Playing Outside
No matter if your patio decor includes Adirondack chairs, South Seas wicker, or 1960s plastic, there's a matching set of outdoor furniture made for children.
Uwharrie Chair, a North Carolina manufacturer (uwharriechair.com), started with the basic Adirondack style and tweaked it. The company applied latex enamel in 28 bright color choices, including sunshine yellow and aqua, and added outdoor tables, benches, rockers, and carts.
Built of domestic pine, the pint-size chairs and tables are $300 to $400 a piece. Outlets include Cottage Monet (10417 Armory Ave., Kensington; 301-946-1055), Johnson Florist & Garden Centers (10313 Kensington Pkwy., Kensington; 301-946-6700; 4200 Wisconsin Ave., NW; 202-244-6100), and the Brambled Nest (141 Church St., Vienna; 703-319-3277; bramblednest.com).
Searching for classic good looks? Try Barlow Tyrie for English-made teak lawn furniture and Janus et Cie for sleek, high-tech woven furniture.
Barlow Tyrie (teak.com) has a wee armchair, matching love seat/bench, and dining table for $239 to $320 each. The chairs and bench can be engraved for a small fee. Available at Park Place (2251 Wisconsin Ave., NW; 202-342-6294), Patio.com (842 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-309-0025; 8022 Leesburg Pike, Tysons Corner, 703-827-0099), and Maison et Jardin (9867 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls; 703-759-2825).
High-end Janus et Cie (janusetcie.com) produces outdoor furniture in wood, metal, and durable woven materials that look like refined wicker; many of the European-inspired lines are also suitable for indoors. Children's choices include the two-seat mini Sydney with cushion ($590) and the Pookie ($464), available through August Georges in Georgetown (1523 Wisconsin Ave., NW; 202-337-5110).
Tropical never goes out of style. The Phillips Collection (phillipscollection.com) uses a composite called spun bamboo for a fanciful table and stools that look a bit like mushrooms. The table ($239) and stools ($99) are available at Theodore's Contemporary Interiors (2233 Wisconsin Ave., NW; 202-333-2300).
Padma's Plantation (sold at Bethany Resort Furnishings, Bethany Beach; 302-539-4000) makes the Casco Bay kids collection (padmasplantation.com), with painted pastel wicker chairs ($129), table ($149), and media stand ($129).
Outdoor furniture by Country Originals (countryoriginals.com) tends toward the whimsical, like metal stools painted finger-paint style ($62 to $82), a rustic twig loveseat ($42), and daisy-shaped wire tables and chairs in recycled metal finished with buttermilk paint ($75 to $145 each). Available locally at Spring Valley Patio (49th St. and Massachusetts Ave., NW; 202-966-9088) and Gallery 4940 (4940 Wisconsin Ave., NW; 202-364-1400).
Designers from Offi (www.offi.com) have come up with the Tiki stool ($50) and the Martini table ($99), made out of frosted, soft-edged plastic. They're very '60s, very tough, and available at Apartment Zero in Penn Quarter (406 Seventh St., NW; 202-628-4067). Colors include black, green, buttery yellow, and hot pastels.
