather-, insect-, and rot-resistant; renewable; beautifully detailed; and built for comfort. Stain them if you want, or let nature's gorgeous distressing effects take over.
The Uwharrie Store | |
| Penny For Your Thoughts? |  We sell a lot of stuff. Is there any particular line of products that's always mystified / fascinated you? (Go on, admit it. We're retail freaks. We're into this.)
Tell us why you're so curious -- give us a good enough story, and we'll give you the inside scoop. (Nobody wants pennies these days anyway.) Send your reply to readers@mercantila.com | | |
