The quintessential dream of summer (in this writer’s opinion) is to while away an afternoon outside in a hammock: Light breezes, ideally; reading material, definitely; maybe a cold beverage on hand; some laze-around music emanating from a tiny speaker. After a bit of wistful web surfing, my dream now involves a luxe free-standing hammock from Lujo.
The New Zealand-based company — which designs and manufactures top-of-the-line lounge furniture — describes its free-standing hammock as “a functional sculpture in your backyard” and “a visual masterpiece you can relax in” (http://www.lujoliving.com). That may be overstating it a bit, but it’s true that the stand — made of gracefully bowed kwila hardwood —is as good-looking as it is sturdy. Unlike cheaper hammock stands made of softwoods such as larch, beech or cypress (that typically have a yellow or reddish hue), the chocolaty brown kwila wood is super durable and able to withstand rain, storms, spills and other ills.
The actual hammock, meanwhile, features marine-grade, UV-resistant Sunbrella fabric available in five colors, from sooty to black to silver blue. The bells and whistles you can purchase additionally are what really elevate the Lujo hammock to dreamy levels: e.g., attachable side pockets to store magazines, tablets, sunscreen or even drinks; and a portable Bluetooth speaker system that clips to the ropes.
A single size free-standing hammock costs $2,895.00, including a five-year warranty, and free international shipping.
