| If it wasn't for Thomas Lee's need for comfortable | | | | Of course, you don't have to take a trek to the |
| outdoor chairs for his summer home way back in 1903, | | | | Adirondacks to create your own retreat where your |
| we'd probably never have discovered Adirondack | | | | Adirondack chairs take center stage. There are plenty |
| chairs and their rustic comfort. | | | | of small things you can do to the outdoor spaces |
| Of course, Thomas never actually called them | | | | around your home that will bring the beauty of upstate |
| Adirondack chairs. Not even his good friend, Harry | | | | New York just a few steps away from your front or |
| Bunnel, called them by that name. Needing money, he | | | | back door. |
| borrowed Thomas' chair design and began building | | | | A good view isn't essential, but it doesn't hurt either. |
| them in his small carpentry shop. His original name for | | | | You don't have to have a view of the mountains to |
| them was Westport chairs and that's how they were | | | | enjoy the comfort of your chairs. If you have a nice |
| originally marketed. | | | | backyard or a front porch, the view will do nicely. You |
| No one knows when they became Adirondack chairs, | | | | can add some plants and decorative touches to your |
| but the name undoubtedly came from the chair's | | | | space that have a rustic quality to them. Planters, |
| popularity in the Adirondacks in upstate New York. | | | | country art, a settee and some small accent tables |
| The very first ones were crafted from a single piece | | | | should fill the bill. |
| board cut into eleven pieces of wood. That was one | | | | Color is important. While early Adirondack chairs were |
| long board. | | | | painted brown or green, white seems to be the |
| The characteristic slant of Adirondack chairs is | | | | standard today. But don't let that stop you from going |
| unmistakable. It was designed that way to keep the | | | | with something a little more colorful. One way to |
| person sitting in it from falling out when the chair was | | | | create contrast is to paint your Adirondack chairs the |
| set up on a slant. In the Adirondacks, it wasn't always | | | | same color as the trim on your house or cabin. |
| easy to find a flat place to put a chair, particularly | | | | If you're not sure you want color, go au natural instead. |
| when you wanted to take in the spectacular views of | | | | A simple coat of varnish or a sealer will make your |
| the surrounding mountains, hills, lakes and streams. | | | | Adirondack chairs look great and keep the weather |
| The scenic beauty of the Adirondacks were one of | | | | from ruining the wood. It also gives the chairs a nice |
| the main reasons Adirondack chairs became so | | | | woodsy feel that will go well with the country or rustic |
| popular. Beginning with the late 19th century and | | | | décor you have in mind. |
| extending well into the 20th century, millions of visitors | | | | One thing's for sure. Classic pieces of furniture - like |
| came to the "Central Park of the World," as an 1864 | | | | Adirondack chairs - that have stood the test of time, |
| edition of The New York Times heralded the area. | | | | will always be in fashion. |