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Teak and charcoal sun loungers lined up beside a modern pool, shaded by sleek black umbrellas and framed by a Mediterranean-inspired garden.

Why "Buy Once, Cry Once" Isn't About Spending More Money

My dad had two rules about buying anything: "Buy once, cry once" and "Don't borrow anything you can't replace."

The first one stung when I was twenty-two and wanted to furnish my first apartment with whatever was cheapest. The second one kept me out of trouble more times than I can count.

But it wasn't until I started designing outdoor spaces that I really understood what he meant.

The $200 Lesson That Changed Everything

Early in my career, I had a client who insisted on buying the cheapest patio set she could find. "It's just for outside," she said. "How bad could it be?"

Six months later, she called me. The cushions had faded to an unrecognizable color. The frame was wobbly. The whole thing looked like it belonged at a garage sale, not in her beautiful backyard.

"I should have listened to you," she said. "Now I have to buy everything again."

That's when my dad's voice echoed in my head: Buy once, cry once.

She cried twice. Once when she paid for cheap furniture, and again when she had to replace it all.

Buy one, keep it forever. This concrete chair doesn’t just survive the elements—it shrugs them off.

What "Quality" Actually Means

Quality isn't about spending the most money possible. It's about understanding what you're really buying.

When you buy our Modern Concrete Chair, you're not just buying somewhere to sit. You're buying something your grandkids might fight over someday. It's built like a bunker, designed like a dream, and comfortable enough to spend hours in.

Yes, it costs more than a plastic chair. But how many plastic chairs will you go through in the lifetime of one concrete chair?

The math is brutal when you actually do it.

Design-forward, not trend-driven. The Acapulco Lounge Chair proves that bold choices age beautifully.

When Bold Choices Pay Off

Here's where people get nervous: what if you invest in something that goes out of style?

The trick is understanding the difference between classic and trendy.

The Acapulco Lounge Chair is bold, but it's not trendy. Its graphic lines aren't trying to be this year's hot color or this season's must-have pattern. It's striking because of its design, not its decoration.

That kind of bold ages well. It becomes more interesting over time, not less.

From Italy to your backyard—these Jackpot planters are more than containers, they’re legacy pieces.

The Pieces that Become Stories

The best investments aren't just about money—they're about creating pieces with stories.

Our Jackpot Vessel planters were designed by textile legend Jack Lenore Larson, inspired by a Japanese lacquer bowl he treasured. They're handmade in Impruneta, Italy, where artisans have been perfecting terracotta for centuries.

When you buy one, you're not just buying a planter. You're buying into a story that connects your backyard to centuries of craftsmanship.

Your kids will know that story. And hopefully, they'll tell it to their kids.

Part fire pit, part sculpture. It starts conversations—before it’s even lit.

The Jaw-Droppers

Sometimes quality means choosing something so stunning that people stop mid-conversation to stare at it.

The Rust Modfire Outdoor Fire Pit is that kind of piece. It doesn't need to be lit to command attention. And as the metal ages and develops patina, it gets more beautiful, not less.

These are the pieces that make your outdoor space feel intentional instead of accidental. Special instead of ordinary.

Weather doesn’t wait for warranties. Quality covers mean your investment stays protected—season after season.

Know Your Enemy (It's the Weather)

Here's what twenty years of outdoor design has taught me: your biggest enemy isn't time—it's weather.

Arizona sun will bleach anything that isn't designed to handle it. Coastal salt air will corrode what doesn't belong there. Rain and humidity will destroy materials that can't handle moisture.

Quality means choosing pieces that were built for your specific reality. Our weather-resistant wicker thrives in desert heat. Our teak pieces handle coastal moisture like they were born for it.

It's not about buying the most expensive thing. It's about buying the right thing for where you actually live.

The Real Cost of Cheap

When people tell me they can't afford quality furniture, I understand. Good pieces cost real money upfront.

But cheap furniture has hidden costs that add up fast. Replacement costs. Storage costs for the pieces that broke. The frustration cost of dealing with wobbly chairs and faded cushions. The opportunity cost of having an outdoor space you don't actually want to spend time in.

Quality furniture has one cost: the initial investment. After that, it just works.

What My Dad Really Meant

"Buy once, cry once" wasn't really about furniture. It was about understanding value.

It was about recognizing that sometimes the thing that costs more upfront actually costs less in the long run. That quality isn't a luxury—it's an investment in not having to think about the problem again.

Your outdoor space should be where you go to relax, not where you go to be reminded of poor purchasing decisions.

When you invest in pieces that last, you're not just buying furniture. You're buying peace of mind. You're buying the confidence that comes from knowing your choices were good ones.

You're buying the luxury of never having to shop for that item again.

Still have questions about whether a specific piece is right for your climate? Our team at help@shopboxhill.com knows these products inside and out. We'd rather help you choose the right piece than watch you choose the wrong one.

Because nobody should have to cry twice.

Are you a trade professional looking for region-specific outdoor solutions? Boxhill is here to help. Our complimentary Trade Program offers expert sourcing and specing services to streamline your projects.
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