Oh, I know. Matching sets are supposed to be “out of style.” No one buys a bed with matching nightstands and dressers anymore, right? But what if that’s actually the best solution? What if it creates exactly the vibe you want and then shakes it up with some fun touches? That’s the case for this patio at my brother’s house. My brother’s family moved into the riverfront house a few weeks ago and with summer just weeks away (well, fall is awesome here) I made it my personal mission to get this patio ready for them to hang out on. To be selfish/honest, I didn’t want them to rush out and buy random outdoor furniture just to check the box. So even though this isn’t my house and I wasn’t involved in all the big design decisions, I do have an emotional stake in it and really want it to look good. Plus, let’s be honest, anyone who walks in here is likely to think I did it, so I might be a little controlling LOL. So while I’m not their personal interior designer, they get me whether they want me to or not. You see, I knew it wouldn’t take much work to make it look good and functional. I knew what to ask for and from whom? An article. I knew that within weeks, we could have something truly amazing, ready to enjoy—a space we could all be proud of. I don’t mean to brag, but I think I was right!
Umbrella | Umbrella Base | Bench | Sofa | Lounge Chairs | Black Side Table
The funny thing is that the landscape company (Pistils) designed the patio with this section in mind (called Lubek). It was literally in their plans. I agreed… and went a little further. It’s very low which allows the view from the living room to be really open (and not just staring at a bunch of furniture). It’s also low which is helpful because there are some ugly views that you can’t even see while sitting at this low level – it weirdly blocks that and allows everyone to enjoy the beautiful views of the river and trees. It also has room for a lot of people. It fits with the style of the house. It was made for this house.
While I love an eclectic mix of furniture, this house didn’t want that. Sure, we could get some cool artwork and accessories inside, but the style is more simple and streamlined, and it fits in with the architecture very well. We ordered the sectional sofa (it comes in a light finish with gray fabric as well), two matching loveseats, a coffee table (which actually comes bundled with the sofa! Great value), a dining table, and two loveseats (also part of a set! I’m telling you – the matching sets are IT but they’re also sold separately). It was probably the least stressful thing I’ve ever had. We had to figure out the configuration, but other than that, it was so nice to know that everything would look good together.
coffee table
Article has been a consistent partner of mine for years now, because I love their quality, options, style, comfort, and speed of delivery. Sure, there are cheaper things out there, but I’ve owned some Article furniture for years and still love it. The upholstery is always easy to clean, it’s comfortable, but the cushions never lose their shape. Oh, and the solid finish doesn’t fade. Outdoor furniture is notoriously difficult to maintain, and while I haven’t personally owned this set, the track record I’ve had over the years is impressive.
It’s a solid set – just one piece, and it’s turned out great. The umbrella is on a swivel base (genius?!) that can track the hot sun and I appreciate the wooden pole and mechanism – it obviously works well with the furniture. This patio faces east which means it gets morning light through the trees, but is shaded after 4pm (which is exactly what you want).
Big line pillow
pillow
Since my landscaping company was aware of this, it’s no surprise that the Lubek is one of Article’s best-selling outdoor sofas. So much so that a new mini version has been released specifically for smaller outdoor spaces. As seen on River House , the original sectional configuration is roomy and spacious. The Lubek Loveseat is small but can definitely fit two people (or one to lounge on). The coffee table is really low, making it great for playing games or sharing a cheese board.
We added two chairs to complete the conversation area – but worked with the same palette of course. I love the black leg lines of this chair – still simple and streamlined, but not boring. It’s comfortable and generous in size. Big fans.
The Lubeck dining table is huge and sturdy and can seat up to 10 people (and even more on the sides). It’s great. My brother (the famous “bull in the china shop”) loves this table because it’s “solid.” And when you have kids and a lot of people on the bench, it’s very flexible and easy to control (and the lack of “chairs” with “legs” makes it look simple and streamlined).
Dining table set
The seats hide under the table (many don’t, which baffles me) so if you want more room to walk or move around, the overall space is reduced. Tables with seats like this have a really casual vibe – nothing fancy or expensive, and are perfect for many family gatherings (just make sure to measure them – they’re bigger than they look so they may not fit on many surfaces – I wanted this for my backyard but it was too big).
A big human being, hahaha. It was our photographer, Kaitlyn’s, birthday on the day of the shoot, and sitting here having lunch was a treat. No margaritas offered 🙂
As you can see, I coordinated the table with plants, fruits and accessories in red/purple tones. I love these tones with the green against the dark houses as you probably noticed. The top of the table is very well sealed, made of beautiful dark teak, and again, looks comfortable and beautiful.
white vase
The simplicity of this set really complements the wild greenery – the furniture almost recedes in favor of looking out onto the river and trees. Guys, it’s incredible here.
Two days before the shoot I realized we needed some plants to anchor the trees. Dennis’s seven plants had been contacted by a previous partner, so I took them up on their offer, and then Andrea (one of our amazing landscape designers) came to the house, looked at the landscape and architecture, took the pots, and came back with a really beautiful set that would last a long time in the yard and look great in the world we had created. Thank you, Andrea!
Ten or twelve people can have a great time there, with ten more at the table. Not to mention the kids playing in the mud by the river. And since it’s August, the Hendersons are sure to be visiting (but seriously, Ken, let’s make an appointment ASAP).
Watch the video below to see it all in action and jump to the stories to see how I talk and talk about it. Thanks to Article for partnering with me on this yard. Your furniture and services make my life, my work and my yard better 🙂
*Designed by Emily Henderson
**Photos by Caitlin Green
