Ice Chest in Stately Teak

An ice chest can be used time after time during the summer months. It’s the perfect solution to keep large amounts of drinks cool for a Saturday barbecue or family reunion. You can’t give up your entire fridge, and no one wants a tepid drink on a warm summer afternoon. Of course, if you hold an aversion to the typical plastic ice chest, you can now buy one in stately teak wood.

My favorite model is probably the one that doubles as a storage bench. During warm months, you can snap in the liner to use the ice chest function. When the warm months end, you don’t have to pack the teak ice chest away. Just pull out the liner and use the gutted ice chest to store winter items, such as blankets, scarves, gloves, and hats.

I’ve said it many times, and I’ll say it again. I love furniture that serves more than one purpose. Using an ice chest throughout the whole year? That is definitely the way to get the most out of your money. And if that's not enough, it looks handsome with other teak patio furniture.

The Firewood Rack and Other Tips for Wood Burning

I’ll provide some information about the firewood rack, as well as other tips for wood burning, in this post. I’ve learned these things in the past couple years since owning my first wood stove. Now, I know this seems like an odd topic for the middle of the summer, but bear with me. You’ll see why it’s actually very timely.

In my experience, a fire is easier to keep going than it is to get going. A common hindrance to building fires is the use of unseasoned, or wet, wood. A firewood rack is a great tool to both season and store wood. When the bottom edge of the firewood rack sits elevated from the ground, it prevents additional moisture from seeping from the ground into the wood. It also allows air to circulate around the wood to dry the existing moisture inside the wood. The firewood rack keeps your kindling orderly and makes it less attractive to nesting rodents.

But the seasoning process can take months. That’s why the time to buy a firewood rack is now. If you start seasoning wood in proper conditions now, it’s much more ready for the cooler weather of fall and winter than if you wait for several more months to buy a firewood rack.

In addition to using seasoned wood, it helps if you can warm the wood stove quickly. Use materials such as crumpled paper, cardboard, or thin bits of wood kindling. I’ve learned that a draft is essential, as well. An air flow feeds the fire, which can’t burn without oxygen. Your wood stove should have a handle or mechanism to open and close the air flow in the chimney. Open this when you need to start a fire. It can also help to start the fire in the back of wood stove; because the fire is closer to chimney, it warms the chimney faster. Fans or a hair dryer can also help to feed air to the fire.

The Space-Saving Folding Teak Chair

A folding teak chair can be a wonderful space saver. I can recall many holidays and family gatherings where we needed extra seats. Everything was game, from piano benches, to living room chairs, to card table chairs.

If you own a teak patio set and tend to conduct family gatherings outdoors, a folding teak chair can provide you with the extra seating and look like it actually belongs there. And these advantages are paired with another huge benefit. You can stow these chairs when not in use.

Places you can stow a folding teak chair might include one or more of the following: (1) under a bed, (2) beside or behind a dresser, (3) between the refrigerator and a side wall, (4) in the back of a coat or bedroom closet, (5) under a couch, (6) in a free-standing cabinet. Based on the setup of your home, you can probably find other possible storage locations, as well.

I think I would have to say that I find a folding teak chair to be the best possible option for additional teak patio seating. If it looks attractive, matches my existing patio set, and doesn’t require a lot of storage space, I say, “Why not?”

The Dog House Air Conditioner: How to Keep Puppy Cool This Summer

There are two good ways to keep your puppy cool this summer: an insulated dog house and a dog house air conditioner. I remember how excited I was to bring home my first dog, choose a name for her, and make her comfortable. If you’ve acquired a puppy recently, the summer heat might be a concern. All dogs are susceptible to the heat, but old dogs and puppies especially.

Of course, one of the advantages to staying in a vacation home or condo, as opposed to a hotel, is that your dog has more room to run, relax, and play—just like you. You can keep outside puppies cool with a dog house air conditioner and an insulated dog house. A dog house air conditioner attaches right to the side of the house. The insulation in the walls then conserves the cool air by slowing the rate of heat transfer. The principles are the same as the air conditioning and insulation in our homes.

When you shop for a dog house to use in conjunction with a dog house air conditioner, check the R-value on the insulation. The insulation receives its R-value rating based on how effective the insulation will be. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

I have also cut the hair on my long-haired dog to keep her cool in the summer. However, this practice is best at the beginning of the summer. If you wait too long, the dog could be too cold when the weather turns cooler in the fall.

The Perfect Teak Bench, Part 3

If you’re looking for the perfect teak bench for your new home, you may have crossed all kinds of descriptions. We’ve discussed several styles of benches in previous posts. Here are four more additional styles.

The Tahawus teak bench is a bit different than the other styles we’ve examined. What it does have in common is a rectangular seat and armrests. But unlike the traditional slatted backs of the other designs, the Tahawus boasts an elaborate weaving of tapered wood pieces. Rounded edges and armrests mimic that rounded shape.

The Lakeside teak bench also builds on rounded edges and tapered slats. However, the slats in this bench’s back run straight up and down, instead of crisscrossed. Another difference is how the back curves along the top beam.

The Saranac teak bench offers a less traditional design. Rounded legs sit close together where they attach to the seat, then flare out in an “A” shape at the bottom. A cross-supporting beam parallels the wide planks on the top of the seat. The Saranac is a backless bench.

The Courting teak bench is the least traditional we’ve discussed. It’s actually two connected benches. They sit back-to-back, joined by a curved back. This back serves as the arm and backrests for both seats. You’ll know this style when you look at it from above and see it has an “S” shape.

So there you have it. Ten teak bench styles from which to choose. Bring the perfect one home.

The Perfect Teak Bench, Part 2

On the quest for the perfect teak bench, you might come across a variety of styles. The Classic, Savoy, and Columbia benches are just three variations of the basic teak bench.

The Essex teak bench isn’t so different from these three types. In fact, many of the Essex benches look similar to the Classic, except that they offer curved armrests instead of flat.

The Charleston teak bench comes in a number of variations, but the most common one has no back. In this way, it’s different from the previous styles we’ve discussed. A crossbeam attaches the legs, as well. Fewer slats fit more closely together in this design than in the others.

The Victoria teak bench tends to look more ornate that its cousins. It, too, incorporates slats into its design. The back is taller and curved along its top. The seat curves slightly, as well. And the armrests curve. All these curves are designed to conform to the body’s natural shape and provide a more comfortable seat.

Now we’ve covered the Classic, Savoy, Columbia, Essex, Charleston, and Victoria styles. Read the final installment for some additional style descriptions. After all, your perfect teak bench could be one of those.

The Perfect Teak Bench, Part 1

If you’re decorating a new vacation home, consider a teak bench. These beauties come in a variety of styles. Find the perfect one for your hall, sunroom, patio, pool, or garden by perusing these explanations of teak bench designs.

The Classic teak bench features a rectangular shape and armrests. Slats form the seat and backrest. The slats of the seat and back run perpendicular to each other. Four straight legs support the bench. Traditional, simple, classic.

The Savoy teak bench appears in similar fashion to the Classic. However, the backrest bears detailing and sits at a slant with the seat. For some, the angled backrest may seem more comfortable since it provides more lumbar support.

The Columbia teak bench isn’t much different from the Classic and Savoy. One major difference is that the slats of the backrest and the seat run parallel to each other, instead of perpendicular. It shares the straight armrests with the Classic, but offers a curved back. Like the Savoy, the curved back offers a higher degree of lumbar support.
So you have the Classic, Savoy, and Columbia—three variations of the beautiful teak bench. Read parts 2 and 3 for more descriptions of various bench styles.

Adirondack Chair Assembly

The Adirondack chair goes with vacation homes. The first one, after all, was designed by a man who enjoyed spending time at his vacation home. The design has been around for over 100 years, so it’s not surprising that many people see the Adirondack chair when they think back on their fondest summer memories.

But if this is your first time assembling an Adirondack chair, you might not know where to start. If a set of instructions accompanied your Adirondack chair, these would be a great place to start. If you didn’t receive any instructions, you have several options. Check the manufacturer’s website for instructions. Call or e-mail the company that sold you the chair. Ask them to send a replacement set.

If neither of these options works, check some online plans for making an Adirondack chair. Look for a plan that contains similar pieces to the ones that came in your box. These plans may also be helpful if you have the manufacturer’s instructions but can’t understand them very well. Good luck!