Embracing Outdoor Living on the West Coast

As the delightful days of summer edge closer, and the evenings stretch out, many of us find ourselves drawn to the outdoors – making it the perfect time to think about creating your ideal patio space! To ensure you get just the right furniture to enjoy those moments, we do recommend ordering a little earlier in the season. Popular pieces often find new homes quickly! 😉

Here in beautiful British Columbia, as we look towards 2025, outdoor furniture trends are highlighting the charm of local and Canadian-made products, with a real focus on sustainability. It’s wonderful to see more and more furniture companies choosing eco-friendly and durable materials. You can also expect to see clever modular and multifunctional pieces that really help you make the most of your outdoor areas. Even a small balcony can become a truly inviting extra “room” to enjoy!

Here are a few trends we’re noticing:

  • Industrial Chic: The thoughtful use of aluminum and metal accents alongside contrasting materials can add a stylish, contemporary edge to your outdoor spaces.
  • Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Flow: We’re seeing a lovely blurring of the lines between our indoor and outdoor living areas, with comfortable seating, weather-friendly rugs, and even fire pits and other fire features continuing to be popular for adding warmth and ambiance to outdoor gatherings.
  • Natural and Earthy Colour Stories: The warmth of natural wood tones and other organic colours inspired by the earth are very much in favour this year.
  • Smart and Convenient Furniture: Features like built-in charging stations, gentle LED lighting, and materials designed to respond to the weather are making outdoor living even more enjoyable and hassle-free.

Project Spotlight:
Vancouver House

We’re excited to share a recent project that our Flow team completed at the remarkable Vancouver House, that striking, forward-thinking high-rise in downtown Vancouver envisioned by the talented Danish architect Bjarke Ingels.

Our task involved furnishing the entire 1200+ square foot, three-bedroom residence, including the two wonderful patios that wrap around this corner unit. We wanted to take a moment to highlight how we approached the design of these patios, transforming their somewhat challenging long and narrow layout into inviting spaces for relaxation and connection.

Knowing that our client enjoys hosting gatherings, it was important to select comfortable pieces that wouldn’t overwhelm the space. We gravitated towards furniture with sleek, clean lines and a contemporary feel, and the combination of aluminum and wood in the sofas and chairs worked beautifully to achieve this.

We chose a harmonious palette of beige, charcoal, and green, which brought a sense of warmth and understated elegance to the outdoor areas.

The design thoughtfully created several distinct lounging spots, conveniently located near the guest bedroom, the primary bedroom, and the main dining area. Being a corner unit, the owner enjoys lovely views, including Granville Island and English Bay – a perfect spot to watch the fireworks!

Ultimately, we believe that outdoor spaces, no matter their size, are an integral part of the home and should be designed with care to maximize their enjoyment. We hope this glimpse into our Vancouver House project inspires you as you consider your own outdoor spaces