Is Reese Witherspoon's New Furniture Worth Buying? Here's Our Honest Review of the Draper James x Polywood Collection
Reese Witherspoon has long been the queen of Southern charm, whether she's gracing the screen or launching stylish collections through her lifestyle brand, Draper James. Now, she's bringing that signature grace outdoors — literally — with a brand-new patio furniture collaboration.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
The 73 Most Dazzling Jewelry Gifts From Celebrity-Owned and Hollywood-Loved Labels
Peacock's Best Subscription Deal for Spring Ends Soon: Here's How to Save Nearly 70 Percent Off
'The Morning Show' Sets Return Date With Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon (and Jon Hamm) Back for Season 4 Time Jump
When the opportunity came to try a few pieces from the collection, I had high expectations. Polywood has a solid reputation for building sturdy, eco-friendly outdoor furniture, and this collaboration promised to blend that durability with Draper James' signature Southern charm. If you're in the market for new patio furniture, here's the low-down on Polywood from customization to unboxing to backyard lounging.
The Draper James x Polywood collection pairs Witherspoon's timeless eye for detail with Polywood's eco-conscious craftsmanship. The result: a collection that feels thoughtfully designed and effortlessly refined. The silhouettes are clean and classic — rockers with just the right sway, deep-seated chairs that invite you to sink in and dining sets that tie it all together. This is the kind of patio setup that makes you want to pour a lemonade — or grab a Reese's Book Club read — and stay a while.
Every piece of furniture we tested held up against the elements, from sunny weather to hailstorms. They're nearly kid-proof, too: Whether it's a sticky popsicle, a dropped juice box or a spontaneous round of chair jumping, we found that the seating handled it all.
Pros:
Many customization options
Easy to assemble and clean
Weather-, sun- and mold-resistant materials
20-year warranty
Cons:
Made-to-order, 2-4 weeks for delivery
Shipment includes many large boxes
The Draper James x Polywood collection comes in eight lumber colors, from crisp white to rich wood tones and a bold forest green. The cushion options are just as varied, with dozens of styles ranging from classic solids to playful ginghams and timeless stripes. You can even order samples of both lumber and cushion fabrics — a thoughtful touch that makes it easier to find the perfect match for your space.
For our set, I chose the Vintage Sahara finish with Dune Burlap cushions. With two active toddlers, we try to stick to pieces that can handle the daily mess (like our Ruggable rugs and Article couch), so white —though so pretty — was out of the question. The Dune Burlap felt like the best compromise — warm, neutral and forgiving. It ended up looking a lot less brown and more creamy in person than I expected from the website, which was a nice surprise, making it an even better fit for our space. The Vintage Sahara finish is part of their vintage collection and only available directly on Polywood's website.
Buy at Draper James, $3,149
Each piece is made to order, which means there's a bit of a wait involved while your furniture is crafted and shipped. For me, it took about three weeks for my order to arrive. The pieces are delivered on pallets in large boxes, and while this can make for a slightly overwhelming delivery day, the assembly process is fairly straightforward.
Polywood includes all the necessary screws, tools and clear instructions, making it possible to go from box to backyard in just a few hours. It took me about two and a half hours to assemble the furniture I received, and while it's a bit of a workout, the result is well worth the effort. Once assembled, the furniture feels substantial and sturdy, without any of the wobble or creak that can plague lesser outdoor sets.
What impressed me most was the look and feel of the 'wood.' The material has a solid, weighty feel that instantly gives off a sense of durability. It's made in the USA from high-density polyethylene lumber (a.k.a. recycled plastic) and holds up impressively well in all kinds of weather. Hardware is made from 18-8 marine-grade quality stainless steel with a Xylan coating, which Polywood says helps the metal resist corrosion no matter the climate. The products come with a 20-year warranty, adding to the peace of mind that they're built to last.
Since receiving the furniture, it's already gone through a few rainstorms, even a recent hailstorm and wind gusts. It's mentioned on their site that there isn't a need to cover. I was skeptical about not covering my new furniture, but I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly it dried and did not leave watermarks. The material was not only waterspot-free, there was also not a single dent in sight.
Cleanup is straightforward, too: Polywood says its furniture requires just a little soap and water to keep the material looking fresh. The cushions are equally impressive and are made of outdoor performance fabric that's resistant to mildew, mold, salt, sun and moisture. All of those features combined to deliver plush and supportive seating designed for hours of relaxed lounging, even after they endured their fair share of weather.
Buy at Draper James, $3,049
The Draper James collection also has an adorable kids' selection that brings the same timeless design and all-weather durability to pint-sized patios. Mini rockers, benches and table sets are the perfect way to let the little ones join in the fun. These scaled-down versions are just as tough as their full-sized counterparts, making them a practical choice for families who want to create an outdoor space that works for everyone.
Buy at Draper James, $229
Overall, the Draper James x Polywood collection delivers on its promise of style, comfort and durability. It's a smart investment for anyone looking to upgrade their outdoor space with pieces that are both beautiful and built to last. With a range of customization options, low-maintenance and sturdy design and Reese Witherspoon's impeccable taste, it's an easy pick for anyone tired of flimsy, disposable patio furniture.
If you're ready to give your outdoor space a bit of Southern charm with a side of sustainability, this collaboration is well worth considering. It's functional and photogenic, which feels like the exact balance Witherspoon would want for quiet brunches and backyard bashes alike.
Draper James x Polywood Furniture Collection Specifications
Price range: $79 for side tables to $4,749 for nine-piece dining sets
Shipping and returns: Free
Fulfillment: Minimum 14 days
Warranty: 20 years for residential use
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
From 'Lady in the Lake' to 'It Ends With Us': 29 New and Upcoming Book Adaptations in 2024
Meet the Superstars Who Glam Up Hollywood's A-List
Rosie O'Donnell on Ellen, Madonna, Trump and 40 Years in the Queer Spotlight
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Why So Many Southerners Go By Their Middle Names
We asked our readers to help demystify this unique tradition. We recently shared a story about double-name rules that every Southerner should know (namely, never shorten or abbreviate one without express permission), and the comments went wild. It turns out lots of y'all have double names and were glad to see us advocating for the Mary Jos and Patty Anns of the world. But there was another camp in the comment section requesting some overdue acknowledgement as well: 'Can you do a post about middle-name-ers too?' We aim to please, so here's a little love for the Middle Name Crowd (which includes actress Reese Witherspoon). We tip our hats to all y'all—and your neglected first names too. Why Some Southerners Go By Their Middle Names We turned to our Facebook audience to get to the bottom of the unique tradition, asking, 'Are you a Southerner who goes by their middle name? Tell us the story behind your moniker!' We got nearly 250 comments, which shed a bit more light on the sometimes sticky situation. To Avoid Confusion For many parents naming their children, going by the middle name is a matter of practicality—and avoiding a case of mistaken identity. Wrote one Southern Living reader, 'My dad, grandfather, and great-grandfather all had the same first name. They all went by their middle names.' Imagine the confusion if you called for Earl and three people answered you! To Honor A Loved One A handful of readers noted that they went by their second name because it once belonged to a treasured family member or friend. That's the case for Southern Living's very own Editor in Chief, Sid Evans. 'I'm a Jr., so I have my father's name, but he wanted to call me Sid after a beloved uncle,' he says. To Help the Flow Sometimes, it's a simple matter of what sounds better. 'Myself and my 3 oldest siblings all go by our middle names,' wrote another reader. 'Our names just are easier on the ear in the order our parents placed them. But they got smart on kid #5 and went with calling him by his first name as it sounds better that way too!' To Make the Most of a Moniker You've got to work with what you've got. Joked one reader, who punctuated her comment with a laughing emoji, 'Although I'm not real keen on my middle name, which I go by, I dislike my first name even more! I guess it's the lesser of two evils!!' The Downside of Going By Your Middle Name While there are plenty of practical and heartwarming reasons for a parent to call their child by a middle name, lots of commenters who go by their middle names were very vocal about the pain points that often accompany the practice. 'Named after my mom, so to avoid confusion, I go by my middle name, which causes all kinds of legal issues,' wrote one reader. 'If you're an expecting parent, don't name your child one name and call him/her by their middle. It truly is a huge hassle.' Another wrote, 'All of my financial, business, medical, passport/ID have my first name. Such a pain.' There were so many similar comments about the legal and everyday frustrations associated with the tradition that one reader took it upon himself to sum things up: 'Long story short… it's a curse to go by your middle name.' Even so, other middle name-ers, like Sid, take it in stride: 'For airlines, credit card companies, hotels, etc., I just let them call me John.' Read the original article on Southern Living Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
8 hours ago
- Fox News
Margaret Qualley tries to match Bill Murray with mom Andie MacDowell after 'Piggly Wiggly' moment
Margaret Qualley is attempting to play matchmaker for her mother, Andie MacDowell — and she already has a famous potential suitor in mind. During a Thursday appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon," the 30-year-old actress revealed that she tried to set up Bill Murray with MacDowell, 67, after meeting the 74-year-old "Ghostbusters" star backstage just prior to joining Fallon on the show. "Bill Murray, literally tonight, he pops into my backstage dressing room," Qualley said. "He's wearing a Piggly Wiggly shirt." "And I grew up in North Carolina, and Piggly Wiggly's a Southern thing," "The Substance" actress continued, referring to the supermarket chain. "I mean, there was one where I grew up so I was like, 'Oh, yeah, Piggly Wiggly,' she added. "Then, cut to, I found out he's living in Charleston. My mom's living in Charleston." However, Qualley explained that her plans hit a snag after she told Murray that he and her mother, who co-starred in the hit 1993 movie "Groundhog Day," both lived in the same city. "He was saying, 'OK, you know what? I'm gonna give you the tea. He was like, 'You know, your mom and I — we didn't get along so good while we were making that movie,'" Qualley said. "He was like, 'She took a lot of time to get her hair done, and she didn't know her lines this one time.' I was like, 'Yeah, well, I heard a different story, sir.'" Despite learning that Murray and MacDowell were not on the best of terms while filming "Groundhog Day" almost three decades ago, Qualley explained that she still saw potential for a romance between the duo. "I'm putting two and two together. He's living in Charleston. She's living in Charleston. They've got this kind of rage towards each other, but maybe he's trying to make amends," Qualley said. "And I'm like, 'She's single, he's single. They're both crazy. Let's get it together!'" the "Maid" star exclaimed. "Time to set them up," Fallon agreed. Qualley said that she was hoping to see Murray again after "The Tonight Show" so that she could put him in touch with her mother. "I said to come circle back and get my number if he wants to connect with my mom. And, you know, if he's got any sense at all, he'd be the luckiest guy in the world!" Qualley said. "Of course he would be!" Fallon told her, adding, "This is the biggest tea that has ever been spilled on 'The Tonight Show.' Thank you so much." "I hope he's listening right now," Qualley said. "Yeah, he's watching right now. He's backstage," Fallon said. "Hi, Bill!" Qualley exclaimed. MacDowell shares Qualley, along with son Justin, 39, and daughter Rainey, 36, with her ex-husband Paul Qualley. The actress married the rancher and former model in 1986, but they divorced in 1999. After splitting from Paul, MacDowell briefly dated Dennis Quaid after they co-starred in the 2001 movie "Dinner with Friends." The "Four Weddings and a Funeral" actress went on to marry her former high school classmate Rhett Herzog in November 2001, but the former couple finalized their divorce in October 2004. MacDowell previously shared that she left Los Angeles to move back to her home state of South Carolina in 2023 after all of her children left home. In January 2024, MacDowell opened up about her love life during an appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show." "I'm so single," MacDowell told Barrymore in a clip shared on Instagram in July 2024. "But you need to date — I don't. You should do it now, because you get older and you care less. I hate to tell you." "I think I might be there!" Barrymore told her. "I'm gonna turn 49. I am not that aggressive or interested. I'm very happy with my life." "I know what you mean," MacDowell replied. "I want to say, I got really tired. People finally gave up, because everybody would say, 'So, is there a man?' I was just like, you know, years and years, years go by. Now, nobody asks me anymore." MacDowell also shared her thoughts on dating in her 60s and explained that she was content with embracing the single life. "I do think that, you know, we've had such an evolution of who we are as human beings," she said. "I do think that there is nothing wrong with being single, really. I have great female friends and I have some male friends that I like too."
USA Today
11 hours ago
- USA Today
US will dodge recession, but Trump's policies will slow economic growth: Report
President Donald Trump's aggressive economic policies will likely significantly slow U.S. growth and push up inflation but stop short of causing a recession or 'stagflation' – the dire scenarios that forecasters envisioned before he took office, a report says. 'The totality of the policies does not push the economy to the brink of recession but it significantly diminishes growth' during Trump's four-year term, said economist Justin Begley of Moody's Analytics. He added, 'It's not yet stagflation but it's edging that way.' Stagflation is an economy characterized by high inflation, slow or stagnant growth and high unemployment – an unusual and toxic cocktail. Typically, a sluggish economy leads to low inflation, allowing the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates to stimulate more borrowing and activity. Will the Fed lower rates in September? The Fed, however, faces a dilemma because lowering rates to bolster a softening labor market could further drive up inflation. Consumer price increases generally have eased substantially after a pandemic-related spike but recently edged higher, in part because of Trump's sweeping import levies. His policies are imposing countervailing forces on the economy. Tax cuts and increased spending on border security and defense are set to juice growth. But those positive catalysts are expected to be more than offset by the tariffs, a historic immigration crackdown, layoffs of hundreds of thousands of federal workers and big cuts to social services programs such as Medicaid and food stamps, Begley said. During Trump's presidential race against former Vice President Kamala Harris last year, Moody's, among other research firms, predicted Trump's economic blueprint would spark a recession by mid-2025. Moody's has updated its forecast in part because the contours of his plan recently have become more clearly defined, Begley said. 'We have a better view where things are going,' he said. What tariffs has Trump imposed? For example, high double-digit tariffs are in place for steel and aluminum, foreign cars and Chinese imports. And the White House has reached deals with trading partners such as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the UK that set tariffs at 10% to 20%. Trump's deportations and constraints on Southern border crossings are well under way. And his huge budget bill, which he signed into law on July 4, expanded his 2017 tax cuts, beefed up military and border security outlays, and slashed some entitlement spending. How is the economy doing under Trump? All told, Moody's projects Trump's policies will reduce economic growth by an average 0.4 percentage points annually – nearly half a point – during his term. That would leave the economy expanding an average 1.7% annually over the four years, with growth bottoming at 1.4% next year and peaking at 2.2% in 2028. The economy grew at an annual rate of 1.2% the first half of 2025. It's projected to grow at slightly less than a 1% pace in the second half, according to economists surveyed by Wolters Kluwer Blue Chip Economic Indicators. By contrast, the economy averaged 2.3% growth the decade after the Great Recession of 2007-2009 and 3.5% during former president Joe Biden's term. The latter, however, included unusually strong gains as the nation emerged from the pandemic recession. In 2024, Biden's last year in office, the economy grew a healthy 2.8%. Growth had been expected to downshift no matter who won the 2024 election as a post-COVID-19 surge in consumer demand petered out, Americans depleted government pandemic aid and other government stimulus measures faded. But by the end of Trump's term in 2028, the economy will be 1.3% smaller than if his policies had not been enacted, Begley wrote in a report. Also, the unemployment rate is expected to peak at 4.7% in 2027 before falling to 4.4% by the time Trump leaves office. Without his policies, unemployment would broadly hold steady at about 4% and there would be about 885,000 additional jobs, Moody's said. Is inflation ever going to go down? Trump's policies similarly are poised to push up inflation by an average of nearly half a percentage point a year. That would leave annual inflation averaging 2.6% during Trump's term and peaking at 3.1% in 2026, based on the Commerce Department's personal consumption expenditures price index. Inflation then would decline and nearly reach the Fed's 2% goal in 2028, the last year of his term. Absent the president's policies, inflation would achieve the Fed's target next year, Begley's analysis shows. Are tariffs contributing to inflation? Tariffs, by far, represent both the biggest drag on growth and the largest contributor to inflation, Begley said. Companies are expected to pass most of the costs of the duties to consumers, driving up prices. And that's expected to sap their buying power and reduce consumption, which makes up 70% of economic activity. Without the tariffs, the net effects of Trump's policies on growth would be slightly positive, Begley said. The benefits of tax cuts and increased defense and border spending would outweigh the toll taken by the immigration crackdown, federal layoffs and cutbacks to Medicaid and food stamps, he said. What are the negative effects of deportations? Another big hit comes from the deportations. Like the tariffs, the immigration crackdown is projected to both curtail growth and boost inflation. A reduced supply of workers in industries such as construction, agriculture and hospitality is expected to drive up wages and prices. And a smaller population of immigrants means less consumer spending. Here's why Moody's forecast of the effects of Trump's policies is less dire than it was before he took office: Less retaliation from tariffs Although Trump's tariffs are higher than anticipated, Moody's expected more significant retaliation from foreign countries that would batter U.S. manufacturers' exports. At least so far, those nations have taken a more restrained approach. Fewer deportations than expected Moody's figured the Trump administration would seek to deport about 1 million immigrants who lack permanent legal status each year. But Begley said that has proven logistically challenging. Goldman Sachs estimates monthly deportations have averaged an annualized pace of about 600,000. Tax cuts give middle-class Americans more spending money Although Trump vowed during his campaign to eliminate taxes on tips and overtime, Moody's didn't necessarily expect him to follow through. The budget bill, however, scraps taxes on tips up to $25,000 a year and over time up to $12,500.
