From Pool-Side Lounging to Family Feasts: Building a No-Stress Outdoor

Introduction

There’s something magic about Oak Island’s salty breeze—until it starts hurling cushions down the block. When a Raleigh-based family asked Casual Furniture World to outfit their new vacation home here on the Brunswick coast, my job was clear: create tough, good-looking zones that would stand up to sun, sand, and the occasional tropical gust while keeping cleanup to a minimum. I’m Susan Slone, and this makeover proves you really can blend farmhouse-coastal charm with rock-solid durability.

Understanding the Client’s Vision

A Sectional That Fits the Whole Crew

With four kids, two labs, and a rotating cast of cousins, the owners wanted one giant “everybody pile-on” sofa. The priorities were deep seats for adults, safe corners for wiggly toddlers, and cushions sturdy enough to shrug off pool water and sunscreen.

Poolside Chaises—No Cushions, No Worries

The pool deck bakes from dawn to dusk, so any fabric left out would suffer. The clients asked for zero-cushion loungers—heavy enough not to blow into the neighbor’s yard, contoured enough to nap on, and stylish enough that Grandma will still post photos.

Keep It Neutral, Keep It Easy

Inside, the home leans farmhouse coastal: white shiplap, warm wood floors, soft gray accents. Outdoors needed the same calm palette—nothing too nautical—but every surface had to rinse clean with a garden hose. This is a second home; “high-maintenance” was off the table.

Design Strategy

Dining Zone: Two-Tone Polywood Rectangle Table

Under the covered porch we placed a Polywood rectangular dining set in their newest two-tone finish—slate tops paired with a driftwood frame. The darker tabletop camouflages BBQ sauce splatters, while the lighter base ties back to the weathered-oak deck boards. Built from recycled HDPE, the set laughs at salt spray and never needs sanding or staining.

Lounge Zone: Vineyard Sectional With T-Cushion Freedom

To nail the “everyone-fits” brief, I chose Polywood’s Vineyard sectional. Its modular pieces let us form a wide “U,” so parents can watch the kids cannonball without twisting. We dressed the quick-dry T-cushions in Sunbrella Canvas Flax—a soft oatmeal that reads farmhouse without looking precious. The zip-off covers head straight into the wash after a sunscreen siege.

Pool Zone: Coastal Chaise Loungers—Cushion-Free & Wind-Proof

Nothing beats molded HDPE for poolside abuse. Poly Coastal chaise loungers have an integrated contour that feels surprisingly plush on bare skin but never begs for a cushion. Each unit weighs in at over 65 lbs, so gusty afternoons won’t send them surfing across the travertine. Wheels on the back legs let the adults angle them toward—or away from—the action.

Palette & Finishes: Farmhouse Goes Coastal

We stuck to a sandy-white and driftwood base with charcoal accents. That trio echoes bleached piers, dune grass, and weathered lobster traps you’ll spot along Oak Island. Black powder-coated hardware adds a crisp outline without screaming “industrial.”

Built-In Low-Maintenance DNA

Every frame is UV-stable poly-lumber, every fastener is marine-grade stainless, and every cushion core is reticulated foam that drains in minutes. Translation: no mold surprises after three rainy weeks, and no hauling furniture inside when checkout day comes too fast.

The Outcome: A Relax-First Family Retreat

One Sofa, Countless Stories

Within hours of delivery, the kids had converted the Vineyard sectional into a fort, the labs claimed the corner pieces, and Dad tested the cupholders during a sunset game of Uno. Mission accomplished: comfort for all ages, chaos contained.

Loungers That Stay Put

A surprise nor’easter hit the following weekend; the Coastal chaises didn’t budge. The owners texted, “Wind = 40 mph, loungers = 0 movement.” Better yet, no soggy padding to dry—just a quick towel swipe before diving back into the pool.

Dinner With a View, Minus the Worry

The two-tone dining set now hosts seafood boils without a tablecloth. When the inevitable butter spill happens, a hose and a dab of mild soap erase the evidence. And because the chairs are lighter than they look, Grandma can slide in with ease.

Seamless Style, Zero Stress

Stepping from kitchen to porch to pool, you see one calm color story flowing through. Nothing feels overly “beach-theme,” yet every piece belongs to its salty setting. Best of all, everything can be locked up and left alone—exactly what a vacation house should be.

Conclusion

Designing this Oak Island hangout proved that coastal wind, sun, and kids don’t have to dictate boring furniture. With smart poly-lumber choices and a soft farmhouse palette, the family now lands on the island, drops their bags, and heads straight outside—no setup, no cushion shuffle. If your getaway spot could use the same stress-free upgrade, swing by Casual Furniture World and let’s sketch out your perfect coastal escape.