roof top terraceContemporary Deck, New York

38. Seeing the skyline. New York City

“Buy all your unfinished teak furnishings at the same time to ensure they’ll end up the same color.” — Christine TusherIt’s that time of year: As spring rolls in, reassess your outdoor furnishings and figure out what you need to buy to make your patio a place you’ll enjoy during the warmer months. Tusher outlines everything you need to know about teak furniture, from price to weathering to choosing sustainably harvested pieces. Full story: What to Know Before You Buy Teak FurnitureDid something you read on Houzz this week resonate with you? Share it in the Comments.

3. Finishes and WeatheringThere are three general options for teak finishes: natural/unfinished, sealed and preweathered.When exposed to the elements, teak naturally turns a silvery gray over time. You can see this starting to happen to the furniture shown here, especially on the arms. If you like this look, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy your teak furnishings; they’ll begin to gray within a few months. Tip: Buy all your unfinished teak furnishings at the same time to ensure they’ll end up the same color.

Invest in comfortable patio furniture to make the most out of your outdoor space. I'd be willing to bet more meals and get-togethers end up outside of this home then anticipated thanks to the inviting setup right outside the glass doors.

One side of the roof could be more for sitting (like this image) the other for laying out