The problem with outdoor furniture is that it's outdoor furniture. I'm being facetious, yes, but what I mean is that outdoor furniture gets exposed to the elements-that usually means poor longevity. Manufacturers of outdoor furniture make lofty claims. And, in truth, some of the better producers do get it right. But then the question of style rears its ugly head-which is how I inherited my father's lawn furniture. Actually, his expensive set of outdoor furniture got doled out piece by piece to all my siblings once dad got tired of the design.

Hi-Rise outdoor furniture. Manufactured by Kirv.

Stainless Steel Makes Durable, Low-Maintenance Pieces

I live and have lived in unforgiving places: a mountain town where snow blankets the yard for more than six months every year, and a coastal city where humidity weighs down the air and ocean salt corrodes just about everything. My father's outdoor furniture, while it lasted some time, finally died last year-putting me in the market for some new outdoor furniture. This is where UK company Kirv comes in.

Their ergonomically designed range of steel outdoor furniture is exceptionally hard-wearing: "Stainless steel is one of the toughest materials available for outdoor seating and when finished correctly it has the ability to repair itself." In case that's not enough assurance, Kirv can use 316 marine-grade stainless steel instead of their standard 304 grade, although Kirv's standard material is anti-corrosive and strong-the strength comes from the addition of chromium and nickel to its mix.

The Kirv furniture collection celebrates "fluid organic shapes and cleanliness of line." Their pieces include Hi-Rise, Lo-Rise, Bench, Nest, and Sphere (and an additional piece named Otto is in development). Kirv recently exhibited all these products at 100% Design in London. The finishes, either powder coated or electro-polished, add a lasting shine. The powder-coated furniture is available in sulphur yellow, pure orange, ruby red, apple green, pure white, and jet black, though other colors can be requested for a small cost. The great benefit of powder coat is that it helps keep the furniture cool in summer and warm in winter.

An important principle in all of Kirv's furniture is comfort: Kirv "spent a lot of time refining the profile of our seats to make them as ergonomic as possible." The closely spaced tubes, for example, make for a better sitting experience. Kirv products are all handmade in the UK, and their material is surprisingly eco-friendly-stainless steel is composed of 60-70% recycled metal and it's 100% recyclable. My plan now is to get my father to buy the whole lot and then I can bide my time before I inherit my favorite pieces. I'm stuck between dreaming of Hi-Rise and Lo-Rise, while my wife is fantasizing about Sphere.

Via Design Milk.

About the Manufacturer: UK-based Kirv produces ergonomically designed, stainless steel outdoor furniture. Handmade in their local studio, the Kirv pieces are the creations of designer and metalsmith Alex Moore, who has more than 14 years experience working with metal. Moore first trained in engineering, and this shows in his furniture's precision and attention to detail. Kirv is Moore's first commercial collection; previously, he produced bespoke pieces in copper, mild steel, bronze, aluminium and stainless steel.