Rocking It

If you haven’t already guessed from the elegantly angled Scandinavian lines of this very cool outdoor rocking chair, it’s made by a Danish design firm. Houe designer Henrik Pedersen says, “Does design really matter? Perhaps not—but for me it’s essential. It gives me a thrill to design forms and functions that are capable of moving people passionately and opening up new possibilities.” Meanwhile, fellow designer Jesper K. Thomsen “sees every day as a challenge to further improve whatever I designed the day before.” Now that’s the type of design thinking we want in our patio chairs. houe.com

 

Art of Fire

In our opinion, Arteflame grills combine form and function better than any other design. This is because you can build either a wood or charcoal fire that heats the cooktop from the center out. Its unique heat pattern results in higher cooking temperatures closer in and cooler temperatures on the outer edges so a variety of foods can be cooked at the same time. And when not in use for cooking, an Arteflame grill is striking steel sculpture and can be used as a fire bowl too. arteflame.com

 

Artflame grill

 

Patio style

These porcelain pavers by Hanover Architectural Products raise the bar on outdoor flooring style. They’re hard-wearing, anti-slip, weather-resistant, and capable of withstanding heavy loads without compromising aesthetics. They’re also quick and easy to install; require little maintenance; and are resistant to acid, chemicals, and salt, as well as mold and moss (thanks to their extremely low water retention). But more than anything else, when it comes to stylish good looks, they’re miles ahead of conventional pavers. hanoverpavers.com

 

Hanover Pavers