Costco Connection - March 2007

Above: The Kirkland Signature seven-piece dining group.

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“Costco Connection Magazine” and “More Buying Smart” for information on outdoor furniture maintenance.

GORGEOUS OUTDOOR ROOMS featuring comfy deep-seating sofas and chairs, inlaid stone tables, gourmet kitchens, inviting fireplaces and elegantly woven rugs are replacing backyards dominated by flimsy folding lawn chairs and splintery picnic tables.

Wanting to get the lowdown on this welcome change, I contacted Lee Anne White, co-author of the Front Yard and Backyard Idea Book (available at Costco warehouses) and former editor of Fine Gardening magazine. White reports that creating inviting outdoor living spaces is one of the country’s hottest landscaping trends. The keys to creating an outdoor room are comfort and all-weather durability: “Choose grills, casual furniture, market umbrellas, portable fire pits and other accessories that won’t rust, fade, crack or warp when exposed to sun, rain, snow and ice,” she says.

Our conversation got me thinking about Costco’s 2007 outdoor furnishings program, so I requested a preview with the Costco warehouse lawn and garden buying team of Kim Thomas and Kari Haugen.

I am not at all surprised to find an impressive array of inviting outdoor furniture made of strong yet lightweight aluminum and resin wicker; richly colored, upscale, all-weather fabrics; inlaid stone and mosaic-tiled tabletops; striking portable fireplaces; and numerous cutting-edge, weather-friendly accessories—all impeccably suited for outdoor rooms.

Read about my discoveries and get ready to set up your ideal outdoor room.

New Kirkland Signature Collection

For the first time, after three years in the making, Costco is offering a Kirkland Signature^™ outdoor furniture collection. Every piece of this classic, custom-designed, four-set line is made of no-rust,

powder-coated aluminum in a durable, blackish bronze finish.

The collection features seven-, six- and five-piece sets. The seven-piece dining group has an impressive handcrafted, inlaid nat-ural-stone tabletop nearly 7 feet long. The six-piece deep-seating group consists of a three-seat sofa, two chairs with ottomans and a coffee table that matches the aforementioned dining table. (Love the luscious walnut-brown-and-linen-striped sofa cushions.) A stone-top table with a steel gas fire pit in the center is the star attraction of the five-piece chat group.

The fashionable cushions are all extremely well tailored; measure up to a super-cushy 6 inches thick; and are made of top-of-the-line Sunbrella® solution-dyed acrylic, a fabric that is quick-drying as well as sun, stain, chlorine and mildew resistant. (To clean, just use mild soap and hose off.)

“All Kirkland Signature pieces are guaranteed to be priced at least 20 percent less than comparable brands,” Kari reports.

Kim adds, “The value is certainly mind-boggling. For example, we are selling our Kirkland Signature six-piece deep-seating group at less than $1,000. Most patio shops sell the three-seat sofa as a stand-alone for $1,400.”