Finely Furnished

Double M Poly Creates Custom Outdoor Products With Uniquely Rugged Materials

Writer / Amy Lant-Wenger
Photography Provided

At first blush, the phrase “outdoor furniture” might seem like an oxymoron. Many traditional home accents would likely become withered and worn outside when not shielded from the elements.Double M Poly

However, there are plenty of folks who know better, and understand what it is to embrace outdoor relaxation. They see it as a means to expand upon their living space, to have an oasis without walls, and to sit beneath a sky that stretches beyond the stars.

Matt Kramer, owner of Double M Poly in rural Nappanee, understands this way of thinking. He is a creator of beautiful yet durable outdoor seating and gathering places that are destined to last a lifetime.

Kramer took on the lead role in the family business approximately a year and a half ago, taking over for a family member who opted to pursue another avenue. He is a lifelong resident of the area, and relocated to Nappanee after being raised on a farm situated in Marshall County between Bremen and Bourbon. The name of the business is a nod to himself and his wife, Mary, as they incorporated the initials of their first names.

The chief material that establishes Double M Poly into a class of its own is known as Polywood, which is composed of materials gleaned from recycled plastics. The main components that Kramer uses in the business are manufactured in Chicago and shipped to Ohio, to be broken down into workable forms before they arrive at the Double M Poly workshop.

Double M PolyThe planks are styled to achieve the look and feel of wood, but they offer greater versatility. The material is almost entirely maintenance-free and guaranteed not to warp, splinter, crack or become rotted. A simple process of cleaning with a good pressure washer will ensure its pristine condition, and the beams are supported with aluminum framework and stainless-steel hardware to prevent sagging. With a selection of around 30 different colors and seven woodgrain finishes, customers can tailor furniture to their desired tastes.

Some of the popular items at Double M Poly are picnic tables, gliders, Adirondack chairs, and patio tables. Serving bars and matching stools, end tables, swings, benches, wishing wells, planters and lighthouses are also available. One of the newest items that has proven very popular according to Kramer is the swiveling patio dining chair, which can rotate 360 degrees.

Aside from ease of care, Kramer notes that Polywood is somewhat more malleable than wood. “You can bend it a little bit easier and it cuts a little easier – and no splinters,” he says with chuckle. This allows Kramer to offer a quick turnaround time for many of his creations. For example, he says a typical workday of eight hours can produce one picnic table or, within that same time, two or three gliders. The most time-consuming aspect, he notes, is installing the aluminum framework.

Locally, Kramer has found retail success through sales at Rentown Country Store and Homestyle Furniture Shoppe, and he has also worked with dealerships in Michigan and Kentucky. Ideally, he would like to broaden his service region. “I’ll go wherever I can get work from,” he says with enthusiasm. “If I can get enough dealers interested, I could explore those options.”Double M Poly

Double M Poly is located at 27340 County Road 50 in Nappanee. For more info, call 574-773-0632.

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