Dans Papers - June 8, 2007 - Luxury Poolsides

Warm August evenings need no pomp and circumstance, just a keen eye for impeccable design. The atmosphere is in the waning heat and the salt caked on the side of your face, the radiating pink-cream sky, and the rustling sea grass. Integrate your environment (which provides 90 percent of ambient success) into your aesthetic vision. The essence of summer elegance is all in appearance of effortlessness, thus I can think of no better piece to begin creating a majestic poolside haven with than an authentic Indian tent.

After purchasing a tent from Rajasthan, Simon and Juliet Teakle received numerous compliments on their outdoor fixture and began importing and distributing the product under the newly conceived company name, The Pavilion Tent Co. The tent exterior is made of sturdy, hardwearing, water-resistant canvas and the linings come in a wide variety of colors and combinations offering room for total fantasy freedom! Hedonism feels guilt free when married to simplicity, so cultivate your dream lounge to every instinctual vein in your heart and feel great about it. The tents come in sizes ranging from the ability to accommodate a 60-person dinner, to space enough for just a few people gathering for a drink. Even if you don't want the tent as a permanent fixture, it's a must-have for events and dinner parties.

Let's go inside. Are you ready? Stretch out like a cat, full yawn and shudder included, on your Amalfi Tuxedo sofa by Janus et Cie. The plush cushions come in neutrals; an ashy white or barky-toupe would suit the understated aesthetic, while a splash of violet will retain the 'joie de vivre' pulsing through your design. Try a large pillow in a fun color. Raw silk is a widely used material by Rajisthanis so it may be a fabric to look into, however, there is room for variety as a "punch" item is meant to create contrast.

The Janus et Cie exterior loom furniture collection is also a great line to look into while decorating the patio. The loom furniture is made from Kraft paper twisted around a special galvanized wire. The finish is superior to wicker because it does not snag or snare clothing and it does not wear if properly cared for. The high-quality pieces show little to no signs of aging decades after purchasing. The product comes in espresso, ivory, natural, and outdoor gray, all great choices for easy, unpretentious glamour by the pool. A fabulous lounge chair is the Kona Sofa, which has an oasis-like support bending the natural curve of your back.

The Haute Couture of outdoor furniture, however, is Hugonet. This summer's collection is full of stripes and brights. Hugonet furniture is all hand crafted and can be personalized per request. This particular collection, the Atlanta, Malibu, Sud, Madison, and Victoria each created by different prominent designers, is manufactured from aluminum profiles and painted with powdered polyester paint. The tables are available in sanded or painted glass and there is a removable polyester vinyl fabric for the chaises and sofas.

With color names such as Lagoon and Jamaica, the originality of the hue is expressed in its title. Every color is perfectly unique, yet never garish or even close to tacky. A piece that cannot be overlooked is Frederic Mechiche's deck chair, part of the Malibu line. The mustard yellow frame supports a white and yellow striped cushion in an utterly unexpected design.

Christian Liaigre, creative director of Hugonet's Atlanta line, features a wooden waffle cut out center table with a white aluminum frame sitting low on the ground. Although small items will most likely slip through the squares, the artistic appeal strongly outweighs the need for functionality on this table.

I have mentioned the finest, most exclusive outdoor furniture distributors, but these lines all channel sensibility and beauty while avoiding flashy pomp. Understatement, I firmly believe, will always say more than putting on the Ritz ever will. Have fun with these wildly beautiful and innovative designs this summer, and remember the key ingredient to style success is already in the sea air.