Desert climate ideal for taking the inside out

"In countries where there is a mild climate, less effort is expended on the struggle with nature and man is kinder and more gentle." Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), Russian playwright, "Uncle Vanya"

Folks like us who are lucky enough to live in Las Vegas know how important it is to have outdoor living space. Those other folks who have to live elsewhere think it's nice to move outdoors during the summer. They have no idea how wonderful it is to utilize outdoor space year-round. The great outdoors can, in fact, be very calming and peaceful.

And, yes, I know the column is called "Inside Spaces," but I have come across some absolutely amazing furniture recently that could just as easily fit inside. So we're going with it, OK?

Inside furniture has made its way outside quite often on porches and covered patios. In our quest to expand our living space, outdoor sleeping quarters, outside kitchens and, of course, outdoor sitting areas abound.

Even fabrics made for indoor use have found their way outside as long as the space is covered. An image that remains with me after almost 20 years is a fabulous wraparound porch designed by famed designer Mario Buatta, aka the Prince of Chintz. The home was in the South, I believe, and there were several overstuffed sofas and chairs upholstered in floral chintz, of course, placed around the porch and each seating area was graced with a coffee table, side tables, lamps and lots of accessories. Large sprawling potted palms were placed around the porch and ceiling fans were lazily spinning the hot sultry air (oh, sorry -- this is Inside Spaces, not "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"). Large hanging baskets of Boston ferns were hung around the porch, and the pièce de résistance was matching chintz draperies hung all around the outside of the porch. As you can tell, I was very impressed by the space to be able to recall it this well.

However, we don't live in the steamy South, but rather in our very hip desert setting. You won't find many chintz rooms around here, and especially not outdoor ones. We're into clean, cool lines; the less fuss and bother the cooler the space seems.

When I saw these new pieces by Tropitone, I knew they were something you needed to see. The furniture is so very perfect for our climate and setting, and, quite honestly, you could move it indoors in a pinch. There are actually designers who employ that tactic; often you will see a typically designed living room and then there will be an Adirondack chair or two in the mix. And in most instances it works.

According to Michael Echolds, chief executive officer of the company, "Tropitone is the first major manufacturer in the casual furniture industry to design a complete modular seating group using a polymer molding process. The Mobilis collection is continuing that tradition. It represents a daring new style for casual furniture that is likely to turn heads with its contemporary sophistication."

The pieces of the collection, which include a center module, a curved corner module, a reverse curve module, a square ottoman and a curved ottoman, are mobile and can be configured easily into many different seating arrangements. For example, the ottoman can be placed snuggly against the center module to create a chaise and the curved corner module, when placed next to two center modules, creates a sofa.

For more information on this collection visit www.tropitone.com.

Creating an inviting outdoor space is easy to do. Take the things you love inside your home and find their counterparts for outdoor living. In our world, casual, contemporary, simple and clean will be your best bet.

Carolyn Muse Grant is the founding president of the Architectural & Decorative Arts Society, as well as an interior design consultant/stylist specializing in home staging. Her Inside Spaces column appears weekly in the Home section of the Review-Journal. Send questions to creativemuse@cox.net.