Tag Archives: summer

A guide to your outdoor furniture care this summer

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outdoor furniture
02 Nov

As the weather warms up here, you begin spending more time outdoors, making sure your outdoor furniture is ready for summer by cleaning any dirt, pollen, or other debris that may have gathered over the offseason. If you don’t take care of your furniture, it may begin to seem worn.  In this blog, we share some tips on how to refresh your outdoor furniture in time for summer and care for it throughout the season.

We’ll give you some tips on how to spruce up your outdoor furniture ready for use, so you can spend less time cleaning and more time getting back to relaxing and entertaining.

Outdoor Furniture Made of Timber

Cleaning your outdoor furniture is as simple as brushing it off and wiping it down with a damp towel or a mild soapy solution.  If your timber furniture has weathered, you will need to sand it back and then apply your chosen finish.  If it has not weathered and sanding is not required, then applying an oil or water based sealant will certainly refresh your timber. For Kwila timber furniture, we recommend Kasule Kwila oil.  For teak timber, there are many options, and it depends on what you want your teak to look like.

Outdoor Furniture made of Aluminum

 Aluminium is an excellent choice for outdoor use.  To maintain aluminium furniture you should clean it with a soap and water solution before rinsing with clean water.

Cushions and Fabrics

The fabric that covers the cushions of sofas and lounge chairs is an important aspect of outdoor furniture care. As they are exposed to the elements, they should be cleaned on a regular basis with mild soap and a lukewarm water solution. Most quality outdoor cushion covers can be removed and placed in a washing machine on a delicate wash.  However, check the recommendations for your cushions.

We know it’s hard to keep on top of your outdoor living space, so we hope these few tips and tricks help when sprucing your furniture back to life ready for the Summer months!

If you are looking for new pieces of furniture this Summer, come into Daydream Leisure furniture or if you are looking for advice on how to care for your outdoor furniture contact us today!

3 Cocktails for a Summer of Poolside Entertaining!

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3 Cocktails for a Summer of Poolside Entertaining! | Daydream Leisure Furniture
04 Nov

It’s time to get into the summer mode! Pool, beach, or even your backyard; there’s always time to sit back in the sun and relax with your favourite cocktail. Whether you have friends over for a backyard pool party, heading out to the local beach spot, or just relaxing in your outdoor oasis; here’s our take on the best poolside cocktails for this summer of entertaining, as well as a few key pieces to help set the scene!

A Refreshing and Easy White Wine Spritzer! 

With 3 simple (and cheap) ingredients, you can create the ultimate crisp, easy-drinking summer cocktail.  Nothing beats the first cold sip of a white wine spritzer. Cold, crisp, refreshing, and you won’t have a headache the next day. 

What you need: 

  • 3/4 cup white wine
  • 1/4 cup club soda
  • Lemon rind for garnish
  • Ice

How to make it:

  1. Simply add wine to a tall wine glass semi-filled with ice (to your liking) and top with club soda. Twist lemon rind over glass and add. 

Our tip: Make it as cold as possible by putting your wine and soda in the freezer for 20-30 minutes before serving. Perfect!

Pair it with: Lay back on the luxurious Nardi ‘Alfa’ Sunlounge with this drink in hand, and keep cold refills close by with our stylish wine cooler, which has room for a few of your favourite wine bottles! If you’re socialising on the beach or out on the water, these wine glass stabilisers and an absolute lifesaver, too! 

 

Tequila Sunrise

Now, this is a fun and colourful cocktail that screams summer! Don’t let the word tequila scare you off, this treat is bold and sweet, yet refreshing and will keep you happy all afternoon! It’s also another simple one, with a few staple ingredients which are layered to create a stunning ‘sunset’ visual cocktail.

What you need:

  • 45 ml tequila
  • 90 ml orange juice
  • 15 ml grenadine
  • Ice
  • Optional: Orange slices or maraschino cherry to garnish

How to make it:

  1. Pour tequila and orange juice into a tall glass filled a quarter of the way with ice.
  2. Stir these two ingredients (only) to mix the tequila
  3. Slowly pour in grenadine. It will sink to the bottom, so do not stir the drink; otherwise your ‘sunrise’ will become a pink juice! 

Pair it with: You can’t have a tequila sunrise without a full beach theme (in our opinion). So, grab your turkish beach towel, one of these adorable beach umbrellas, and a few ‘Tropicana’ napkins; you’ll be the most vibrant person around (and with good reason). 

 

Mojito 

You really can’t go past the classic mojito during cocktail hour(s). With the delightful taste of mint, lime and sugar; it’s the perfect blend of sweet and sour. We envision all your close girlfriends, sitting by the pool or in the back garden, pretending its 1970 in sophisticated hats and striped bikinis.. (or is that just me?). 

 

What you need:

  • 90ml Bacardi or white rum
  • ½ a fresh lime
  • A handful of mint leaves (about 12) + a sprig for garnishing
  • A teaspoon of caster sugar
  • Soda water
  • Cubed or crushed ice (crushed really makes this cocktail)

How to make it: 

  1. Put the lime wedges and sugar into a tall glass. 
  2. Use a muddler (or the end of a rolling pin) to squish the ingredients together and release the juice of the lime. 
  3. Put the mint leaves on one hand and clap to release their aroma. Then use a spoon to push the mint down into the lime juice. 
  4. Half fill the glass with ice, pour in the white rum and stir the mix together until the sugar dissolves.
  5. Top up with crushed ice, a splash of soda water and garnish it with a sprig of mint

Our tip: Add some cold fresh blueberries into the glass before muddling for a fruity mojito twist! 

Pair it with: Create the ultimate garden party with this hyacinth white tray table, festive garden party jug, your favourite rug and a bunch of these NF Yellow Stripe Outdoor Cushions. Alternatively, you can opt for a full Nardi sofa setting and be ready to host your backyard cocktail-hour all year round.

Need help creating your ultimate backyard oasis? At Daydream Leisure Furniture, we know just what your space needs to become the ultimate spot for summer entertaining and poolside cocktails. You can shop the range online or visit us at our Warana or Noosa stores to see our outdoor dining, seating, poolside furniture and accessories, including our huge range of Italian Nardi Outdoor furniture.

 

Image: Supercall

Protect your Stylish Outdoor Furniture from Sun Damage

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Protect your Stylish Outdoor Furniture from Sun Damage | Daydream Leisure Furniture
19 Feb

Have you recently created a tranquil oasis at home with fresh plants, stylish furniture, and beautiful accessories? There’s nothing more exciting than updating your outdoor furniture. However, most people are unaware of how damaging the Australian sun is on upholstery, wicker and wooden materials. To ensure your brand-new furniture lasts, we’ve written a blog listing our best tips to protect your latest investments from being damaged by harmful UV rays.

 

Invest in an Outdoor Umbrella

The beauty about outdoor umbrellas is that they can protect your skin, furniture and keep you cool all at the same time. Outdoor umbrella’s offer a practical solution for added comfort when lounging outside under the midday sun. They’re also made to be a great styling accessory too! With a variety of fabrics, patterns and installation options on offer, outdoor umbrellas will continue to be an ongoing trend for protecting your alfresco furniture.

 

Cover it Up

 It’s a simple suggestion, yet it’s something people tend to forget. Covering up your tables, chairs, and lounges, with a durable and weatherproof cover will help to ensure your brand-new settings aren’t being ruined by the sun. The ultra-violet rays, especially in Australia, are strong. These will eventually wear away the sheen and gloss on your furniture. In some cases, this can cause surface damage and in more severe scenarios, structural weakness! So, if you’re going away for a longer period of time (1 – 3 weeks) or simply not using your furniture, covering it up will best protect it.

 

Protect Your Upholstery

At Daydream Leisure Furniture, it is extremely important to us that we stock high performing and durable upholstery that support the quality of our outdoor furniture range. This I why we 100% support Sunproof Fabrics. They have proven to us time and time again that their fabrics match the quality and standards of our Daydream product range. To best maintain the ‘Sunproof’ Slings and ‘Sunproof’ cushions that we stock in-store, the following product care instructions should be followed.

‘Sunproof’ Slings: We recommend that Sunproof Textilene slings should be washed down regularly with warm water and any stains should be cleaned when they happen!

‘Sunproof’ Cushions: You should never store these wonderful cushions while wet. Removable covers should only be washed by hand or a very delicate machine cycle, and stains tended to immediately.

 Despite the high-quality fabrics of the Sunproof upholstery, please follow these steps as general maintenance and care. This will ensure the extended life and vibrancy of these products. For a full description of the Sunproof Fabrics product care, click here.

 

Protect Your Wicker Furniture

To slow down the ageing process of your Wicker Furniture, we highly recommend that you do not place Wicker furniture in direct unfiltered sunlight for extended periods of time. Despite the high quality of the Wicker line we carry, the harsh Queensland climate can still cause damage if not protected. Because of this, it’s only recommended that these products are placed in semi-exposed environments at best. A simple wash with mild soapy water is also heavily dependent on the furniture’s use and location. For a full review of the ‘PE Wicker’ product care, click here or consult your local furniture specialist on what outdoor furniture range is best suited for you!

 

Protect Your Wooden Furniture

At Daydream, we stock two lines of wooden furniture; the Kwila and Teak product ranges. Whilst both of these lines are extremely tough and durable, a few product care steps are needed to ensure they’re both properly tended to.  During manufacturing, our Kwila and Teak timbers are dried in kilns which is a process that ensures the wood reaches consistent moisture content. Without this process, most cheaper timber furniture is prone to warping and twisting. Further care needs to be taken to both wooden lines such as regular oiling to ensure it doesn’t look weathered. As well as, avoiding any bleaches or strong solvents that can harm the timber surfaces. Specific to the Kwila line, a few rinses may be necessary to accelerate the bleeding process of resin/sap. This is to avoid any staining on ground surfaces or clothing etc. For a further in-depth explanation of this process, click here.

 

For the strongest protection against the harsh Australian climate, we highly recommend that you follow these handy tips. This will ensure your outdoor furniture stays vibrant and in good condition all year round. A little care goes a long way when protecting your new home investments.

 

If you are looking to refresh your outdoor setting feel free to contact us! We can suggest to you our professional advice on which products are most suited for your outdoor area. Short for time? Fill out our quick online form and one of our friendly team members will get back to you at a time that suits. With two showrooms located on the Sunshine Coast, find the closest store to you.