In celebration of springtime, I made a big purchase.
Big as in size (this outdoor umbrella has a colossal 9-foot wingspan), as in impact (a Crate & Barrel design with vibrant Marimekko Madison yellow fabric), and as in value (originally priced as a $359 set, it was marked down to $161.95!). OK, big as in expensive too, because savings aside, this was still a bigger item than I’m used to splurging on. I’ve been wanting to gradually update my outdoor furniture collection even though it’s not a big priority in the grand scheme of things, and this was just one of those seize-the-opportunity-and-save-serious-dough moments that I couldn’t pass up.
But now it’s apparent that I need a bigger table.
Like, way bigger, because my little <$100 table and chair set looks child-sized. Hopefully I’ll find a can’t-pass-me-up deal this fall when lawn furniture isn’t quite the hot ticket item as it is right here, right now.
Back to the ‘brella. The fabric, so cheery and yellow, adds a lot of vibrance and happiness to the back deck, and also plays nicely with the gray siding and eggplant door of the sunroom. Oh, there’s Pete working in the sunroom. Hi Pete.
The quality, I’m impressed with. The framework is strong; strong, as in heavy-weighted and durable, and also as in capable of strength. Unlike other umbrellas I’ve had the opportunity to carry/raise/lower, there’s no fighting this mechanism, and it glides open smoothly with the turn of the handle. And more importantly, it stays that way. None of that use-all-of-your-muscles-and-hope-it-doesn’t-slide-back-down, that thing goes up and stays up. Even in a breeze on a Wednesday afternoon, which is when I was taking these pictures.
Also noteworthy, it has a tilting mechanism like I’ve never used before. With a twist of a cuff on the the pole, the entire top of the umbrella tilts to whatever angle you set it to. Worth pointing out because it’s different mechanically than some other models; no worries about pinching your fingers while the whole top is flopping around in the breeze, and no stretching up towards the sky awkwarding exposing your summer midriff to Grandma.
Umbrella quality has certainly been improving since I was a kid.
5 Comments
Ooh such a cheerful umbrella!!
If you’re looking for new outdoor furniture keep your eye out for the end of summer sale at Costplus World Market. We got our 6 person table, chairs, and cushions for $200…saved $800! Everything was marked down 75% and we had a 10 or 15% off coupon…I’m still very proud of that savings.
Good call! I never actually considered ordering anything large from that site (I tend to buy furniture locally when possible to save on shipping) but that’s a great deal. I’ll keep an eye out late in the summer!
I love that umbrella! How did you get such a good price on it? I see C&B has a sale on their outdoor furniture, but the prices are much higher than what you paid!
I can only guess that it was a very end-of-last-year-stock sale! I saw the product on the site for a few weeks before I bought, always expecting it to be gone when I returned… l-u-c-k-y.