As of this moment (that’s April 7 at 3:38 MST) in Denver, Colorado the Spring winds are a-blow, the temp is a less-than-balmy 39 F, and the last bits of yesterday’s four-inch snowfall are evaporating into the cool air. But that shouldn’t keep one from dreaming about summer days, should it? Of course not. In fact, exactly one week ago the temp flirted with 80–a sure sign that happier weather is soon to come; so, forthwith, a preview of the latest outdoor digs by Gandía-Blasco of the Mediterranean mecca of Valencia, Spain.

Saler Collection. Designed by Jos© A. Gandía-Blasco.

Tomorrow’s high in Valencia is a mere 66 F, which means that the populous may not quite be ready for the new Saler Collection, though the beautiful bronze Spaniards luxuriating amidst its anodized or powder-coated aluminum frames, polyethylene table-tops, and thermo-sealed polyurethane foam cushions with removable, washable covers certainly seem to be.

The manufacturer knows a bit or two about creating comfortable summer confines that also withstand scorching sun and salty surf. The company–begun as a textile business back in 1941–refined its focus into outdoor furnishings during the 90s. When current firm namesake Señor Gandía-Blasco officially took the helm in the late 90’s, he collaborated with architect Ramon Esteve to exploit “the gap in the outdoor furniture market and focus central activity on this branch.” But then, you already knew that courtesy of fellow 3ringer Jenny Rector’s look at Esteve’s Cool Chaise. Saler picks up where Cool leaves off, nudging its elegant classicism towards a more severe linearity. The result is strikingly severe, yet elegantly Cool in its own right.

Saler is an extensive collection, featuring no less than nine seats, three tables, and a portable bar. Highlights include a new take on the familiar chaise lounge (featuring a comfy corner pillow as backrest), a “puff” armchair and accompanying low table, a modular sofa that looks like it seats about 20, and the intriguing “Tu y Yo”–a conjoined forward-oriented duel seat that puts you face to face with (hopefully) a desirable companion.

The pieces are aesthetically unified via their tall, thin, horizontally-oriented profiles and familiar materials palette of aluminum, foam, and textile cushion covers in G-B’s signature line of four textures and twenty+ colors. G-B also offers four color options for frames–black, white, pewter, and (fittingly) bronze. In short, it’s probably a good thing that we (and even Valencia) have perhaps three to four weeks until the weather really turns: all the more time to sort through Saler’s tempting poutpourri of styles and colors.