Cozey Mistral Dining Set review: Testing the Canadian furniture brand

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Here in Toronto, temperatures are finally staying above 15 C, which means that it’s officially patio season. I have a small outdoor space that I enjoy using in the warmer months, but not much room to store furniture indoors come winter. For that reason, I’ve struggled to find a patio set that’s safe to leave outdoors over the winter and won’t encourage any critters to move in (an issue I’ve faced for the past two winters when attempting to cover an outdoor couch for the winter). 

My search led me to the Cozey Mistral Dining Table Set, an outdoor furniture set made from a sturdy aluminum frame and designed to match the Mistral Seating collection. It’s the newest addition to the brand’s assortment of outdoor furniture and fits perfectly in my small townhouse patio. 

I’ve had a chance to test the dining table set over the last few months and it’s survived the rain, snow and sun that come with unpredictable spring weather in Canada. To see if this set is the right fit for your space, read on for my full review. 

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What: Mistral Dining Table Set
Price: $1,555+ ($2,295 for my dining table and six chairs with cushions)
Where to buy: Cozey

Cozey Mistral Dining Table Set quick specs

• Made from a UV-resistant aluminum frame 
• Frame available in two colours: Sandstone, Pebble
• Table has a built-in umbrella hole
• Customizable set can be ordered with four, six or no chairs; with or without cushions
• Water-resistant, removable cushions come in four colours: Sandcastle, Silver Shade, Fern, Patio
• 5-year limited warranty, 30-day risk-free trial
• Table dimensions: 91.5W x 153L x 75.5H cm
• Chair dimensions: 48W x 54L x 82.5H cm

Cozey Mistral Dining Table Set review

Now that the weather has finally improved enough to spend more time outdoors, I’ve been excited to put the Mistral dining set to good use. It’s a sleek, minimalist set that has seating for up to six people and is Cozey’s first foray into outdoor dining sets. I chose the table with six chairs in Sandstone, an off-white shade, and selected matching beige cushions. 

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Cozey delivery

Like Cozey’s assortment of plush sofas and indoor furniture, the Mistral dining set arrived unassembled in large flat-pack boxes. The dining table came in two separate boxes, while the chairs were boxed together in pairs – a total of five boxes upon arrival. 

The Cozey team shared status updates with me via email and text on the delivery date, and sent me a photo to confirm the furniture’s delivery, as I was out of the house when it arrived. That photo is how I learned they even worked with my husband to pass the boxes over our patio’s low fence, allowing us to avoid carrying the heavy boxes up and down the stairs to get it outside. So far, things were off to a great start for my first Cozey experience. 

Assembling the Mistral Dining Table Set

I wasn’t sure what to expect as the product page claimed that the dining set had “tool-free assembly.” I quickly learned that’s not entirely the case, as you still need to screw the pieces together with the included equipment. True, there was no need for any extra tools, but I wouldn’t call it tool-free either. If you plan to disassemble the dining set to store it over the winter or take it apart before a move, make sure that you hold onto the provided Allen key and ratchet. 

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The chairs are made up of three major pieces of aluminum (one for the seat, one for the front legs and one for the chair back and rear legs) which attach with a few screws and an Allen key. Each chair took me about five minutes to assemble – I’m sure it would be even faster if you had a second pair of hands. I opted for cushions to go along with the chairs, which are thin but comfortable. They slide into the slats on the seat and velcro into place in seconds for easy installation and removal.

The table was a much bigger job (both literally and figuratively), so I brought in my husband to help. Unlike the chairs, the table comes together with screws and a ratchet instead of an Allen key. Both methods were smooth and screwed together easily. You assemble the table in halves, first attaching the legs to the tabletop, then join the two halves together to finish the job. 

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With the table, you’ll need to pay careful attention to the instructions – there are two kinds of screws that can easily be mixed up during the assembly process, making for a frustrating experience if you use the wrong one. Because of a screw mix-up, it took us about 30 minutes to put the table together. Without that issue, it should probably only take 15 – 20 minutes. Assembly tip: if you can, cut open and lay flat the cardboard boxes to build the furniture on top of and avoid scratches.

Favourite feature: Durability

It’s been a couple of months since I first built the dining set and brought it outside. In that time, it’s faced snow, rain and a healthy dose of dirt and debris. All have wiped away easily with a damp cloth and the surfaces of the table and chairs still look as good as new. I make it a point to keep the cushions indoors when not in use, so I can’t speak to how they hold up against the weather. However, I’m sure the time will come when I forget to bring them in and I can report back.

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Least favourite feature: Table size

There aren’t many cons to this dining set, other than the fact that it’s only available in one size. A six-seater table is perfect for my small outdoor space, but if you host larger gatherings this dining set may not offer enough room for all your guests. It would be great if Cozey expands the collection in the future to offer larger versions of the table or modular inserts to be able to seat eight or more people.

Cozey Mistral Dining Table Set recommendations

My first experience with Cozey has convinced me that the brand lives up to its reputation of offering quality furniture and straightforward assembly. The dining set is durable, came together relatively quickly and looks great in my outdoor space. I also appreciate that the company is Canadian and offers a five year warranty and 30-day trial period on its products. If you’re looking for a dining set for a small to mid-sized outdoor space, the Mistral is a solid choice. 

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What: Mistral Dining Table Set
Price: $1,555+ ($2,295 for my dining table, six chairs with cushions)
Where to buy: Cozey

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kmendonca@postmedia.com

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