ON-TREND TIMBER

Dave Schofield, commercial manager for furniture maker Mark Tuckey, offers his advice for buying timber outdoor furniture: What are the best outdoor timbers to buy? “I recommend thermally modified timbers, such as New Zealand pine, American ash, soft maple and oak, and quintessential Australian timbers such as blackbutt, ironbark and spotted gum.” How do I keep it looking good? “Be prepared to maintain it. Anything forgotten outside will lose its lustre, mottle and eventually perish. But it’s easy and economical to reapply a clear finish. It doesn’t take much longer than doing the washing up and only needs be done a couple of times a year. Good finishes are readily available.”

What’s on trend? “Furniture shapes might not vary greatly but their stains can. We might see them follow the trends of external cladding and the like, but with blocks of colour that tie back to the story inside the home: blacks and whites; deep browns and reds, etc. Pale and natural timbers, like blackbutt, will always be popular.”