robot_parade

Hi,

The Wife and I are looking to buy some new furniture for our sunroom. She's interested in wicker furniture. My experience with wicker has been somewhat less than positive, and I wanted to see if you guys had any suggestions or feedback. I remember my parents buying some (fairly expensive) wicker furniture at one point, and it just didn't stand up to the abuse of being around kids - the fibers/sticks broke in places, leaving pokey sticks to jab people and break some more. The wicker laundry basket we have does the same thing. We do have some wicker baskets with thicker 'strands' that seems to stand up pretty well, but the wicker furniture I see tends to have smaller strands. I should mention we have 4 kids, a cat, and a largish dog.

Also, if you have any other suggestions for sunroom furniture, I'd love to hear it. The room has one set of floor-to-ceiling windows, 2 walls with half-height windows, and 1 wall mostly open to the rest of the house, and 2 skylights, so it gets plenty of sunlight. Right now the walls it does have are a pale lime green, with kind of a pastel chessboard pattern floor.

genuinegirly

Is your wife willing to forbid access to some family members, including the dog?

My experiences with wicker and young children (my sister's kids) has been similarly negative.

Your wife needs to look at her current lifestyle and search for furniture that is appropriate.

Rather than wicker, I suggest solid hardwood furniture with cushioned pads that can be easily cleaned or replaced.

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ItWasMe

My old neighbors had wicker furniture (chairs and mini sofas) in their livingroom a while back. It's pretty, and I think it would be beautiful in a sunroom that can be closes. You likely would find your cat likes to scratch it, and your dog loves to chew on it. I'm not sure how it would stand up to 4 kids, but I do remember how uncomfortable they are to sit on for long, even with thick cushions.

I would suggest combining wicker with solid wood (for the seating). If wicker would be reasonable safe from your pets, adding a wicker coffee table and maybe matching baskets, low bookshelves/nicknack shelves or plant holders would be pretty. Maybe even a sturdy wicker rocker, if there is room, that is off-limit to kids. You can match colors of your wicker and nonwicker furniture with fabric. Have some cushions or throws made for the seats. "Tie in" your wicker choices with that same fabric...using bows, ties, small placemats, wrapped around the rim of planters and knotted. Your seating color can either match the wicker color, or match a solid color in the material...but the wicker should also be a solid color in that same material. (I was thinking white material with small floral print, and white wicker)

BTW I love the wood seat above. If it were white with a higher back and some cushions, it would go nicely with a few smaller white wicker accent pieces. Just make sure you keep the design somewhat simple on the seat, or it might clash with the natural pattern of the wicker pieces.

And I cannot find a single web link that shows what I am talking about.

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jewels

It definitely won't hold up to your kind of traffic.

Certain pieces containing rattan might work, but you should really look around together. As GG said, evaluate your needs. Durable furniture can look good and you can probably find something you both like that will last as your family grows.

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Redlemon

There's a durable fake-wicker that looks like the real thing.

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robot_parade

Redlemon:

Yeah, I've seen a lot of the 'plastic-ey' wicker. The problem is, wicker is probably about the look that we're going for - something relatively light, and 'delicate' looking. the storage bench that genuinegirly shows a pic of is really neat, but not at all what we're looking for. Way too 'solid' looking. I'd put it elsewhere in the house, maybe, but not the sunroom.

Thanks for the advice.

JStrider

what about patio furniture like this?

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robot_parade

Those are a little too...long.

ItWasMe

I looked up wicker and rattan furniture. One article said rattan was supposed to be stronger than wicker. Then I found an article saying "wicker" is a general term for "woven" and can be rattan, reed, or a couple of other things. That article thinks rattan is the strongest type of wicker. Okie dokie.

Anyway, I think the points I would be looking at would be the legs. Some have four little sticks holding the thing up. Some have shorter leg 'sticks' because the weaving around them nearly touches the floor.

BTW...You menitoned you want light weight? Do you have boys that are apt to pick them up and throw the seats at each other? I have all girls; they throw small things. Like darts, shoes, coffee cups, and such.

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"Ok, no more truth-or-dare until somebody returns my underwear" ~ George Lopez

I bake cookies just so I can lick the bowl. ~ ItWasMe

robot_parade

The boys should know that if they throw the chairs, they are themselves light enough for *me* the throw. :-)

jewels

Rattan is somewhat similar and might be worth a peek.

http://wickeroutlet.com/chairsottoma...tanoutdoor.htm

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smoore

F wicker. Buy metal furniture. Metal furniture is forever. If it doesn't go with the wife's decorating ideas find some way to talk her into it. You can't wear it out.

Forget the furniture, how much does that porch+water+view cost? WANT.

OK, now I read some replies. I stand by my "steel is real" comment. Find some attractive steel furniture you can live with for 20 years. It's going to last you that long, you better be ready to like it that long. You can get some very "light" looking stuff but be prepared to pay quite a bit for it.

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thingstodo

I got some of this stuff for my deck so it would hold up. It looks like wicker but is basically a steal frame wrapped in the fake stuff. It really looks good and has help up for several years and still looks the same. A table, two chairs and a love seat, all with cushions, went for about $600 or less at Target.

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