It鈥檚 that time of year when homeowners are cleaning their outdoor furniture in time for the sunny days of outdoor entertaining soon to come.

For many, what looked OK when it was stored in the fall now looks old and faded, or the woven fabric is pulling out of the frame. So, off to the dump they go with plans to buy new chairs at a local retailer in the coming weeks.

鈥淲hy add to the landfill and spend money replacing the furniture?鈥� says Donna Clairmont, owner of Clairmont Custom Draperies & D茅cor in Comox. 鈥淲ith the availability of new UV-resistant fabrics and a special tool, we help homeowners give new life to their patio chairs and lounges 鈥� installing new woven vinyl fabric in a variety of colours and patterns to save homeowners money and diminish the bulky debris in the dump.鈥�

For plastic chairs that look 鈥渃halky,鈥� Clairmont has paints to give them new life 鈥� again, saving the bulk from going to the dump and saving customers money.

Excited about the impact of this new service in the community, she is offering to donate a percentage of any chair re-dos in April and May to the Comox Valley Transition Society.

This new outdoor furniture service is an expansion of Clairmont鈥檚 primary business, which she started in 2006. She also uses the fade-resistant fabrics for custom projects for clients鈥� outdoor living spaces 鈥� from cushions to barbecue covers.

Prior to this fall鈥檚 expansion, Clairmont has focused on creating custom draperies, room ensembles, pillows and decorating accessories, and personalized gifts such as robes and placemats for clients, and for interior designers from Campbell River to Nanaimo. The company also specializes in window treatments 鈥� from valances and blinds to draperies and Roman shades.

Clients can provide their own fabrics for projects, or they can choose from Clairmont鈥檚 extensive sample room.

Clairmont is president of the Comox Valley Small Business Association, serving her second term. The company is a member of the Chamber of Commerce.