LUXURY SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE

Designer’s Patio offers a wide variety of outdoor furnishings for a comfortable, livable space

by LIESEL SCHMIDT / photography by HOLGER OBENAUS

One of the biggest trends in recent years has been in outdoor living: creating areas that accommodate everything from simple patios to fully furnished spaces worthy of dinner party invites and long days spent out in the fresh air. Naturally, those spaces are designed according to the actual living style of the homeowner, and with the range of outdoor furnishings available, the possibilities are virtually limitless.

Since 2006, Designer’s Patio has been part of those possibilities, offering a full spectrum of different styles and types of furnishings designed to withstand the elements and create an outdoor oasis that you’ll never want to leave. Its concept is a simple one: provide personally tailored service to designers and their clients that gives them options to achieve any vision. “Our showroom is the perfect space for designers, homebuilders and commercial contacts to come in and shop, with or without their clients,” says Geneva Wallace-Switzer, who co-owns the business with her father, Butch Wallace. “We offer a large variety of the best manufacturers in the world, with no minimums.”

Those manufacturers include O.W. Lee, Summer Classics, Castelle, HomeCrest and Polywood, the top five sellers in the 20-plus names that grace Designer’s Patio’s showroom location in the Dallas World Trade Center. And while its trade-only policy is one that takes it out of the world of the everyday shopper, it affords a greater ability to work closely with clients and provide them with quality products that are not readily available on the open market.

Designer’s Patio’s carefully curated collections are chosen with an eye for style as well as an understanding of the ways that outdoor living can be maximized through furnishings and accessories, as its extensive list of options testifies. The showroom’s casual furniture is ideal for any space and includes bistro seating as well as oversize spring chairs and cushioned sofas. “We can help customize a comfortable place to entertain your friends or enjoy with family,” says Wallace-Switzer. “We offer sofas, loveseats, spring chairs, recliners, ottomans, lounge chairs and chaise lounges for relaxing in outdoor living areas. We also stock a wide variety of tables in multiple sizes to complete any outdoor seating area, including coffee tables, end tables, tea tables and chat tables.” Clearly, Designer’s Patio has all the bases covered.

The way people live in their outdoor spaces now closely mirrors the way they occupy the indoors. Fully realized kitchens with dining areas, and even living areas complete with sound systems and TVs, are now commonplace, and the furnishings chosen for those spaces are crucial to completing the picture. To that end, Designer’s Patio recognizes the need for variety, and offers styles, colors and finishes that complement the aesthetic of any home and tempt homeowners to spend more time outside, rather than in. Different styles of firepits for making those starry nights cozy, as well as umbrellas for keeping cool in the shade, complete the picture—and don’t forget the pool area. “Poolside lounging is important, and we have multiple fast-drying pieces within our sling collections,” Wallace-Switzer says, going on to enumerate the options, which include dining and swivel chairs, chaises, double gliders and double chaises. The selection of umbrellas is equally wide, as the company stocks multiple sizes and fabric choices and also offers the option of special orders.

Naturally, even the biggest range of high-quality products is not enough to ensure a successful business, and to that end, Designer’s Patio has made superior customer service its greatest priority. “This company was created with the vision of providing a comfortable shopping atmosphere for designers and their clients,” says Wallace-Switzer. “Our showroom is a quiet, beautifully decorated area where all the tools necessary to furnish an outdoor room are made available, and we offer individualized service with the intention of making a designer’s job easier.”

That job is indeed made easier, as local designers are given the option of white glove delivery service, as well as assembly and installation. Designer’s Patio also currently offers furniture sets off the showroom floor to help with current back orders—yet more proof of its dedication to meeting clients’ needs. “Our clients love our list of vendors, but they really appreciate our customer service,” Wallace-Switzer notes. A commitment to going above expectations is part of the reason Designer’s Patio stands out from its competition, and that’s something that will never go out of style. *

Liesel Schmidt lives in Navarre, Florida, and works as a freelance writer for local and regional magazines. She is also a web content writer and book editor. Follow her on Twitter at @laswrites or download her novels, Coming Home to You, The Secret of Us and Life Without You, at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

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