When it comes to a natural-looking patio set, teak, a tough tropical hardwood often used for building boats ... the furniture ...

In the quiet corner of Sarah Miller's Connecticut garden sits a teak dining set that has weathered 20 New England winters. "My parents bought it when I was in college," she says, running her hand ...

But it will usually require much more upkeep than furniture made from other materials. Photo: Jeremy Pavia All of the designers we consulted cited teak as the gold standard of wood for outdoor ...