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When the weather is sunny and 75 degrees, Leanne Ford’s alter ego comes out. “We call her Lazy Lee,” says the Pennsylvania-based interior designer. “She likes beautiful things but wants the easiest version of getting there.” You could say Lazy Lee even helped Ford design her just-released outdoor collection for Crate & Barrel. The line marks Ford’s fourth collaboration with the brand, but it’s technically her first one centered solely around alfresco entertaining and backyard living. “It makes being lazy look really beautiful. They don’t have to oppose each other,” adds Ford.
Leanne Ford x Crate & Barrel Outdoor Collection
In other words: The teak seating is extremely low-maintenance (you don’t have to cover it if you don’t want to!), the melamine dinnerware is safe to have around a swimming pool, and there are plenty of cushions for naps in the grass.
While Crate & Barrel recently photographed the collection at Korakia Pensione, a Mediterranean-inspired resort in Palm Springs, California (it also happens to be the place where Leanne and her husband, Erik, got engaged), the pieces are made to complement any setting. “I wanted to create simple, fail-proof outdoor furniture for all homes,” shares Ford. Shop five of our favorite finds from the launch, below.
The Kid-Friendly Dinnerware
Ford re-created her beloved artisanal Range stoneware in durable melamine for this latest drop. The pieces only look like hand-thrown ceramic, so when someone accidentally drops a bowl on a stone patio, it won’t snap in half. A bonus? They work wonders as kids’ dinnerware for everyday meals indoors. ”I use them for my daughter,” shares the designer. “That way we can have a cohesive table and there’s not a panda bear sitting out.”
The Streamlined Seating
The “maximally plumped” seating assortment is nap-worthy but also made for hosting parties. Ford specifically wanted the cantilevered armrests to be wide enough so you can easily set a drink down next to you.
The Nature-Inspired Coffee Table
“I’ve never met a rock that I didn’t like,” says Ford. And that includes her aptly named Pebble coffee table. (Psst: The cement piece is available in a side table version, too.) “I just collect rocks, shells, and sticks. I’m like a 9-year-old girl forever,” she says, laughing.
The Actually Comfy Floor Cushion
Measuring 36-by-36 inches, the Chill Bill outdoor floor cushion is large enough to comfortably sit on cross-legged. You’ll feel even more at ease once you realize the chunky woven material is partly made out of recycled plastic bottles.
The Dining Table Made for Good Times
Before you gather around the extendable teak dining table, put on Ford’s favorite playlist for garden parties: Pour Mon Pied A Terre.