11/05/2026
Do you prefer the canopy to be in an open or closed position?
We've been asked a lot about our retractable canopy and the outdoor area underneath. One of the questions is how do we manage to keep the furniture in a good state despite being outdoors.
It might look like everything is exposed to the elements but in fact the canopy is always at a closed configuration providing protection for the deck and the furniture. We open it up when we want to enjoy the sun in the morning or late evening.
The canopy design is also DIY, we asked different suppliers but we just couldn't afford the high cost of getting a "pro" version so we decided to design it ourselves and get a tent maker to sew the pvc fabric for us, which only cost us less than a 10th of the price.
The mechanism is very basic, just a rope that we pull to retract and the fabric is hung through tension wires and carabiners making it easy to replace worn out parts. We hope to one day design a motorised version just to make it easier to operate.
We do have problems with dried leaves accumulating at the top so we clean it at least once every 3-4 months. Cleaning is not very challenging, basically just pushing out the leaves to either side of the canopy.
Another question is "will you have enough time to close it up if there's a sudden heavy downpour?" As we've shared earlier, the canopy is always closed so we don't worry about getting our furniture soaked in the rain. And when it's open, that means we are just right there enjoying the space which gives us enough time to close it up in case it rains.
