The debut episode of the Fowler Brothers Co. podcast covers a question that sounds simple and turns out not to be: what makes a house feel like a home?
Carter Fowler, president of Fowler Brothers, sits down with Eric Ross, recognized interior designer, for a conversation that covers how he got into the field, the philosophy behind his signature style, and why the rooms that age best are almost never the ones that chased a trend.
The Story Behind the Podcast
Fowler Brothers has been a family business since 1885. That kind of history means there are real stories here, about the craftspeople behind the furniture, the families who have furnished their homes with us across generations, and the pieces that have moved from one household to the next carrying memories with them.
That is part of why this podcast exists. A sofa is just a sofa until it becomes the one your kids grew up on. A dining table is just wood and finish until it is the table where your family has eaten together for twenty years. The furniture you choose for your home is not just a purchase. It is the beginning of a story that belongs to your family.
About Eric Ross
Eric Ross has spent more than two decades designing Southern interiors with work featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and Southern Living. He is known for rooms that feel collected rather than decorated, spaces where a French antique and a contemporary sofa can share a wall without either one looking out of place.
His latest book, Embracing Southern Homes, captures that approach in full. It blends European eclecticism with antiques, contemporary furniture, and richly textured fabrics, and reads less like a trend guide and more like a design philosophy built around comfort, hospitality, and rooms that hold up over time.
Signed copies of Embracing Southern Homes by Eric Ross at the Fowler Brothers Co. Showroom
The Showroom Event and Book Signing
After the podcast recording, Eric joined us at the Fowler Brothers showroom for an evening talk called Living with Antiquities in a Modern World. He walked through how to bring inherited and antique pieces into a contemporary home without the result feeling like a mismatch, covering scale, finish, and the specific qualities that let old and new furniture share a room naturally.
The evening wrapped with a signing of his book, Embracing Southern Homes. It was a wonderful night, and the conversations in the room afterward was exactly the kind of thing this podcast was built to continue sharing.
Memorial Day marks the start of summer. But before the season takes over with pool parties and road trips, there is a weekend worth pausing for, one that deserves a bit more intention than a bag of red Solo cups and a cooler full of hot dogs.
Hosting a Memorial Day gathering that actually honors the day while still feeling warm, relaxed, and undeniably stylish is entirely possible. It does not require a party planner or a big budget. What it requires is a few deliberate choices, starting with color.
Outdoor entertaining spaces have become one of the top home improvement priorities for American homeowners. People are investing in their outdoor rooms. The question is how to make those spaces feel polished and personal at the same time.
How Do You Pull Off Patriotic Without Going Overboard?
The goal is patriotic elegance, not a discount-store holiday aisle. The difference comes down to proportion and quality.
Interior designers often reference the 60-30-10 rule: 60% of your space stays neutral (white, cream, warm wood tones), 30% carries a primary color (soft navy or indigo), and the final 10% is where the accent color, bright red, lives. This ratio keeps the palette feeling curated instead of costumed.
Swap primary red, white, and blue for richer, older hues. Think crimson instead of fire-engine red. Indigo instead of royal blue. Cream instead of stark white. These are the shades you find on an actual American flag, not on a paper plate. The difference is subtle but unmistakable.
Texture matters more than pattern. A red-striped linen napkin reads as considered design. A plastic tablecloth printed with fireworks reads as an afterthought. When in doubt, choose a material you would want to touch.
Outdoor rooms that feel like home: Sticking to the 60-30-10 design rule keeps your Memorial Day palette feeling curated, intentional, and relaxed.
What Is the Smartest Way to Add Patriotic Style to Existing Furniture?
You do not need to replace anything. The best Memorial Day setups work with what is already there, adding layers that feel seasonal without looking temporary.
Outdoor pillows are the fastest way to shift a space. Navy ticking stripes or solid crimson lumbar pillows dropped onto your existing patio chairs take about ten minutes and cost very little. A lightweight cream throw draped over the back of a chair adds a relaxed, layered quality that also doubles as a real blanket once the temperature drops after sunset.
For a table centerpiece, keep it grounded. White hydrangeas in a navy blue ginger jar. A wooden tray holding red berries, white candles, and a few sprigs of greenery. Simple arrangements with clear logic feel intentional. Elaborate ones tend to look frantic.
If your gathering flows between indoors and outdoors, use consistent glassware and serving platters in both zones. This small detail creates visual continuity that makes a party feel designed rather than assembled.
Which Outdoor Furniture Brands Are Worth Investing in This Season?
If Memorial Day is the prompt you needed to finally upgrade your outdoor setup, here are the brands that hold up, literally and aesthetically.
Polywood is built from recycled materials and essentially indestructible. Available in coastal white and navy, the pieces never need painting and hold their color season after season. Adirondack chairs arranged around a fire pit in these finishes photograph beautifully and age even better.
Summer Classics, available at Fowler Brothers, specializes in wrought aluminum and teak. The cushions are UV-resistant, which matters more than people realize when furniture sits in direct sun all summer. These pieces are investment-grade, the kind of outdoor furniture that outlasts the house trends around it.
Telescope Casual makes excellent sling chairs with a resort quality at a price that makes sense for residential use. For pools with a tanning ledge, Ledge Lounger produces white in-water loungers that create an instant resort feel. The contrast of white against blue water is one of the cleanest visual combinations in outdoor design.
The Fowler Brothers showroom carries several of these lines and can help you find the right combination for your space before you commit.
The ultimate summer kickoff: In-water pool loungers create an instant resort feel, offering a clean, striking contrast of crisp white against blue water.
How Do You Take the Cookout Menu from Ordinary to Memorable?
The food is where most Memorial Day gatherings either rise or fall. Fortunately, small changes to the standard cookout lineup can make the whole event feel more considered.
The Big Green Egg is worth mentioning here because it does something a standard grill cannot. The ceramic heat retention means you can smoke a brisket low and slow overnight and still use the same cooker to sear thick-cut ribeyes at high heat an hour before guests arrive. Smoked mac and cheese cooked directly in the Egg has become a staple at some of Chattanooga’s best backyard gatherings for a reason.
For the table, skip the sheet cake with grocery store frosting. A vanilla bean layer cake with fresh whipped cream, topped with a clean geometric arrangement of strawberries and blueberries, is both patriotic and genuinely beautiful. No blue food coloring required.
For drinks, serve a watermelon gin fizz or blueberry-infused lemonade from a glass dispenser set out on the table. The visual of a well-stocked drink station does a lot of work at a party. People remember it.
What Are the Easiest Ways to Add Meaning to the Day?
Memorial Day is not just the opener for barbecue season. It honors the men and women who died in military service to the United States. Bringing that acknowledgment into a gathering does not have to be heavy or formal.
A simple moment before the meal, a few words about who the day is for, is enough. You can print a short quote on card stock and set it at the center of the table. You can display a flag properly rather than as decoration. These gestures cost nothing and say a great deal about the kind of host you are.
The best parties tend to be the ones where guests walk away feeling like they were part of something. Memorial Day gives you a built-in reason to make that happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to make outdoor furniture look more festive without buying new pieces?
Outdoor throw pillows are the fastest fix. Swap in navy, crimson, or cream options in quality fabric. A set of two to four pillows per seating area can shift the entire mood of a patio in an afternoon.
How do I keep a patriotic color palette from looking cheap?
Use the 60-30-10 rule and lean toward muted, richer versions of the colors. Crimson over neon red. Indigo over bright blue. Cream over stark white. Natural textures like linen, wood, and ceramic also read as more considered than plastic or glossy finishes. Schedule a design consultation at Fowler Brothers Co. Home + Patio.
What outdoor furniture holds up best in the Southern summer heat?
Polywood handles heat and humidity without warping or fading. Summer Classics pieces with UV-resistant cushions are built for prolonged sun exposure. Both lines are available through Fowler Brothers and are worth the investment if you entertain regularly.
What is a good signature drink for a Memorial Day party?
Blueberry-infused lemonade in a large glass dispenser works well for a crowd and serves itself visually. For adults, a watermelon gin fizz with a sprig of mint reads as seasonal and elevated without requiring a full bar setup.
Where can I find quality outdoor furniture in Chattanooga?
Fowler Brothers Co. in Chattanooga carries a curated selection of premium outdoor brands including Summer Classics and Lloyd Flanders. The showroom team can help you choose pieces that work for your specific outdoor space and budget.
People keep saying nobody uses the dining room anymore. The numbers tell a different story. According to the 2024 Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, 41% of homeowners renovating their kitchens are also opening up adjacent dining areas because they want one connected space for eating, working, and gathering. So the room isn’t dying. It’s just changing jobs.
This is exactly where custom dining furniture earns its keep. A piece you helped design fits the way you actually use the room: a homework station by day, a dinner table at night, a holiday spread in December.
What Makes Canadel Different from Off-the-Shelf Dining Sets?
Most dining sets come pre-built with one shape, one finish, and one chair option. Canadel works differently. You pick the table style, the leg, the wood species, the stain, and the chairs separately. Then those choices come together in a piece made to your spec.
A few things stand out about how Canadel works:
You aren’t locked into a matching set. Canadel encourages mixing. Two upholstered host chairs at the heads of the table with simpler wood side chairs along the sides give the room architecture and comfort at the same time. It feels intentional, not boxy.
The style range is wide. A traditional trestle table can be modernized with matte black hardware or a glass top. A clean-lined modern base can be warmed up with a hand-rubbed wood finish. Same brand. Two completely different rooms.
The fabric library is deep. Canadel offers more than 145 fabric options for upholstered seats, including performance fabrics, leathers, and velvets. That matters more than it sounds. The wrong fabric choice is the fastest way to regret a custom piece.
Custom furniture allows you to choose between sleek modern lines (left) or rich, timeless elegance (right), tailored to your space.
How Do You Choose Between Cushioned and Solid Wood Seats?
This is the question that trips up most shoppers. Both are good. They just suit different homes.
Cushioned seats earn their spot if your dining room doubles as a workspace, or if you host long meals where people sit and talk for two hours. Soft seating keeps everyone comfortable. Performance fabrics handle spills better than people expect.
Solid wood seats are practically indestructible. Spilled juice wipes off. Pet hair brushes away. A scratch from a chair pulled in too quickly adds character instead of damage. If your house runs loud and busy, solid wood is usually the smarter call.
A middle path exists too. Some families pick wood for the side chairs and cushioned seats for the host chairs. Easy cleanup for the kids, comfort for the grown-ups.
What Shape and Finish Should Your Table Be?
Shape changes how the room feels more than people realize.
Round tables are conversation machines. Everyone faces everyone. There’s no head of the table. They work best in smaller rooms or for families of four to six who want a more casual feel.
Rectangular and oval tables with leaves are built for hosting. Add a leaf when family comes for Thanksgiving, then pull it back out for normal weeks. If you regularly seat eight or more, this is the shape to look at.
Finish is where personality comes in. Mixing wood tones is no longer a design crime. A washed honey table top paired with dove white painted legs feels bright and farmhouse-leaning. A walnut top on black metal legs reads modern and crisp. Glass tops bring light into rooms that don’t get a lot of it.
The mistake people make is matching the dining table finish exactly to the kitchen cabinets. A small contrast looks more designed and less builder-grade.
This modern farmhouse dining room shows the value of custom two-tone finishes and flexible seating with a matching bench.
How Do You Style a Dining Table for Day-to-Day Life?
A dining table that sits empty between meals starts to look lonely. Treat the surface like a small gallery instead.
The rule of thirds works well. Group items in the center third of the table on a decorative tray. A candle, a stack of two or three coffee table books, and a sculptural bowl together feel curated. One sad candlestick alone does not.
For height and life, a tall clear glass vase with oversized branches (eucalyptus, olive, or magnolia) works better than fresh-cut flowers because it lasts months and doesn’t need water changes every three days.
If the table is also your daytime workspace, store the laptop and notebooks in a Canadel buffet or sideboard nearby. At 5 PM, you clear the work, slide the greenery back to the center, and the room shifts modes. That kind of flexibility is the whole point of a dining setup that works for real life.
Why Build Your Set at Fowler Brothers Co. Home + Patio?
Fowler Brothers Co. Home + Patio has carried Canadel for years, and we use the Canadel Design Tool right in the showroom. You sit down, pick the table, choose the chairs, scroll through finishes and fabrics, and watch your set render on screen before any wood gets cut.
That matters because custom furniture is a real investment. Seeing the piece in 3D before you commit removes most of the second-guessing. We also walk you through which fabrics hold up to kids, which wood species resist dings, and which finishes show fingerprints (some do, some really don’t).
We don’t just sell the furniture. We help you think through how the room actually has to function for your life.
Ready to design a dining set that fits your life? Visit Fowler Brothers Co. Home + Patio in person to see the Canadel collection and use the design tool with one of our specialists. Schedule a consultation now.
The American Institute of Architects has tracked outdoor living spaces as the most requested special function room by homeowners in its annual Home Design Trends Survey for multiple consecutive years. In the Southeast, where the outdoor season runs well into spring, that investment goes further than almost anywhere else in the country. Whether you’re working with a narrow wrap-around porch off a bungalow or a full sunroom addition, the same thinking applies.
How do you make a screened porch feel like a real room?
A porch furnished like a porch looks unfinished. Furniture pushed to the walls, no layout logic, a few chairs with nothing connecting them, it reads as an afterthought. The difference usually isn’t what you bought. It’s whether you thought about the arrangement.
Start with an outdoor rug to anchor the space
A rug fixes more than people expect. It grounds the furniture, defines the space, and does the visual work of saying “this is somewhere to be.” For Chattanooga’s humidity and seasonal swings, you want a moisture-resistant outdoor rug that handles the climate without looking like it came from a campsite. Capel Rugs and Jaipur Living, both carried at Fowler Brothers Co. Home & Patio, make outdoor-rated options in patterns that feel polished, not just practical.
Use a geometric rug and a central floral arrangement to anchor your seating group and create an “outdoor room” feel.
Arrange outdoor seating in conversation groupings, not against the walls
Seating goes in the middle. A sofa on one side, two chairs across from it, a coffee table between them. Side tables within arm’s reach. That’s a room. It sounds obvious because it is, the problem is most people don’t do it.
What outdoor furniture materials work best for Chattanooga’s climate?
Humidity is real, even inside a screened space. Chattanooga summers are warm and wet, and the shoulder seasons add their own conditions. Materials that handle moisture without needing seasonal maintenance will outlast anything that requires babying.
A screened porch gives you more flexibility than a fully exposed patio, though. Fabrics don’t need to be bulletproof. Finishes that wouldn’t survive a direct rainstorm work fine with a roof overhead. Plush cushions, refined upholstery, softer textures, all of it is on the table. The gap between “outdoor furniture” and furniture you’d actually want in any room gets a lot smaller.
All-weather wicker, powder-coated aluminum, and teak for screened porches
These three materials cover most of what you’ll need. All-weather wicker handles humidity well and looks refined. Powder-coated aluminum is lightweight, rust-resistant, and comes in every profile from traditional to contemporary. Teak is the most investment-heavy option but also the most timeless, it weathers naturally and holds up for decades with minimal care.
Summer Classics, Lane Venture, and Lloyd Flanders: outdoor seating built for the Southeast
Lloyd Flanders’ woven pieces hold up well in screened environments: durable, but designed to feel like a living room rather than a hardware store display. Summer Classics and Lane Venture both make deep-seating collections with performance fabrics built for actual outdoor conditions, but styled like indoor furniture. You’re not picking these pieces because they’re practical. You’re choosing them because they’re good.
How do you create functional zones in a larger screened porch or sunroom?
Bigger screened spaces need structure or they become one large, awkward room where nobody knows where to sit. A lounging corner with a sofa and a floor lamp. A dining area with a table and chairs. A quieter spot with a swivel chair and an accent table beside it. Each area has a purpose, and together they make the whole space work instead of just filling it.
Don’t be afraid of bold lighting. A statement chandelier can define a dining zone just as effectively as a rug.
Using outdoor sectionals and seating groupings to define porch zones
No walls required. A well-placed rug defines an area on its own. Tight groupings for conversation, more breathing room around a dining table, the furniture density does the work. The question worth asking before you shop is not “what fits?” but “what will this space actually be used for?”
What outdoor accessories and lighting complete a screened porch in Chattanooga?
This is where the personality comes in. Inside a screened space, you’re not limited to fade-resistant-only options. Protected from direct sun and rain, you can bring in patterned textiles, richer colors, and varied textures that would fall apart on an exposed patio in one season.
Outdoor accent pillows and patio accessories for screened porches
Elaine Smith makes indoor/outdoor pillows that look nothing like outdoor pillows — actual design, on performance fabric. Wendy Jane and the Earnest Collection are worth looking at for the same reason. These aren’t compromise purchases. They’re the kind of accessories you’d choose regardless of where the room is.
Outdoor lighting solutions for screened porches and sunrooms
Lighting is more important than most people plan for. The overhead screening cuts natural light, and screened porches tend to go flat by mid-afternoon if you haven’t accounted for it. A floor lamp in one corner fixes the ambiance and gives you reading light after dark. Wall-mounted sconces or rechargeable table lamps, Visual Comfort makes good versions of both, add warmth without running new wiring. The screened porches that get used year-round almost always have the lighting figured out. The ones that don’t go empty after 5 PM.
Where can Chattanooga homeowners get help styling a screened porch?
Getting a screened porch right takes more than picking pieces you like. Proportion, material performance, lighting, how the room connects to your interior, there’s more to it than most people realize until they’re standing in a space that almost works but doesn’t quite.
Free interior design consultation at Fowler Brothers Co. Home & Patio — Chattanooga, TN
Most people furnish an outdoor room once. We’ve done it thousands of times. Fowler Brothers Co. Home & Patio has been helping Chattanooga homeowners work through these decisions for over 140 years. We’re the largest indoor and outdoor furniture showroom in the Southeast, at 1903 E 24th St. Place, just off I-24 at the 4th Ave. exit — open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM.
Soften modern lines by adding organic shapes, like these petrified wood-style accent tables, to your sunroom or terrace.
Frequently asked questions about screened porch furniture in Chattanooga, TN
What is the best outdoor furniture material for a screened porch in Chattanooga, TN?
All-weather wicker, powder-coated aluminum, and teak all hold up well. Performance fabrics from Summer Classics and Lane Venture handle humidity and seasonal temperature changes without breaking down. If your space is well-protected, you have more flexibility than most people assume — including upholstered pieces with performance cushions that feel nothing like outdoor furniture.
Can I use indoor furniture on a screened porch or sunroom?
Sometimes. In a well-protected screened porch, some indoor pieces will hold up fine. The real risk is humidity — solid wood without a protective finish can swell or warp over time. Furniture designed for protected outdoor use is the safer bet, and it comes in a much wider range of styles than it used to. Our design team can walk you through what makes sense for your specific space.
How do I choose the right rug size for a screened porch?
Go bigger than you think. A rug that’s too small makes the whole arrangement look unmoored, and it’s one of the most common mistakes we see. Aim for a size where at least the front two legs of your main seating sit on it — ideally all four. For most screened porches, an 8×10 or 9×12 works well. Bring your measurements when you visit and we can help narrow it down.
What is the difference between furnishing a screened porch versus a fully exposed patio?
A screened porch keeps furniture away from direct rain and most UV exposure, which opens up softer fabrics, more refined finishes, and materials that wouldn’t last a season outside. A fully exposed patio needs materials rated for full outdoor conditions — teak, marine-grade aluminum, HDPE poly lumber. Buying tough weather-ready furniture for a screened space usually means paying for durability you don’t need.
Does Fowler Brothers Co. offer design help for screened porches and sunrooms in Chattanooga?
Yes, our award-winning interior design team handles these projects — furniture selection, room planning, lighting, accessories, and coordinating with your existing interior. Schedule at fowlerbrothersco.com or come by 1903 E 24th St. Place in Chattanooga, Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM.
You’ve seen the rooms that stop you mid-scroll. Spaces that feel layered, rich, and full of life. They don’t look like a showroom catalog, and they don’t look like someone played it safe. They look lived in and intentional. What you’re responding to is pattern.
More specifically, it’s a design approach called pattern drenching. Instead of limiting yourself to one pattern or keeping everything neutral, you layer multiple patterns together in a way that feels cohesive and purposeful. Stripes and florals are a classic pairing that interior designers have relied on for generations, and when you bring wallpaper and custom wall coverings into the mix, the results take on a whole new dimension.
A solid velvet sofa paired with floral pillows and a patterned rug shows how pattern drenching works best when one piece anchors the room and the layers build around it.
Mixing Patterns with Confidence
The biggest reason most people avoid mixing patterns is fear. It feels risky. What if it looks chaotic? What if the patterns clash? These concerns are fair, but they’re easier to resolve than most people expect.
Mixing stripes and florals successfully comes down to two things: scale and color. Stripes bring structure. Their clean, repeating lines add geometry and order to a room. Florals bring softness and movement. Their organic shapes naturally create balance against the rigidity of a stripe. When both patterns share a similar color palette, they stop competing and start working together.
How to Layer Patterns in a Room
Start with a color palette of two to four colors that run through both patterns. Then vary the scale. A large, loose floral paired with a narrow stripe reads as intentional, not accidental. From there, spread the patterns across different surfaces: upholstery, throw pillows, an area rug, window drapery. Each layer adds depth without any single element overpowering the room.
Don’t Overlook the Walls
This is where wallpaper and custom wall coverings earn their place in the conversation. A patterned wall treatment, whether a bold stripe, a classic toile, a large-scale floral, or a richly textured finish, instantly sets the tone for the entire room. It’s the one surface that surrounds everything else, which means it anchors the design in a way no single piece of furniture or fabric can.
Used thoughtfully, a wall covering becomes the starting point for every other pattern decision in the room. Pull a color from the wallpaper into your upholstery fabric. Echo its scale in the opposite direction with your throw pillows. When the wall treatment is part of the conversation from the beginning, the rest of the room comes together with far less effort.
At Fowler Brothers Co., our wall coverings service covers everything from luxurious wallpaper and decorative panels to textured finishes, with professional installation handled from start to finish. Whether you want a statement wall that anchors the room or a subtle, elegant backdrop that lets your furniture shine, our design team will help you find the right fit.
One of the most common misconceptions is that mixing patterns requires equal amounts of each. It doesn’t. One pattern leads and the other supports. A floral wallpaper with a striped sofa and solid accent chairs, for example, creates visual interest while keeping the room grounded. The wall does the talking. The furniture listens.
Two rooms, two approaches, one idea — pattern drenching done right. From chinoiserie wall panels to floral upholstery and geometric drapery, each space shows how layering patterns with a shared color story creates rooms full of character.
Creating Depth and Personality in a Room
Pattern drenching tells a story. A room dressed in complementary patterns feels collected over time, like a space that reflects the people living in it rather than something assembled from a single shopping trip.
Stripes and florals together evoke a relaxed sophistication. Think English country houses, Parisian apartments, well-loved reading rooms. They bring warmth and character without relying on clutter or excess furniture. Add a custom wall covering into the mix and the room takes on a depth that paint alone simply can’t achieve. In our showroom, clients are often surprised by how much personality two well-chosen patterns plus the right wall treatment can add to an otherwise simple room.
Choosing Complementary Colors Across Patterns
When patterns share even one repeated color, the room feels cohesive. A navy and cream floral wallpaper paired with a cream and soft green striped sofa creates a layered look that feels curated rather than random. You don’t need an exact match between patterns. You need a conversation between them.
Texture plays a supporting role here too. A linen floral drape behaves differently than a velvet striped pillow. A grasscloth wall covering adds an entirely different dimension than a printed paper or a smooth painted surface. That contrast in texture adds richness to the overall design. Pattern drenching works best when texture is considered alongside the print itself, on the walls and throughout the room.
Anchoring the Room with Classic Furniture
Strong patterns need a strong foundation. When a room is rich with pattern, on the walls, the upholstery, and the soft furnishings, the furniture needs to feel stable and timeless. Without that anchor, the space tips from layered into overwhelming.
Classic furniture silhouettes do this naturally. A rolled-arm sofa, a wingback chair, a turned-leg side table. These shapes have endured because they are balanced and proportional. They don’t compete with the patterns around them. They hold the room steady and let the prints take center stage.
Letting the Patterns Shine
Think of classic furniture as the frame around a painting. A well-made piece in a solid fabric or subtle texture lets a floral wallpaper or striped upholstery draw the eye without the room feeling restless. In a pattern-forward space, the furniture is doing quiet but important work.
At Fowler Brothers Co., we carry furniture from brands built for exactly this purpose. Stickley, CR Laine, Rowe. Pieces with enduring silhouettes and construction quality that holds up over decades, not just a few seasons. CR Laine in particular offers an exceptional range of patterns and prints across their upholstery, making it easy to find pieces that complement, rather than compete with, a patterned wall treatment or layered textile scheme.
That kind of foundation gives you the freedom to layer patterns confidently, knowing the room won’t feel overdone.
If you’d like help pulling a look together, our design team at Fowler Brothers Co. is available for in-store consultations or you can also get an online consultation to solve your questions. Come see us in Chattanooga. We’d love to help you create a space that feels like yours.
You moved into your new house and fell in love with it: the location, the layout, the neighborhood feel. But then you stepped out onto that small patio or balcony and thought, what am I supposed to do with this? It’s not exactly a sprawling backyard. There’s no room for a big sectional or a dining set built for eight. And yet, you don’t want to just leave it empty or throw out a cheap folding chair and call it a day.
Here’s the good news: a small outdoor space is an opportunity if you have the right furniture.
That’s exactly where Fermob comes in.
Why Small Outdoor Spaces Deserve Just as Much Attention
In Chattanooga, townhouses, condos, and urban homes are increasingly popular, and with them come compact patios, narrow porches, and cozy balconies. These spaces may be small, but they can become some of the most-used spots in your home when designed thoughtfully.
A well-styled outdoor space adds real value to your daily life. It gives you a place to have your morning coffee without sitting at your kitchen table, a spot to relax after work, or a little corner of calm in the middle of city living.
The Fermob Bistro collection in honey yellow proves that small patio furniture can be just as stylish as it is practical — foldable, lightweight, and full of personality.
Meet Fermob: French Design Built for Real Life
Fermob is a French outdoor furniture brand with over a century of design expertise. They’re best known for their iconic metal furniture, most famously the Luxembourg collection. What makes Fermob stand out is the thoughtful engineering behind each piece.
Outdoor pieces from Fermob are weather-resistant, UV-protected, and finished in an impressive range of rich, beautiful colors. We’re talking over 20 shades: from classic tones like Liquorice and Cotton White to expressive options like Paprika, Verbena, and Opaline Green.
Fermob furniture is also surprisingly lightweight. Most pieces can be moved, stacked, and repositioned with ease.
Smart Furniture Choices for Small Spaces
Bistro Sets and Folding Tables
One of the smartest moves you can make for a small balcony or patio is a bistro set, a small round table paired with two chairs. Fermob’s Bistro collection was practically invented for this purpose. It’s compact, it folds flat for easy storage, and it looks effortlessly stylish.
The Space-Saving Advantage
A common mistake people make with small outdoor spaces is buying furniture that’s too bulky or too permanent. Fermob’s stackable and foldable designs let you adapt your space based on the moment: whether you’re hosting a couple of friends for drinks or simply relaxing solo with.
Color as a Design Tool
Here’s something most people don’t think about: in a small space, color becomes one of your most powerful design tools. A striking chair in Cayenne or Lagoon against a neutral wall or wooden deck can make your patio feel intentional and alive rather than like an afterthought. Fermob’s color palette makes it easy to express your personality without overwhelming the space.
Lighting and Accessories: The Details That Make It Feel Like Home
Great outdoor furniture is just the start. What transforms a patio into a true outdoor retreat is the ambiance, and Fermob’s accessories help you get there.
Fermob Lighting
Fermob offers portable outdoor lighting, including their whimsical Mooon! lamp, It’s rechargeable, wireless, and dimmable, perfect for evenings outside when you want warm, gentle light without the hassle of extension cords.
Adding even one or two outdoor lights to a small patio instantly changes the feeling of the space once the sun goes down. It becomes somewhere you actually want to sit, even on a weeknight.
Cushions and Finishing Touches
Fermob also offers coordinating cushions and accessories designed to complement their furniture lines. Adding a cushion in a complementary color to your chairs brings both comfort and a polished, layered look to the space. These small additions go a long way in making an outdoor space feel warm rather than sterile.
Fermob’s outdoor lighting collection — from the portable Balad lamp to the soft Mooon globe — adds warmth and character to any small patio setup once the sun goes down.
Creating Your Outdoor Retreat, No Matter the Size
We can help you to create a space that feels intentional, comfortable, and like an extension of your home. Here are a few guiding principles:
Start with a purpose. Is this a space for morning coffee, evening cocktails, reading, or entertaining? Let that drive your furniture choices.
Choose one anchor piece. A bistro set or a pair of lounge chairs can be enough to define the space beautifully.
Layer with light and color. A lamp, a cushion, or even a small side table adds depth without adding bulk.
Keep it flexible. Opt for pieces that can stack, fold, or move so your space can shift with your needs.
Don’t underestimate quality. In a small space, every piece is visible, which means quality matters even more than in a large one.
Find Fermob at Fowler Brothers Co.
At Fowler Brothers Co., we’ve been helping Chattanooga homeowners create beautiful spaces since 1885. We carry Fermob because it aligns with what we’ve always believed: great design shouldn’t require a lot of space or sacrifice long-term quality. Working with a balcony the size of a parking spot or a cozy porch you want to fall in love with, our design team can help you choose the right pieces and the right colors to make it work.
There is a specific kind of magic that happens when heritage craftsmanship meets modern comfort. For furniture enthusiasts and collectors, that magic has a name this year: the 2026 LaSalle Rocker.
Stickley has just launched its latest Collector Edition, and it’s a tribute to the past and the lifestyle of the present. For homeowners who value solid wood construction, timeless design, and furniture built to last for generations, this year’s release feels especially meaningful.
The 2026 Stickley LaSalle Rocker blends Prairie School design, solid quartersawn white oak, and heirloom craftsmanship in a timeless interior setting.
A Design Rooted in History
The LaSalle Rocker draws its soul from the Prairie School aesthetic, a movement famously championed by architects like Frank Lloyd Wright. Prairie design emphasizes horizontal lines, organic integration with nature, and a sense of grounded stability. It was architecture meant to feel connected to the earth. Stickley translates that same philosophy into furniture.
What makes LaSalle Rocker stand out?
The Silhouette: It features a rhythmic spindle design that creates a sense of lightness while maintaining the structural integrity Stickley is known for. The back is visually interesting without feeling busy, and the arms sit at a height that feels natural.
The Wood: Crafted in solid quartersawn white oak or cherry, the LaSalle showcases the distinctive “flake” grain that has defined Stickley furniture for more than a century. Quartersawn oak is not just beautiful, it is structurally stable and resistant to warping, which matters if you are investing in heirloom-quality furniture.
The Comfort: LaSalle is built with an ergonomic seat pitch and a plush, loose cushion designed for real, extended use.
The 2026 Stickley LaSalle Rocker showcases handcrafted Prairie-inspired details, solid quartersawn white oak construction, and heirloom-quality craftsmanship.
Why Collectors Wait for This Every Year
Each year, Stickley introduces a limited-run Collector Edition. Every piece is marked with a custom-engraved brass plate identifying the year of release, once the ordering window closes, that edition is no longer produced.
These pieces are built using traditional joinery methods such as mortise-and-tenon construction, reinforced with careful hand-finishing. For many homeowners, a Collector Edition becomes the first step into a long-term Stickley collection.
The 2026 LaSalle Rocker reflects how people live today. It works in a quiet study, a primary bedroom sitting area, or as a statement piece in a thoughtfully designed living room. It suits those who want to pass furniture down rather than discard it. It also serves as a strong entry point for someone purchasing their first Stickley piece.
When people ask whether Stickley furniture holds value, the answer is yes. Structurally, aesthetically, and historically, these pieces endure.
It’s Time to Start Your Collection!
The 2026 Collector Edition is available for a limited pre-order window. Once that period closes, this specific edition will not return.
In well-designed homes, comfort must work just as hard as style. Swivel chairs provide that combination of function, beauty, and adaptability, making them one of the most practical seating choices for both indoor and outdoor spaces.
At Fowler Brothers Co. Home and Patio family-owned since 1885, homeowners throughout Chattanooga have relied on carefully selected seating that performs beautifully for years. Swivel chairs are one of the most practical upgrades available for modern living.
Living Room Swivel Chairs: The Social Workhorse
Many open-concept living rooms feature two main focal points: the fireplace and the television. Traditional seating forces a choice between them. A swivel chair solves that layout challenge instantly.
Instead of rearranging furniture or angling pieces awkwardly, a swivel allows effortless rotation between both features. Watching the game? Turn toward the screen. Hosting a relaxed evening by the fire? Rotate back without shifting a single piece of furniture.
Design consultants at Fowler Brothers frequently recommend swivels when clients want flexibility without compromising a refined layout.
Swivel chairs make entertaining easier. Guests are not fixed in one direction like they are on a sofa. A simple turn allows someone to speak with others in the kitchen, then rotate back to join the main seating group.
This small movement changes how a room feels during gatherings. Conversation flows more naturally, and seating feels intentional rather than rigid.
Some homeowners still associate swivel chairs with oversized recliners from decades past. That perception no longer reflects today’s design standards. Many current swivel models feature concealed bases and refined silhouettes. High legs, slim arms, and clean tailoring allow the chair to appear stationary while still offering full 360-degree rotation.
Premium Indoor Swivel Chair Brands at Fowler Brothers
Swivel chairs add flexible seating and modern comfort to this bright, contemporary living room.
Stickley
As the region’s only authorized Stickley dealer, Fowler Brothers offers access to heirloom-quality swivel seating crafted with precision. Available in fine leathers and premium fabrics, Stickley chairs often reflect the craftsmanship seen in Walnut Grove and Mission-style collections. These pieces are built for decades of use.
Stressless
Known globally for ergonomic innovation, Stressless swivel chairs respond to subtle body movement through patented Glide and Plus systems. Their models offer smooth rotation in both classic recliner styles and contemporary silhouettes suited for offices or living rooms.
American Leather
For homeowners seeking refined scale and clean lines, American Leather produces swivel chairs with compact footprints and exceptionally smooth mechanisms. The Comfort Swivel collection offers sophisticated styling paired with impressive support.
Rowe
Ideal for those who want customization, Rowe and Robin Bruce offer swivel barrel chairs and chair-and-a-half options in hundreds of performance fabrics.
This month also features Rowe’s Annual Swivel Event, with 10% savings on swivel furniture, a strong opportunity for those considering an upgrade.
C.R. Laine & Vanguard
C.R. Laine produces bench-crafted swivel seating featuring eight-way hand-tied springs, widely regarded as one of the most durable suspension methods available.
Vanguard focuses on fashion-forward silhouettes often specified by interior designers. These pieces provide statement-making design with full rotational functionality.
Outdoor Swivel Gliders: The Relaxation Upgrade
Swivel chairs designed for outdoor living add smooth rotation and relaxed comfort to this covered patio space.
While a standard swivel rotates, a glider adds front-to-back motion. This combination mirrors the gentle rhythm of a porch swing while maintaining the structure of a lounge chair. Some models even include reclining functionality, increasing relaxation during long evenings outside.
Outdoor focal points shift throughout the day. You may want to face the pool, turn toward an outdoor television, or pivot away from afternoon glare. A swivel glider allows adjustment without scraping furniture across decking or stone patios.
Luxury Outdoor Swivel Brands at Fowler Brothers
Summer Classics: Known for Cloud 9 cushions and high-end aluminum or resin wicker frames
Jensen Outdoor: Crafted from dense, rot-resistant Ipe timber with smooth swivel functionality
Lloyd Flanders: Iconic woven furniture with all-weather Lloyd Loom construction
Tropitone: Resort-grade aluminum frames built for commercial durability
Lane Venture: Deep-seated swivel gliders that mirror indoor comfort
Telescope Casual: American-made marine-grade polymer and aluminum designs
Polywood: Recycled plastic swivel seating requiring virtually no maintenance
Choosing the Right Swivel Chair for Your Home
When selecting a swivel chair, consider:
Room dimensions and traffic flow
Seat depth and height relative to your household
Leather versus performance fabric
Indoor versus outdoor engineering differences
Reclining features versus stationary rotation
The Spin on Comfort: Why Swivel Chairs Are the Must-Have for Every Space
In well-designed homes, comfort must work just as hard as style. Swivel chairs provide that combination of function, beauty, and adaptability, making them one of the most practical seating choices for both indoor and outdoor spaces.
At Fowler Brothers Co. Home and Patio family-owned since 1885, homeowners throughout Chattanooga have relied on carefully selected seating that performs beautifully for years. Swivel chairs are one of the most practical upgrades available for modern living.
Living Room Swivel Chairs: The Social Workhorse
Many open-concept living rooms feature two main focal points: the fireplace and the television. Traditional seating forces a choice between them. A swivel chair solves that layout challenge instantly.
Instead of rearranging furniture or angling pieces awkwardly, a swivel allows effortless rotation between both features. Watching the game? Turn toward the screen. Hosting a relaxed evening by the fire? Rotate back without shifting a single piece of furniture.
Design consultants at Fowler Brothers frequently recommend swivels when clients want flexibility without compromising a refined layout.
Swivel chairs make entertaining easier. Guests are not fixed in one direction like they are on a sofa. A simple turn allows someone to speak with others in the kitchen, then rotate back to join the main seating group.
This small movement changes how a room feels during gatherings. Conversation flows more naturally, and seating feels intentional rather than rigid.
Some homeowners still associate swivel chairs with oversized recliners from decades past. That perception no longer reflects today’s design standards. Many current swivel models feature concealed bases and refined silhouettes. High legs, slim arms, and clean tailoring allow the chair to appear stationary while still offering full 360-degree rotation.
Premium Indoor Swivel Chair Brands at Fowler Brothers
Stickley
As the region’s only authorized Stickley dealer, Fowler Brothers offers access to heirloom-quality swivel seating crafted with precision. Available in fine leathers and premium fabrics, Stickley chairs often reflect the craftsmanship seen in Walnut Grove and Mission-style collections. These pieces are built for decades of use.
Stressless
Known globally for ergonomic innovation, Stressless swivel chairs respond to subtle body movement through patented Glide and Plus systems. Their models offer smooth rotation in both classic recliner styles and contemporary silhouettes suited for offices or living rooms.
American Leather
For homeowners seeking refined scale and clean lines, American Leather produces swivel chairs with compact footprints and exceptionally smooth mechanisms. The Comfort Swivel collection offers sophisticated styling paired with impressive support.
Rowe
Ideal for those who want customization, Rowe and Robin Bruce offer swivel barrel chairs and chair-and-a-half options in hundreds of performance fabrics.
This month also features Rowe’s Annual Swivel Event, with 10% savings on swivel furniture, a strong opportunity for those considering an upgrade.
C.R. Laine & Vanguard
C.R. Laine produces bench-crafted swivel seating featuring eight-way hand-tied springs, widely regarded as one of the most durable suspension methods available.
Vanguard focuses on fashion-forward silhouettes often specified by interior designers. These pieces provide statement-making design with full rotational functionality.
Outdoor Swivel Gliders: The Relaxation Upgrade
While a standard swivel rotates, a glider adds front-to-back motion. This combination mirrors the gentle rhythm of a porch swing while maintaining the structure of a lounge chair. Some models even include reclining functionality, increasing relaxation during long evenings outside.
Outdoor focal points shift throughout the day. You may want to face the pool, turn toward an outdoor television, or pivot away from afternoon glare. A swivel glider allows adjustment without scraping furniture across decking or stone patios.
Luxury Outdoor Swivel Brands at Fowler Brothers
Summer Classics: Known for Cloud 9 cushions and high-end aluminum or resin wicker frames
Jensen Outdoor: Crafted from dense, rot-resistant Ipe timber with smooth swivel functionality
Lloyd Flanders: Iconic woven furniture with all-weather Lloyd Loom construction
Tropitone: Resort-grade aluminum frames built for commercial durability
Lane Venture: Deep-seated swivel gliders that mirror indoor comfort
Telescope Casual: American-made marine-grade polymer and aluminum designs
Polywood: Recycled plastic swivel seating requiring virtually no maintenance
Choosing the Right Swivel Chair for Your Home
When selecting a swivel chair, consider:
Room dimensions and traffic flow
Seat depth and height relative to your household
Leather versus performance fabric
Indoor versus outdoor engineering differences
Reclining features versus stationary rotation
Testing seating in person often makes the decision clearer. Comfort varies significantly between brands and suspension systems. Visit our showroom here at 1903 E 24th St Pl. Chattanooga, Tennessee and get help from our award winning design team in person or online here.
This 2026 your patio can be another gathering space in your home, one where dinner parties extend late into the evening, a space where you want to spend time. After helping Chattanooga families furnish their homes since 1885, we’ve watched outdoor living go from basic lawn chairs to resort-style setups that rival anything indoors.
The best patios aren’t just for summer anymore. With the right furniture, your outdoor space becomes usable from early spring through late fall, and even on mild winter evenings.
Fire Tables: The Heart of Your Outdoor Space
Fire tables have become the centerpiece of sophisticated outdoor living, and for good reason. They combine warmth, ambiance, and functionality in one elegant piece.
Modern fire tables are remarkably simple allowing you to have instant warmth and atmosphere in one switch.
Quality fire tables feature durable materials, like powder-coated steel or cast aluminum that handle weather without rusting, granite/stone tops and adjustable flame control.
By getting a fire table, you are getting a piece that serves as both heating and furniture, extends your outdoor season by months, and becomes the natural gathering spot for every outdoor event you host.
An elegant patio showcasing multiple fire features, a modern round fire table and traditional outdoor fireplace, surrounded by premium wicker furniture. This sophisticated patio decor design proves outdoor spaces can be beautiful and functional even in cooler months.
Outdoor Heaters: Extend Every Season
While fire tables create a focal point, outdoor heaters provide the additional warmth that makes your entire patio comfortable on cooler evenings.
Freestanding patio heaters work beautifully for open spaces. They’re mobile and even can heat a 15 to 20-foot radius. Perfect for larger patios or when you need flexibility.
Tabletop heaters are ideal for covered patios or specific dining zones, providing targeted warmth in a compact, stylish design.
Here’s the thing about outdoor heaters: they’re what make the difference between heading inside at 7 PM because it’s getting chilly and staying outside until late because you’re perfectly comfortable. That’s the real value, not just warmth, but extended time in a space you’ve invested in creating.
Lighting: The Element That Transforms Everything
Good outdoor lighting doesn’t just let you see after dark, it creates an entirely different space. Your patio becomes somewhere you actively want to be once the sun sets.
The best outdoor spaces use multiple types of lighting, each serving a different purpose: over dining tables to enjoy your meals, near your outdoor sofa to create a relaxing ambiance, and along pathways for safety.
A sophisticated outdoor dining setup combining natural teak furniture with a sleek patio heater. This patio decor arrangement shows how the right heating element extends your outdoor dining season well into cooler months.
How These Pieces Three Work Together
Fire tables, outdoor heaters, and lighting aren’t separate purchases, they’re a system that transforms your patio into a year-round living space.
The fire table becomes your gathering point. Outdoor heaters extend the comfort zone to your entire patio. Lighting makes it all usable and beautiful after sunset. Together, they turn a space you want to use every night.
If you already have a custom outdoor chimney or a built-in fire pit setup, we have the perfect selection of furniture to complement your space. From deep-seating sectionals to weather-resistant lounge chairs, our high-quality pieces are designed to frame your focal point while providing the ultimate comfort for your home.
Right now, at Fowler Brothers Co., Home & Patio we’re running our pre-season patio sale right now. Visit our showroom to pick out the best fire tables, heaters, and lighting options. You also get time to plan your space properly with our winning award design team and get help to create something that lasts.
The 125th Anniversary Daffodil Chest from Stickley it’s the third special piece they released to celebrate 125 years of making incredible furniture.
This chest is based on a design from the early 1900s by Ernest Batchelder, who helped shape the Arts and Crafts style back when the Stickley brothers were starting out. Batchelder made his original chest out of chestnut wood with a daffodil pattern painted on using silkscreen.
This revived Daffodil Chest is a masterclass in American craftsmanship, featuring quartersawn white oak solids and pinned mortise-and-tenon joinery for a lifetime of structural integrity. Its most breathtaking feature is the signature floral inlay, a meticulous mosaic of cherry, celtis, maple, mahogany, makore, and black-dyed veneers set into rift oak to recreate Ernest Batchelder’s historic artwork. This attention to detail extends to the hardware and interior, which include bronze-finished lifts, a lid with spring-loaded safety supports, and a cedar-lined interior designed to protect your finest linens for generations.
Open view of the Stickley Daffodil Chest revealing its spacious cedar-lined interior and exquisite hand-inlaid daffodil design, a true heirloom from Stickley’s 125th Anniversary collection.
Handcrafted in New York and measuring 31″ W x 18″ D x 18″ H, this piece is perfectly scaled for the foot of your bed. The “Daffodil” design provides a striking visual against your bedding while maintaining a balanced footprint that won’t overwhelm the room. It is available in the signature Onondaga finish or a variety of other custom oak tones that we can order specifically for you.
Picture walking into your bedroom and seeing a stunning, handcrafted chest at the foot of your bed that feels rich. With its intricate woodwork and century-long legacy, the Daffodil Chest is that rare piece that feels like a unique find while giving you a beautiful place to tuck away blankets and linens.
The oak tones go great with modern, traditional, or anything in between. Keep the top simple, maybe a couple of pillows or nothing at all, so the inlay gets all the attention. It works in a master suite or even as a nice accent for another space. We’ve been helping Chattanooga families find the best furniture since 1885, and Stickley is one of our favorites. Our expert design team will walk you through it, talk about custom options, and help you figure out if it’s the right fit for your home.
The Stickley Daffodil Chest open, showcasing its spacious cedar-lined storage and stunning daffodil wood inlay – a timeless luxury piece from Stickley’s 125th Anniversary collection.
If you love a good story and a great collectible, you won’t want to miss this. A limited number of “First Cuttings” will come to our showroom here at Fowler Brothers Co., with a numbered 125th Anniversary commemorative plaque. It’s a chance to own a true piece of Stickley history.
Pre-order yours by February 15, 2026, to get the official version with the plaque.
The debut episode of the Fowler Brothers Co. podcast covers a question that sounds simple and turns out not to be: what makes a house feel like a home?
Carter Fowler, president of Fowler Brothers, sits down with Eric Ross, recognized interior designer, for a conversation that covers how he got into the field, the philosophy behind his signature style, and why the rooms that age best are almost never the ones that chased a trend.
The Story Behind the Podcast
Fowler Brothers has been a family business since 1885. That kind of history means there are real stories here, about the craftspeople behind the furniture, the families who have furnished their homes with us across generations, and the pieces that have moved from one household to the next carrying memories with them.
That is part of why this podcast exists. A sofa is just a sofa until it becomes the one your kids grew up on. A dining table is just wood and finish until it is the table where your family has eaten together for twenty years. The furniture you choose for your home is not just a purchase. It is the beginning of a story that belongs to your family.
About Eric Ross
Eric Ross has spent more than two decades designing Southern interiors with work featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and Southern Living. He is known for rooms that feel collected rather than decorated, spaces where a French antique and a contemporary sofa can share a wall without either one looking out of place.
His latest book, Embracing Southern Homes, captures that approach in full. It blends European eclecticism with antiques, contemporary furniture, and richly textured fabrics, and reads less like a trend guide and more like a design philosophy built around comfort, hospitality, and rooms that hold up over time.
Signed copies of Embracing Southern Homes by Eric Ross at the Fowler Brothers Co. Showroom
The Showroom Event and Book Signing
After the podcast recording, Eric joined us at the Fowler Brothers showroom for an evening talk called Living with Antiquities in a Modern World. He walked through how to bring inherited and antique pieces into a contemporary home without the result feeling like a mismatch, covering scale, finish, and the specific qualities that let old and new furniture share a room naturally.
The evening wrapped with a signing of his book, Embracing Southern Homes. It was a wonderful night, and the conversations in the room afterward was exactly the kind of thing this podcast was built to continue sharing.
Memorial Day marks the start of summer. But before the season takes over with pool parties and road trips, there is a weekend worth pausing for, one that deserves a bit more intention than a bag of red Solo cups and a cooler full of hot dogs.
Hosting a Memorial Day gathering that actually honors the day while still feeling warm, relaxed, and undeniably stylish is entirely possible. It does not require a party planner or a big budget. What it requires is a few deliberate choices, starting with color.
Outdoor entertaining spaces have become one of the top home improvement priorities for American homeowners. People are investing in their outdoor rooms. The question is how to make those spaces feel polished and personal at the same time.
How Do You Pull Off Patriotic Without Going Overboard?
The goal is patriotic elegance, not a discount-store holiday aisle. The difference comes down to proportion and quality.
Interior designers often reference the 60-30-10 rule: 60% of your space stays neutral (white, cream, warm wood tones), 30% carries a primary color (soft navy or indigo), and the final 10% is where the accent color, bright red, lives. This ratio keeps the palette feeling curated instead of costumed.
Swap primary red, white, and blue for richer, older hues. Think crimson instead of fire-engine red. Indigo instead of royal blue. Cream instead of stark white. These are the shades you find on an actual American flag, not on a paper plate. The difference is subtle but unmistakable.
Texture matters more than pattern. A red-striped linen napkin reads as considered design. A plastic tablecloth printed with fireworks reads as an afterthought. When in doubt, choose a material you would want to touch.
Outdoor rooms that feel like home: Sticking to the 60-30-10 design rule keeps your Memorial Day palette feeling curated, intentional, and relaxed.
What Is the Smartest Way to Add Patriotic Style to Existing Furniture?
You do not need to replace anything. The best Memorial Day setups work with what is already there, adding layers that feel seasonal without looking temporary.
Outdoor pillows are the fastest way to shift a space. Navy ticking stripes or solid crimson lumbar pillows dropped onto your existing patio chairs take about ten minutes and cost very little. A lightweight cream throw draped over the back of a chair adds a relaxed, layered quality that also doubles as a real blanket once the temperature drops after sunset.
For a table centerpiece, keep it grounded. White hydrangeas in a navy blue ginger jar. A wooden tray holding red berries, white candles, and a few sprigs of greenery. Simple arrangements with clear logic feel intentional. Elaborate ones tend to look frantic.
If your gathering flows between indoors and outdoors, use consistent glassware and serving platters in both zones. This small detail creates visual continuity that makes a party feel designed rather than assembled.
Which Outdoor Furniture Brands Are Worth Investing in This Season?
If Memorial Day is the prompt you needed to finally upgrade your outdoor setup, here are the brands that hold up, literally and aesthetically.
Polywood is built from recycled materials and essentially indestructible. Available in coastal white and navy, the pieces never need painting and hold their color season after season. Adirondack chairs arranged around a fire pit in these finishes photograph beautifully and age even better.
Summer Classics, available at Fowler Brothers, specializes in wrought aluminum and teak. The cushions are UV-resistant, which matters more than people realize when furniture sits in direct sun all summer. These pieces are investment-grade, the kind of outdoor furniture that outlasts the house trends around it.
Telescope Casual makes excellent sling chairs with a resort quality at a price that makes sense for residential use. For pools with a tanning ledge, Ledge Lounger produces white in-water loungers that create an instant resort feel. The contrast of white against blue water is one of the cleanest visual combinations in outdoor design.
The Fowler Brothers showroom carries several of these lines and can help you find the right combination for your space before you commit.
The ultimate summer kickoff: In-water pool loungers create an instant resort feel, offering a clean, striking contrast of crisp white against blue water.
How Do You Take the Cookout Menu from Ordinary to Memorable?
The food is where most Memorial Day gatherings either rise or fall. Fortunately, small changes to the standard cookout lineup can make the whole event feel more considered.
The Big Green Egg is worth mentioning here because it does something a standard grill cannot. The ceramic heat retention means you can smoke a brisket low and slow overnight and still use the same cooker to sear thick-cut ribeyes at high heat an hour before guests arrive. Smoked mac and cheese cooked directly in the Egg has become a staple at some of Chattanooga’s best backyard gatherings for a reason.
For the table, skip the sheet cake with grocery store frosting. A vanilla bean layer cake with fresh whipped cream, topped with a clean geometric arrangement of strawberries and blueberries, is both patriotic and genuinely beautiful. No blue food coloring required.
For drinks, serve a watermelon gin fizz or blueberry-infused lemonade from a glass dispenser set out on the table. The visual of a well-stocked drink station does a lot of work at a party. People remember it.
What Are the Easiest Ways to Add Meaning to the Day?
Memorial Day is not just the opener for barbecue season. It honors the men and women who died in military service to the United States. Bringing that acknowledgment into a gathering does not have to be heavy or formal.
A simple moment before the meal, a few words about who the day is for, is enough. You can print a short quote on card stock and set it at the center of the table. You can display a flag properly rather than as decoration. These gestures cost nothing and say a great deal about the kind of host you are.
The best parties tend to be the ones where guests walk away feeling like they were part of something. Memorial Day gives you a built-in reason to make that happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to make outdoor furniture look more festive without buying new pieces?
Outdoor throw pillows are the fastest fix. Swap in navy, crimson, or cream options in quality fabric. A set of two to four pillows per seating area can shift the entire mood of a patio in an afternoon.
How do I keep a patriotic color palette from looking cheap?
Use the 60-30-10 rule and lean toward muted, richer versions of the colors. Crimson over neon red. Indigo over bright blue. Cream over stark white. Natural textures like linen, wood, and ceramic also read as more considered than plastic or glossy finishes. Schedule a design consultation at Fowler Brothers Co. Home + Patio.
What outdoor furniture holds up best in the Southern summer heat?
Polywood handles heat and humidity without warping or fading. Summer Classics pieces with UV-resistant cushions are built for prolonged sun exposure. Both lines are available through Fowler Brothers and are worth the investment if you entertain regularly.
What is a good signature drink for a Memorial Day party?
Blueberry-infused lemonade in a large glass dispenser works well for a crowd and serves itself visually. For adults, a watermelon gin fizz with a sprig of mint reads as seasonal and elevated without requiring a full bar setup.
Where can I find quality outdoor furniture in Chattanooga?
Fowler Brothers Co. in Chattanooga carries a curated selection of premium outdoor brands including Summer Classics and Lloyd Flanders. The showroom team can help you choose pieces that work for your specific outdoor space and budget.
People keep saying nobody uses the dining room anymore. The numbers tell a different story. According to the 2024 Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, 41% of homeowners renovating their kitchens are also opening up adjacent dining areas because they want one connected space for eating, working, and gathering. So the room isn’t dying. It’s just changing jobs.
This is exactly where custom dining furniture earns its keep. A piece you helped design fits the way you actually use the room: a homework station by day, a dinner table at night, a holiday spread in December.
What Makes Canadel Different from Off-the-Shelf Dining Sets?
Most dining sets come pre-built with one shape, one finish, and one chair option. Canadel works differently. You pick the table style, the leg, the wood species, the stain, and the chairs separately. Then those choices come together in a piece made to your spec.
A few things stand out about how Canadel works:
You aren’t locked into a matching set. Canadel encourages mixing. Two upholstered host chairs at the heads of the table with simpler wood side chairs along the sides give the room architecture and comfort at the same time. It feels intentional, not boxy.
The style range is wide. A traditional trestle table can be modernized with matte black hardware or a glass top. A clean-lined modern base can be warmed up with a hand-rubbed wood finish. Same brand. Two completely different rooms.
The fabric library is deep. Canadel offers more than 145 fabric options for upholstered seats, including performance fabrics, leathers, and velvets. That matters more than it sounds. The wrong fabric choice is the fastest way to regret a custom piece.
Custom furniture allows you to choose between sleek modern lines (left) or rich, timeless elegance (right), tailored to your space.
How Do You Choose Between Cushioned and Solid Wood Seats?
This is the question that trips up most shoppers. Both are good. They just suit different homes.
Cushioned seats earn their spot if your dining room doubles as a workspace, or if you host long meals where people sit and talk for two hours. Soft seating keeps everyone comfortable. Performance fabrics handle spills better than people expect.
Solid wood seats are practically indestructible. Spilled juice wipes off. Pet hair brushes away. A scratch from a chair pulled in too quickly adds character instead of damage. If your house runs loud and busy, solid wood is usually the smarter call.
A middle path exists too. Some families pick wood for the side chairs and cushioned seats for the host chairs. Easy cleanup for the kids, comfort for the grown-ups.
What Shape and Finish Should Your Table Be?
Shape changes how the room feels more than people realize.
Round tables are conversation machines. Everyone faces everyone. There’s no head of the table. They work best in smaller rooms or for families of four to six who want a more casual feel.
Rectangular and oval tables with leaves are built for hosting. Add a leaf when family comes for Thanksgiving, then pull it back out for normal weeks. If you regularly seat eight or more, this is the shape to look at.
Finish is where personality comes in. Mixing wood tones is no longer a design crime. A washed honey table top paired with dove white painted legs feels bright and farmhouse-leaning. A walnut top on black metal legs reads modern and crisp. Glass tops bring light into rooms that don’t get a lot of it.
The mistake people make is matching the dining table finish exactly to the kitchen cabinets. A small contrast looks more designed and less builder-grade.
This modern farmhouse dining room shows the value of custom two-tone finishes and flexible seating with a matching bench.
How Do You Style a Dining Table for Day-to-Day Life?
A dining table that sits empty between meals starts to look lonely. Treat the surface like a small gallery instead.
The rule of thirds works well. Group items in the center third of the table on a decorative tray. A candle, a stack of two or three coffee table books, and a sculptural bowl together feel curated. One sad candlestick alone does not.
For height and life, a tall clear glass vase with oversized branches (eucalyptus, olive, or magnolia) works better than fresh-cut flowers because it lasts months and doesn’t need water changes every three days.
If the table is also your daytime workspace, store the laptop and notebooks in a Canadel buffet or sideboard nearby. At 5 PM, you clear the work, slide the greenery back to the center, and the room shifts modes. That kind of flexibility is the whole point of a dining setup that works for real life.
Why Build Your Set at Fowler Brothers Co. Home + Patio?
Fowler Brothers Co. Home + Patio has carried Canadel for years, and we use the Canadel Design Tool right in the showroom. You sit down, pick the table, choose the chairs, scroll through finishes and fabrics, and watch your set render on screen before any wood gets cut.
That matters because custom furniture is a real investment. Seeing the piece in 3D before you commit removes most of the second-guessing. We also walk you through which fabrics hold up to kids, which wood species resist dings, and which finishes show fingerprints (some do, some really don’t).
We don’t just sell the furniture. We help you think through how the room actually has to function for your life.
Ready to design a dining set that fits your life? Visit Fowler Brothers Co. Home + Patio in person to see the Canadel collection and use the design tool with one of our specialists. Schedule a consultation now.
The American Institute of Architects has tracked outdoor living spaces as the most requested special function room by homeowners in its annual Home Design Trends Survey for multiple consecutive years. In the Southeast, where the outdoor season runs well into spring, that investment goes further than almost anywhere else in the country. Whether you’re working with a narrow wrap-around porch off a bungalow or a full sunroom addition, the same thinking applies.
How do you make a screened porch feel like a real room?
A porch furnished like a porch looks unfinished. Furniture pushed to the walls, no layout logic, a few chairs with nothing connecting them, it reads as an afterthought. The difference usually isn’t what you bought. It’s whether you thought about the arrangement.
Start with an outdoor rug to anchor the space
A rug fixes more than people expect. It grounds the furniture, defines the space, and does the visual work of saying “this is somewhere to be.” For Chattanooga’s humidity and seasonal swings, you want a moisture-resistant outdoor rug that handles the climate without looking like it came from a campsite. Capel Rugs and Jaipur Living, both carried at Fowler Brothers Co. Home & Patio, make outdoor-rated options in patterns that feel polished, not just practical.
Use a geometric rug and a central floral arrangement to anchor your seating group and create an “outdoor room” feel.
Arrange outdoor seating in conversation groupings, not against the walls
Seating goes in the middle. A sofa on one side, two chairs across from it, a coffee table between them. Side tables within arm’s reach. That’s a room. It sounds obvious because it is, the problem is most people don’t do it.
What outdoor furniture materials work best for Chattanooga’s climate?
Humidity is real, even inside a screened space. Chattanooga summers are warm and wet, and the shoulder seasons add their own conditions. Materials that handle moisture without needing seasonal maintenance will outlast anything that requires babying.
A screened porch gives you more flexibility than a fully exposed patio, though. Fabrics don’t need to be bulletproof. Finishes that wouldn’t survive a direct rainstorm work fine with a roof overhead. Plush cushions, refined upholstery, softer textures, all of it is on the table. The gap between “outdoor furniture” and furniture you’d actually want in any room gets a lot smaller.
All-weather wicker, powder-coated aluminum, and teak for screened porches
These three materials cover most of what you’ll need. All-weather wicker handles humidity well and looks refined. Powder-coated aluminum is lightweight, rust-resistant, and comes in every profile from traditional to contemporary. Teak is the most investment-heavy option but also the most timeless, it weathers naturally and holds up for decades with minimal care.
Summer Classics, Lane Venture, and Lloyd Flanders: outdoor seating built for the Southeast
Lloyd Flanders’ woven pieces hold up well in screened environments: durable, but designed to feel like a living room rather than a hardware store display. Summer Classics and Lane Venture both make deep-seating collections with performance fabrics built for actual outdoor conditions, but styled like indoor furniture. You’re not picking these pieces because they’re practical. You’re choosing them because they’re good.
How do you create functional zones in a larger screened porch or sunroom?
Bigger screened spaces need structure or they become one large, awkward room where nobody knows where to sit. A lounging corner with a sofa and a floor lamp. A dining area with a table and chairs. A quieter spot with a swivel chair and an accent table beside it. Each area has a purpose, and together they make the whole space work instead of just filling it.
Don’t be afraid of bold lighting. A statement chandelier can define a dining zone just as effectively as a rug.
Using outdoor sectionals and seating groupings to define porch zones
No walls required. A well-placed rug defines an area on its own. Tight groupings for conversation, more breathing room around a dining table, the furniture density does the work. The question worth asking before you shop is not “what fits?” but “what will this space actually be used for?”
What outdoor accessories and lighting complete a screened porch in Chattanooga?
This is where the personality comes in. Inside a screened space, you’re not limited to fade-resistant-only options. Protected from direct sun and rain, you can bring in patterned textiles, richer colors, and varied textures that would fall apart on an exposed patio in one season.
Outdoor accent pillows and patio accessories for screened porches
Elaine Smith makes indoor/outdoor pillows that look nothing like outdoor pillows — actual design, on performance fabric. Wendy Jane and the Earnest Collection are worth looking at for the same reason. These aren’t compromise purchases. They’re the kind of accessories you’d choose regardless of where the room is.
Outdoor lighting solutions for screened porches and sunrooms
Lighting is more important than most people plan for. The overhead screening cuts natural light, and screened porches tend to go flat by mid-afternoon if you haven’t accounted for it. A floor lamp in one corner fixes the ambiance and gives you reading light after dark. Wall-mounted sconces or rechargeable table lamps, Visual Comfort makes good versions of both, add warmth without running new wiring. The screened porches that get used year-round almost always have the lighting figured out. The ones that don’t go empty after 5 PM.
Where can Chattanooga homeowners get help styling a screened porch?
Getting a screened porch right takes more than picking pieces you like. Proportion, material performance, lighting, how the room connects to your interior, there’s more to it than most people realize until they’re standing in a space that almost works but doesn’t quite.
Free interior design consultation at Fowler Brothers Co. Home & Patio — Chattanooga, TN
Most people furnish an outdoor room once. We’ve done it thousands of times. Fowler Brothers Co. Home & Patio has been helping Chattanooga homeowners work through these decisions for over 140 years. We’re the largest indoor and outdoor furniture showroom in the Southeast, at 1903 E 24th St. Place, just off I-24 at the 4th Ave. exit — open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM.
Soften modern lines by adding organic shapes, like these petrified wood-style accent tables, to your sunroom or terrace.
Frequently asked questions about screened porch furniture in Chattanooga, TN
What is the best outdoor furniture material for a screened porch in Chattanooga, TN?
All-weather wicker, powder-coated aluminum, and teak all hold up well. Performance fabrics from Summer Classics and Lane Venture handle humidity and seasonal temperature changes without breaking down. If your space is well-protected, you have more flexibility than most people assume — including upholstered pieces with performance cushions that feel nothing like outdoor furniture.
Can I use indoor furniture on a screened porch or sunroom?
Sometimes. In a well-protected screened porch, some indoor pieces will hold up fine. The real risk is humidity — solid wood without a protective finish can swell or warp over time. Furniture designed for protected outdoor use is the safer bet, and it comes in a much wider range of styles than it used to. Our design team can walk you through what makes sense for your specific space.
How do I choose the right rug size for a screened porch?
Go bigger than you think. A rug that’s too small makes the whole arrangement look unmoored, and it’s one of the most common mistakes we see. Aim for a size where at least the front two legs of your main seating sit on it — ideally all four. For most screened porches, an 8×10 or 9×12 works well. Bring your measurements when you visit and we can help narrow it down.
What is the difference between furnishing a screened porch versus a fully exposed patio?
A screened porch keeps furniture away from direct rain and most UV exposure, which opens up softer fabrics, more refined finishes, and materials that wouldn’t last a season outside. A fully exposed patio needs materials rated for full outdoor conditions — teak, marine-grade aluminum, HDPE poly lumber. Buying tough weather-ready furniture for a screened space usually means paying for durability you don’t need.
Does Fowler Brothers Co. offer design help for screened porches and sunrooms in Chattanooga?
Yes, our award-winning interior design team handles these projects — furniture selection, room planning, lighting, accessories, and coordinating with your existing interior. Schedule at fowlerbrothersco.com or come by 1903 E 24th St. Place in Chattanooga, Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM.
You’ve seen the rooms that stop you mid-scroll. Spaces that feel layered, rich, and full of life. They don’t look like a showroom catalog, and they don’t look like someone played it safe. They look lived in and intentional. What you’re responding to is pattern.
More specifically, it’s a design approach called pattern drenching. Instead of limiting yourself to one pattern or keeping everything neutral, you layer multiple patterns together in a way that feels cohesive and purposeful. Stripes and florals are a classic pairing that interior designers have relied on for generations, and when you bring wallpaper and custom wall coverings into the mix, the results take on a whole new dimension.
A solid velvet sofa paired with floral pillows and a patterned rug shows how pattern drenching works best when one piece anchors the room and the layers build around it.
Mixing Patterns with Confidence
The biggest reason most people avoid mixing patterns is fear. It feels risky. What if it looks chaotic? What if the patterns clash? These concerns are fair, but they’re easier to resolve than most people expect.
Mixing stripes and florals successfully comes down to two things: scale and color. Stripes bring structure. Their clean, repeating lines add geometry and order to a room. Florals bring softness and movement. Their organic shapes naturally create balance against the rigidity of a stripe. When both patterns share a similar color palette, they stop competing and start working together.
How to Layer Patterns in a Room
Start with a color palette of two to four colors that run through both patterns. Then vary the scale. A large, loose floral paired with a narrow stripe reads as intentional, not accidental. From there, spread the patterns across different surfaces: upholstery, throw pillows, an area rug, window drapery. Each layer adds depth without any single element overpowering the room.
Don’t Overlook the Walls
This is where wallpaper and custom wall coverings earn their place in the conversation. A patterned wall treatment, whether a bold stripe, a classic toile, a large-scale floral, or a richly textured finish, instantly sets the tone for the entire room. It’s the one surface that surrounds everything else, which means it anchors the design in a way no single piece of furniture or fabric can.
Used thoughtfully, a wall covering becomes the starting point for every other pattern decision in the room. Pull a color from the wallpaper into your upholstery fabric. Echo its scale in the opposite direction with your throw pillows. When the wall treatment is part of the conversation from the beginning, the rest of the room comes together with far less effort.
At Fowler Brothers Co., our wall coverings service covers everything from luxurious wallpaper and decorative panels to textured finishes, with professional installation handled from start to finish. Whether you want a statement wall that anchors the room or a subtle, elegant backdrop that lets your furniture shine, our design team will help you find the right fit.
One of the most common misconceptions is that mixing patterns requires equal amounts of each. It doesn’t. One pattern leads and the other supports. A floral wallpaper with a striped sofa and solid accent chairs, for example, creates visual interest while keeping the room grounded. The wall does the talking. The furniture listens.
Two rooms, two approaches, one idea — pattern drenching done right. From chinoiserie wall panels to floral upholstery and geometric drapery, each space shows how layering patterns with a shared color story creates rooms full of character.
Creating Depth and Personality in a Room
Pattern drenching tells a story. A room dressed in complementary patterns feels collected over time, like a space that reflects the people living in it rather than something assembled from a single shopping trip.
Stripes and florals together evoke a relaxed sophistication. Think English country houses, Parisian apartments, well-loved reading rooms. They bring warmth and character without relying on clutter or excess furniture. Add a custom wall covering into the mix and the room takes on a depth that paint alone simply can’t achieve. In our showroom, clients are often surprised by how much personality two well-chosen patterns plus the right wall treatment can add to an otherwise simple room.
Choosing Complementary Colors Across Patterns
When patterns share even one repeated color, the room feels cohesive. A navy and cream floral wallpaper paired with a cream and soft green striped sofa creates a layered look that feels curated rather than random. You don’t need an exact match between patterns. You need a conversation between them.
Texture plays a supporting role here too. A linen floral drape behaves differently than a velvet striped pillow. A grasscloth wall covering adds an entirely different dimension than a printed paper or a smooth painted surface. That contrast in texture adds richness to the overall design. Pattern drenching works best when texture is considered alongside the print itself, on the walls and throughout the room.
Anchoring the Room with Classic Furniture
Strong patterns need a strong foundation. When a room is rich with pattern, on the walls, the upholstery, and the soft furnishings, the furniture needs to feel stable and timeless. Without that anchor, the space tips from layered into overwhelming.
Classic furniture silhouettes do this naturally. A rolled-arm sofa, a wingback chair, a turned-leg side table. These shapes have endured because they are balanced and proportional. They don’t compete with the patterns around them. They hold the room steady and let the prints take center stage.
Letting the Patterns Shine
Think of classic furniture as the frame around a painting. A well-made piece in a solid fabric or subtle texture lets a floral wallpaper or striped upholstery draw the eye without the room feeling restless. In a pattern-forward space, the furniture is doing quiet but important work.
At Fowler Brothers Co., we carry furniture from brands built for exactly this purpose. Stickley, CR Laine, Rowe. Pieces with enduring silhouettes and construction quality that holds up over decades, not just a few seasons. CR Laine in particular offers an exceptional range of patterns and prints across their upholstery, making it easy to find pieces that complement, rather than compete with, a patterned wall treatment or layered textile scheme.
That kind of foundation gives you the freedom to layer patterns confidently, knowing the room won’t feel overdone.
If you’d like help pulling a look together, our design team at Fowler Brothers Co. is available for in-store consultations or you can also get an online consultation to solve your questions. Come see us in Chattanooga. We’d love to help you create a space that feels like yours.
You moved into your new house and fell in love with it: the location, the layout, the neighborhood feel. But then you stepped out onto that small patio or balcony and thought, what am I supposed to do with this? It’s not exactly a sprawling backyard. There’s no room for a big sectional or a dining set built for eight. And yet, you don’t want to just leave it empty or throw out a cheap folding chair and call it a day.
Here’s the good news: a small outdoor space is an opportunity if you have the right furniture.
That’s exactly where Fermob comes in.
Why Small Outdoor Spaces Deserve Just as Much Attention
In Chattanooga, townhouses, condos, and urban homes are increasingly popular, and with them come compact patios, narrow porches, and cozy balconies. These spaces may be small, but they can become some of the most-used spots in your home when designed thoughtfully.
A well-styled outdoor space adds real value to your daily life. It gives you a place to have your morning coffee without sitting at your kitchen table, a spot to relax after work, or a little corner of calm in the middle of city living.
The Fermob Bistro collection in honey yellow proves that small patio furniture can be just as stylish as it is practical — foldable, lightweight, and full of personality.
Meet Fermob: French Design Built for Real Life
Fermob is a French outdoor furniture brand with over a century of design expertise. They’re best known for their iconic metal furniture, most famously the Luxembourg collection. What makes Fermob stand out is the thoughtful engineering behind each piece.
Outdoor pieces from Fermob are weather-resistant, UV-protected, and finished in an impressive range of rich, beautiful colors. We’re talking over 20 shades: from classic tones like Liquorice and Cotton White to expressive options like Paprika, Verbena, and Opaline Green.
Fermob furniture is also surprisingly lightweight. Most pieces can be moved, stacked, and repositioned with ease.
Smart Furniture Choices for Small Spaces
Bistro Sets and Folding Tables
One of the smartest moves you can make for a small balcony or patio is a bistro set, a small round table paired with two chairs. Fermob’s Bistro collection was practically invented for this purpose. It’s compact, it folds flat for easy storage, and it looks effortlessly stylish.
The Space-Saving Advantage
A common mistake people make with small outdoor spaces is buying furniture that’s too bulky or too permanent. Fermob’s stackable and foldable designs let you adapt your space based on the moment: whether you’re hosting a couple of friends for drinks or simply relaxing solo with.
Color as a Design Tool
Here’s something most people don’t think about: in a small space, color becomes one of your most powerful design tools. A striking chair in Cayenne or Lagoon against a neutral wall or wooden deck can make your patio feel intentional and alive rather than like an afterthought. Fermob’s color palette makes it easy to express your personality without overwhelming the space.
Lighting and Accessories: The Details That Make It Feel Like Home
Great outdoor furniture is just the start. What transforms a patio into a true outdoor retreat is the ambiance, and Fermob’s accessories help you get there.
Fermob Lighting
Fermob offers portable outdoor lighting, including their whimsical Mooon! lamp, It’s rechargeable, wireless, and dimmable, perfect for evenings outside when you want warm, gentle light without the hassle of extension cords.
Adding even one or two outdoor lights to a small patio instantly changes the feeling of the space once the sun goes down. It becomes somewhere you actually want to sit, even on a weeknight.
Cushions and Finishing Touches
Fermob also offers coordinating cushions and accessories designed to complement their furniture lines. Adding a cushion in a complementary color to your chairs brings both comfort and a polished, layered look to the space. These small additions go a long way in making an outdoor space feel warm rather than sterile.
Fermob’s outdoor lighting collection — from the portable Balad lamp to the soft Mooon globe — adds warmth and character to any small patio setup once the sun goes down.
Creating Your Outdoor Retreat, No Matter the Size
We can help you to create a space that feels intentional, comfortable, and like an extension of your home. Here are a few guiding principles:
Start with a purpose. Is this a space for morning coffee, evening cocktails, reading, or entertaining? Let that drive your furniture choices.
Choose one anchor piece. A bistro set or a pair of lounge chairs can be enough to define the space beautifully.
Layer with light and color. A lamp, a cushion, or even a small side table adds depth without adding bulk.
Keep it flexible. Opt for pieces that can stack, fold, or move so your space can shift with your needs.
Don’t underestimate quality. In a small space, every piece is visible, which means quality matters even more than in a large one.
Find Fermob at Fowler Brothers Co.
At Fowler Brothers Co., we’ve been helping Chattanooga homeowners create beautiful spaces since 1885. We carry Fermob because it aligns with what we’ve always believed: great design shouldn’t require a lot of space or sacrifice long-term quality. Working with a balcony the size of a parking spot or a cozy porch you want to fall in love with, our design team can help you choose the right pieces and the right colors to make it work.
There is a specific kind of magic that happens when heritage craftsmanship meets modern comfort. For furniture enthusiasts and collectors, that magic has a name this year: the 2026 LaSalle Rocker.
Stickley has just launched its latest Collector Edition, and it’s a tribute to the past and the lifestyle of the present. For homeowners who value solid wood construction, timeless design, and furniture built to last for generations, this year’s release feels especially meaningful.
The 2026 Stickley LaSalle Rocker blends Prairie School design, solid quartersawn white oak, and heirloom craftsmanship in a timeless interior setting.
A Design Rooted in History
The LaSalle Rocker draws its soul from the Prairie School aesthetic, a movement famously championed by architects like Frank Lloyd Wright. Prairie design emphasizes horizontal lines, organic integration with nature, and a sense of grounded stability. It was architecture meant to feel connected to the earth. Stickley translates that same philosophy into furniture.
What makes LaSalle Rocker stand out?
The Silhouette: It features a rhythmic spindle design that creates a sense of lightness while maintaining the structural integrity Stickley is known for. The back is visually interesting without feeling busy, and the arms sit at a height that feels natural.
The Wood: Crafted in solid quartersawn white oak or cherry, the LaSalle showcases the distinctive “flake” grain that has defined Stickley furniture for more than a century. Quartersawn oak is not just beautiful, it is structurally stable and resistant to warping, which matters if you are investing in heirloom-quality furniture.
The Comfort: LaSalle is built with an ergonomic seat pitch and a plush, loose cushion designed for real, extended use.
The 2026 Stickley LaSalle Rocker showcases handcrafted Prairie-inspired details, solid quartersawn white oak construction, and heirloom-quality craftsmanship.
Why Collectors Wait for This Every Year
Each year, Stickley introduces a limited-run Collector Edition. Every piece is marked with a custom-engraved brass plate identifying the year of release, once the ordering window closes, that edition is no longer produced.
These pieces are built using traditional joinery methods such as mortise-and-tenon construction, reinforced with careful hand-finishing. For many homeowners, a Collector Edition becomes the first step into a long-term Stickley collection.
The 2026 LaSalle Rocker reflects how people live today. It works in a quiet study, a primary bedroom sitting area, or as a statement piece in a thoughtfully designed living room. It suits those who want to pass furniture down rather than discard it. It also serves as a strong entry point for someone purchasing their first Stickley piece.
When people ask whether Stickley furniture holds value, the answer is yes. Structurally, aesthetically, and historically, these pieces endure.
It’s Time to Start Your Collection!
The 2026 Collector Edition is available for a limited pre-order window. Once that period closes, this specific edition will not return.
In well-designed homes, comfort must work just as hard as style. Swivel chairs provide that combination of function, beauty, and adaptability, making them one of the most practical seating choices for both indoor and outdoor spaces.
At Fowler Brothers Co. Home and Patio family-owned since 1885, homeowners throughout Chattanooga have relied on carefully selected seating that performs beautifully for years. Swivel chairs are one of the most practical upgrades available for modern living.
Living Room Swivel Chairs: The Social Workhorse
Many open-concept living rooms feature two main focal points: the fireplace and the television. Traditional seating forces a choice between them. A swivel chair solves that layout challenge instantly.
Instead of rearranging furniture or angling pieces awkwardly, a swivel allows effortless rotation between both features. Watching the game? Turn toward the screen. Hosting a relaxed evening by the fire? Rotate back without shifting a single piece of furniture.
Design consultants at Fowler Brothers frequently recommend swivels when clients want flexibility without compromising a refined layout.
Swivel chairs make entertaining easier. Guests are not fixed in one direction like they are on a sofa. A simple turn allows someone to speak with others in the kitchen, then rotate back to join the main seating group.
This small movement changes how a room feels during gatherings. Conversation flows more naturally, and seating feels intentional rather than rigid.
Some homeowners still associate swivel chairs with oversized recliners from decades past. That perception no longer reflects today’s design standards. Many current swivel models feature concealed bases and refined silhouettes. High legs, slim arms, and clean tailoring allow the chair to appear stationary while still offering full 360-degree rotation.
Premium Indoor Swivel Chair Brands at Fowler Brothers
Swivel chairs add flexible seating and modern comfort to this bright, contemporary living room.
Stickley
As the region’s only authorized Stickley dealer, Fowler Brothers offers access to heirloom-quality swivel seating crafted with precision. Available in fine leathers and premium fabrics, Stickley chairs often reflect the craftsmanship seen in Walnut Grove and Mission-style collections. These pieces are built for decades of use.
Stressless
Known globally for ergonomic innovation, Stressless swivel chairs respond to subtle body movement through patented Glide and Plus systems. Their models offer smooth rotation in both classic recliner styles and contemporary silhouettes suited for offices or living rooms.
American Leather
For homeowners seeking refined scale and clean lines, American Leather produces swivel chairs with compact footprints and exceptionally smooth mechanisms. The Comfort Swivel collection offers sophisticated styling paired with impressive support.
Rowe
Ideal for those who want customization, Rowe and Robin Bruce offer swivel barrel chairs and chair-and-a-half options in hundreds of performance fabrics.
This month also features Rowe’s Annual Swivel Event, with 10% savings on swivel furniture, a strong opportunity for those considering an upgrade.
C.R. Laine & Vanguard
C.R. Laine produces bench-crafted swivel seating featuring eight-way hand-tied springs, widely regarded as one of the most durable suspension methods available.
Vanguard focuses on fashion-forward silhouettes often specified by interior designers. These pieces provide statement-making design with full rotational functionality.
Outdoor Swivel Gliders: The Relaxation Upgrade
Swivel chairs designed for outdoor living add smooth rotation and relaxed comfort to this covered patio space.
While a standard swivel rotates, a glider adds front-to-back motion. This combination mirrors the gentle rhythm of a porch swing while maintaining the structure of a lounge chair. Some models even include reclining functionality, increasing relaxation during long evenings outside.
Outdoor focal points shift throughout the day. You may want to face the pool, turn toward an outdoor television, or pivot away from afternoon glare. A swivel glider allows adjustment without scraping furniture across decking or stone patios.
Luxury Outdoor Swivel Brands at Fowler Brothers
Summer Classics: Known for Cloud 9 cushions and high-end aluminum or resin wicker frames
Jensen Outdoor: Crafted from dense, rot-resistant Ipe timber with smooth swivel functionality
Lloyd Flanders: Iconic woven furniture with all-weather Lloyd Loom construction
Tropitone: Resort-grade aluminum frames built for commercial durability
Lane Venture: Deep-seated swivel gliders that mirror indoor comfort
Telescope Casual: American-made marine-grade polymer and aluminum designs
Polywood: Recycled plastic swivel seating requiring virtually no maintenance
Choosing the Right Swivel Chair for Your Home
When selecting a swivel chair, consider:
Room dimensions and traffic flow
Seat depth and height relative to your household
Leather versus performance fabric
Indoor versus outdoor engineering differences
Reclining features versus stationary rotation
The Spin on Comfort: Why Swivel Chairs Are the Must-Have for Every Space
In well-designed homes, comfort must work just as hard as style. Swivel chairs provide that combination of function, beauty, and adaptability, making them one of the most practical seating choices for both indoor and outdoor spaces.
At Fowler Brothers Co. Home and Patio family-owned since 1885, homeowners throughout Chattanooga have relied on carefully selected seating that performs beautifully for years. Swivel chairs are one of the most practical upgrades available for modern living.
Living Room Swivel Chairs: The Social Workhorse
Many open-concept living rooms feature two main focal points: the fireplace and the television. Traditional seating forces a choice between them. A swivel chair solves that layout challenge instantly.
Instead of rearranging furniture or angling pieces awkwardly, a swivel allows effortless rotation between both features. Watching the game? Turn toward the screen. Hosting a relaxed evening by the fire? Rotate back without shifting a single piece of furniture.
Design consultants at Fowler Brothers frequently recommend swivels when clients want flexibility without compromising a refined layout.
Swivel chairs make entertaining easier. Guests are not fixed in one direction like they are on a sofa. A simple turn allows someone to speak with others in the kitchen, then rotate back to join the main seating group.
This small movement changes how a room feels during gatherings. Conversation flows more naturally, and seating feels intentional rather than rigid.
Some homeowners still associate swivel chairs with oversized recliners from decades past. That perception no longer reflects today’s design standards. Many current swivel models feature concealed bases and refined silhouettes. High legs, slim arms, and clean tailoring allow the chair to appear stationary while still offering full 360-degree rotation.
Premium Indoor Swivel Chair Brands at Fowler Brothers
Stickley
As the region’s only authorized Stickley dealer, Fowler Brothers offers access to heirloom-quality swivel seating crafted with precision. Available in fine leathers and premium fabrics, Stickley chairs often reflect the craftsmanship seen in Walnut Grove and Mission-style collections. These pieces are built for decades of use.
Stressless
Known globally for ergonomic innovation, Stressless swivel chairs respond to subtle body movement through patented Glide and Plus systems. Their models offer smooth rotation in both classic recliner styles and contemporary silhouettes suited for offices or living rooms.
American Leather
For homeowners seeking refined scale and clean lines, American Leather produces swivel chairs with compact footprints and exceptionally smooth mechanisms. The Comfort Swivel collection offers sophisticated styling paired with impressive support.
Rowe
Ideal for those who want customization, Rowe and Robin Bruce offer swivel barrel chairs and chair-and-a-half options in hundreds of performance fabrics.
This month also features Rowe’s Annual Swivel Event, with 10% savings on swivel furniture, a strong opportunity for those considering an upgrade.
C.R. Laine & Vanguard
C.R. Laine produces bench-crafted swivel seating featuring eight-way hand-tied springs, widely regarded as one of the most durable suspension methods available.
Vanguard focuses on fashion-forward silhouettes often specified by interior designers. These pieces provide statement-making design with full rotational functionality.
Outdoor Swivel Gliders: The Relaxation Upgrade
While a standard swivel rotates, a glider adds front-to-back motion. This combination mirrors the gentle rhythm of a porch swing while maintaining the structure of a lounge chair. Some models even include reclining functionality, increasing relaxation during long evenings outside.
Outdoor focal points shift throughout the day. You may want to face the pool, turn toward an outdoor television, or pivot away from afternoon glare. A swivel glider allows adjustment without scraping furniture across decking or stone patios.
Luxury Outdoor Swivel Brands at Fowler Brothers
Summer Classics: Known for Cloud 9 cushions and high-end aluminum or resin wicker frames
Jensen Outdoor: Crafted from dense, rot-resistant Ipe timber with smooth swivel functionality
Lloyd Flanders: Iconic woven furniture with all-weather Lloyd Loom construction
Tropitone: Resort-grade aluminum frames built for commercial durability
Lane Venture: Deep-seated swivel gliders that mirror indoor comfort
Telescope Casual: American-made marine-grade polymer and aluminum designs
Polywood: Recycled plastic swivel seating requiring virtually no maintenance
Choosing the Right Swivel Chair for Your Home
When selecting a swivel chair, consider:
Room dimensions and traffic flow
Seat depth and height relative to your household
Leather versus performance fabric
Indoor versus outdoor engineering differences
Reclining features versus stationary rotation
Testing seating in person often makes the decision clearer. Comfort varies significantly between brands and suspension systems. Visit our showroom here at 1903 E 24th St Pl. Chattanooga, Tennessee and get help from our award winning design team in person or online here.
This 2026 your patio can be another gathering space in your home, one where dinner parties extend late into the evening, a space where you want to spend time. After helping Chattanooga families furnish their homes since 1885, we’ve watched outdoor living go from basic lawn chairs to resort-style setups that rival anything indoors.
The best patios aren’t just for summer anymore. With the right furniture, your outdoor space becomes usable from early spring through late fall, and even on mild winter evenings.
Fire Tables: The Heart of Your Outdoor Space
Fire tables have become the centerpiece of sophisticated outdoor living, and for good reason. They combine warmth, ambiance, and functionality in one elegant piece.
Modern fire tables are remarkably simple allowing you to have instant warmth and atmosphere in one switch.
Quality fire tables feature durable materials, like powder-coated steel or cast aluminum that handle weather without rusting, granite/stone tops and adjustable flame control.
By getting a fire table, you are getting a piece that serves as both heating and furniture, extends your outdoor season by months, and becomes the natural gathering spot for every outdoor event you host.
An elegant patio showcasing multiple fire features, a modern round fire table and traditional outdoor fireplace, surrounded by premium wicker furniture. This sophisticated patio decor design proves outdoor spaces can be beautiful and functional even in cooler months.
Outdoor Heaters: Extend Every Season
While fire tables create a focal point, outdoor heaters provide the additional warmth that makes your entire patio comfortable on cooler evenings.
Freestanding patio heaters work beautifully for open spaces. They’re mobile and even can heat a 15 to 20-foot radius. Perfect for larger patios or when you need flexibility.
Tabletop heaters are ideal for covered patios or specific dining zones, providing targeted warmth in a compact, stylish design.
Here’s the thing about outdoor heaters: they’re what make the difference between heading inside at 7 PM because it’s getting chilly and staying outside until late because you’re perfectly comfortable. That’s the real value, not just warmth, but extended time in a space you’ve invested in creating.
Lighting: The Element That Transforms Everything
Good outdoor lighting doesn’t just let you see after dark, it creates an entirely different space. Your patio becomes somewhere you actively want to be once the sun sets.
The best outdoor spaces use multiple types of lighting, each serving a different purpose: over dining tables to enjoy your meals, near your outdoor sofa to create a relaxing ambiance, and along pathways for safety.
A sophisticated outdoor dining setup combining natural teak furniture with a sleek patio heater. This patio decor arrangement shows how the right heating element extends your outdoor dining season well into cooler months.
How These Pieces Three Work Together
Fire tables, outdoor heaters, and lighting aren’t separate purchases, they’re a system that transforms your patio into a year-round living space.
The fire table becomes your gathering point. Outdoor heaters extend the comfort zone to your entire patio. Lighting makes it all usable and beautiful after sunset. Together, they turn a space you want to use every night.
If you already have a custom outdoor chimney or a built-in fire pit setup, we have the perfect selection of furniture to complement your space. From deep-seating sectionals to weather-resistant lounge chairs, our high-quality pieces are designed to frame your focal point while providing the ultimate comfort for your home.
Right now, at Fowler Brothers Co., Home & Patio we’re running our pre-season patio sale right now. Visit our showroom to pick out the best fire tables, heaters, and lighting options. You also get time to plan your space properly with our winning award design team and get help to create something that lasts.
The 125th Anniversary Daffodil Chest from Stickley it’s the third special piece they released to celebrate 125 years of making incredible furniture.
This chest is based on a design from the early 1900s by Ernest Batchelder, who helped shape the Arts and Crafts style back when the Stickley brothers were starting out. Batchelder made his original chest out of chestnut wood with a daffodil pattern painted on using silkscreen.
This revived Daffodil Chest is a masterclass in American craftsmanship, featuring quartersawn white oak solids and pinned mortise-and-tenon joinery for a lifetime of structural integrity. Its most breathtaking feature is the signature floral inlay, a meticulous mosaic of cherry, celtis, maple, mahogany, makore, and black-dyed veneers set into rift oak to recreate Ernest Batchelder’s historic artwork. This attention to detail extends to the hardware and interior, which include bronze-finished lifts, a lid with spring-loaded safety supports, and a cedar-lined interior designed to protect your finest linens for generations.
Open view of the Stickley Daffodil Chest revealing its spacious cedar-lined interior and exquisite hand-inlaid daffodil design, a true heirloom from Stickley’s 125th Anniversary collection.
Handcrafted in New York and measuring 31″ W x 18″ D x 18″ H, this piece is perfectly scaled for the foot of your bed. The “Daffodil” design provides a striking visual against your bedding while maintaining a balanced footprint that won’t overwhelm the room. It is available in the signature Onondaga finish or a variety of other custom oak tones that we can order specifically for you.
Picture walking into your bedroom and seeing a stunning, handcrafted chest at the foot of your bed that feels rich. With its intricate woodwork and century-long legacy, the Daffodil Chest is that rare piece that feels like a unique find while giving you a beautiful place to tuck away blankets and linens.
The oak tones go great with modern, traditional, or anything in between. Keep the top simple, maybe a couple of pillows or nothing at all, so the inlay gets all the attention. It works in a master suite or even as a nice accent for another space. We’ve been helping Chattanooga families find the best furniture since 1885, and Stickley is one of our favorites. Our expert design team will walk you through it, talk about custom options, and help you figure out if it’s the right fit for your home.
The Stickley Daffodil Chest open, showcasing its spacious cedar-lined storage and stunning daffodil wood inlay – a timeless luxury piece from Stickley’s 125th Anniversary collection.
If you love a good story and a great collectible, you won’t want to miss this. A limited number of “First Cuttings” will come to our showroom here at Fowler Brothers Co., with a numbered 125th Anniversary commemorative plaque. It’s a chance to own a true piece of Stickley history.
Pre-order yours by February 15, 2026, to get the official version with the plaque.
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