Custom cushions for Icelandic homes, summer houses and hot tub decks

18 m/s on the deck, 155 wet days a year

Reykjavík's climate is subpolar oceanic. The Icelandic Met Office's 1991–2020 normals give it 34.5 in (876 mm) of precipitation on about 155 days a year and 77.8% average humidity. July days reach 59°F (14.9°C). January nights drop to 29°F (−1.7°C).

The wind is the headline. In the lowlands it reaches 18 m/s (about 40 mph) on 10 to 20 days a year; in the highlands, on more than 50. The strongest gust on record is 74.2 m/s, about 166 mph.

For a cushion that means three things. Wind lifts it. Rain soaks it. Cool, damp air dries it slowly. Rain doesn't negotiate, friend, so build for the worst day: ties, fast-drying foam, and a plan to carry it in. The same drill works in Newfoundland.

The hot tub bench: splash, steam, then a cold wind

If your summer house has a hot tub on the deck, the bench beside it has the hardest job on the property. Wet skin, dripping towels, splash, and a cold wind to finish it off.

Build that cushion like a boat cushion. A cover in outdoor acrylic or a water-repellent membrane. A thin core that drains; see dry-fast foam. Ties at both back corners. A zipper, so the cover comes off and dries on its own.

Water-repellent sheds splash and showers. It is not waterproof. A soaked cushion still stands on edge to dry, and the tie placement Pattern shows where the ties earn their keep.

Corrugated iron outside, geothermal heat inside

Old Reykjavík is full of timber houses clad in corrugated iron, often painted bright colors. The iron came in the early 20th century, when timber was scarce and wood was banned in urban areas after great fires in Reykjavík and Akureyri.

Inside, it's warm. At least 90% of Icelandic homes are heated with geothermal energy. In Reykjavík, the water that heats homes then runs through pipes under streets and sidewalks at 86°F (30°C) to melt snow and ice.

Warm, dry rooms are kind to indoor cushions, and they dry wet covers fast when the deck cushions come in soaked. The entry bench is another story: wet boots and parkas. Performance fabric, a washable cover and a non-slip base. See mudroom and entry benches.

Out of town, Iceland had about 13,000 summer houses in 2018. Wood, a deck, and cushions that wait out the winter.

Midnight sun, noon twilight: the window seat

In June the Reykjavík sun never sinks more than 5° below the horizon. From December 2 to January 10, daylight lasts less than five hours. Sunshine runs to 189.5 hours in June and 12.6 in December.

A window seat sees both seasons. In summer, long low evening sun works on the top face; turn and rotate the cushion. In winter it is the brightest seat in the house at noon.

For color, take a cue from the painted iron. A calm body, oat or slate, and one bright line of piping: harbor red, sea green, mustard. Start with how to measure a window seat.