Outdoor Conversation Furniture

They call them "chat tables" for a reason. The latest craze in outdoor furniture is to create products made to lounge in. We recently developed a Chat Table to go with the Rusteaka Club Chairs.

The Mark Suess Bellasera Benches are also great for conversation around a firepit. They are slightly curved to go perfectly with an outdoor fireplace.

They have a 3 inch thick Sunbrella fabric that is very comfortable and cozy.

March in Scottsdale, Arizona is a perfect time to enjoy outdoor living at its finest.

The Mountains Are Green

Even though the mountains were filled with snowy roads, they really are green. This trip brought us to the surroundings areas of Vail, Beaver Creek, Snowmass, Aspen, and Telluride.

Every retailer and every magazine that featured mountain living is spreading the word about eco-friendly living.

Unloading some samples at a retailer in Glenwood Springs, CO.

Even with the slumping housing market in the mid-range pricing, the high-end communities are still going strong. Many new private enclaves are continuing to be built and the buzz words of LEEDS, carbon foot prints and being green are seeping into all aspects of the rockies.

Outside of a top design house in Ridgway, Colorado. A stunning small town.

It takes a lot of hard work especially in the middle of the winter to get to these remote regions with a van load of samples but I think these retailers and designs appreciate seeing products first hand at their facility compared to a trade show in Vegas or High Point.

The town of Telluride and up the hill in Mountain Village are booming with eco-friendly building concepts. Our reclaimed teak furniture is the perfect compliment.

Mountain Living

Last July after an 8000 mile trip through almost every major ski community it was concluded the high-end mountain towns are perfect for our rustic teak look with an eco-friendly story.

It becomes very clear very quickly, that no matter what you socio-economic status is, you clearly care about the environment, whether you live in the mountains full time or you are a part time inhabitant.

During the trip last summer, a number bonds were formed with exciting retailers and design firms from the Big Sky of Montana to Taos, New Mexico.

One design firm stood out that after 10 years of doing this business, I have never witnessed a more professional organization that specializes in mountain living at its best for both residential and commercial.


The company is Slifer Design. In mountain living, they are famous. They are regarded as the nation’s top authority on luxury resort mountain interior design.

Offering full-service interior design and interior architecture and hospitality services for over 20 years, Slifer Designs has consistently been ranked in the top three of residential interior design firms by Interior Design magazine. Luxury resort design is Slifer Designs’ specialty. Based in Edwards, Colorado, Slifer Designs has completed projects throughout the Vail Valley, Aspen, Telluride, Jackson Hole, Lake Tahoe, Park City, as well as Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas, Nantucket and Sonoma County, California.


In July of 2007, I signed up for the next possible time to present our company to their staff which was today, March 4th, 2008. Eight quick months later and here we are showing our products to a firm that includes their clients roster like:
The Chateau at Beaver Creek , Arrabelle / Vail, CO, The Grand Hyatt Denver Guestrooms / Denver, CO
Main Street Station / Breckenridge, CO
Limelite / Aspen, CO
Old Greenwood / Lake Tahoe, CA
Vail Plaza Club & Hotel / Vail, CO
Inn at Beaver Creek / Beaver Creek, CO
The Residential Suites at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch





JL discussing the virtues of reclaimed teak and why it is perfect for Mountain Living.

Casa Primera Luz / Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Eagles Nest / Beaver Creek, CO
Tomboy Mine Retreat / Telluride, CO
Exclusive Resorts / Beaver Creek, Vail and Lake Tahoe
Great Bear Lodge / North Lake Tahoe, CA
Beaver Creek Hyatt Vacation Club / Beaver Creek, CO
Teton Club / Jackson Hole, WY
Miner's Club at the Canyons / Park City, UT
Palmilla, Ultimate Resort , Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Ritz Carlton / Aspen Highlands, CO
Roaring Fork Club / Basalt, CO
Snowmass Club / Snowmass, CO
Vail Plaza Club & Hotel / Vail, CO
Flattops / Steamboat Springs, CO




The presentation included about 15-20 of the design staff looking at the many products we brought in from The Mark Suess Collection to Rusteaka and even a carved entrance door for a wine room.


The story could go on and on but the picture has been drawn, Slifer is the firm in high-end mountain living and we felt fortunate to be invited to show our exciting collections of indoor and outdoor living to them.

The world is catching on to being eco-friendly in your living spaces and Slifer Designs is at the forefront of that movement. This will be a great partnership together.

It is hard to imagine a meeting in July of 2007 would lead us to JL standing in a blizzard in Edwards (just west of Vail) in March, 2008.

At least she was able to fly up for the meeting. I was fortunate enough to drive up from Arizona with samples, get caught in a blizzard and spend a night in a gymnasium cuddling up basketballs and hoolahoops in northern New Mexico.

Off to Aspen , Telluride and Taos. Will report more later. Please come back.

Jay