Face the alternative

Courtney Mueller -- Casual Living, 11/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

Sometimes facing alternative options isn't a bad thing — especially when it comes to the variety of tabletops available today in the casual industry. From composite tops and slate to porcelain and even fabric, designers are creating plenty of reasons why consumers should dine outdoors.

From the Atelier International Collections by The Berkeley Hills Co., a repeated Aztec sun pattern is featured on oval stone top, creating a sophisticated design to echo the culture's agricultural background.

The Ranch cocktail table from Stone County Ironworks is highlighted by a copper top that was heated and cooled to create a richly colored finish.

Glentruan's table features glazed tiles set in lightweight polyurethane composite and surrounded with kiln-dried Brazilian cherry. The table also features tapered legs and a hot linseed oil finish.

From Alfresco Home, the Mocha 20-inch square side table features a geometrical star design in different shades of brown and gold earth tones for a more modern outdoor accent.

Dramatic color waves of rust intermingle with shades of gray and blue, making a striking statement, on O.W. Lee's Brazilian Slate 24-inch round tabletop.

Laneventure's Fabri-Glass composite fabrics are bonded onto tempered glass using a unique vacuum process to create a textured finish. The fabrics include stylish patterns, from crocodile and rattlesnake to lizard and pebble grain.

New dining height tables from Telescope Casual feature porcelain tiles for a sophisticated and elegant outdoor dining option.

Durable enough for outdoor use and stylish enough for indoors, the round Earthstone mosaic stone top from Palm Springs Rattan & Garden Classics features natural warm tones across a variety of shapes.