Over the last month of rain and clouds I’ve been trying to make the house feel a bit more uplifting by introducing some colour and bringing the Spring flowers inside, the ones that survived the snow at least! However, the days are now getting slightly warmer and, touch wood, the sun is gracing us with its presence more frequently and I think it’s time to venture outdoors and get creative.
FURNITURE
During the summer I love to be outdoors as much as possible whether that be lounging around with a book or cooking up a meal al fresco. I don’t believe that garden furniture should differ hugely from what we have inside, why have something that is awkwardly wooden and uncomfortable when you can have something plush, well-designed and durable? This year there are some beautiful outdoor fabrics and furniture ranges that can help do just that. All of the furniture featured below is suitable for Indoor and Outdoor applications saving space and money without compromising on style. Please feel free to contact us for more information if you’re interested.
BACK TO BASICS
I think our gardens and outdoor spaces are just as important as our interiors and in some ways most of the work is already done by the ultimate designer, Mother Nature! A beautifully landscaped garden that links your house to its natural surroundings is wonderful however you don’t have to reach for the shovel or spend a fortune to enjoy the outdoors- the main things are comfort and atmosphere. Luckily these things are quite easy to achieve even in the most basic of environments- I’d much rather be sat somewhere that is warm and comfortable rather than in a beautiful looking space with hard seats and no atmosphere. The key items to create the perfect outdoor space are cushions, throws, lanterns and fires.
IN THE COURTYARD
I’m currently in the middle of designing my very own courtyard garden leading out of my kitchen (with the help of Alice Blount Garden Design) and I am aiming to create a space that is a fun outdoor extension of my home. I want an area that I can both relax and entertain in. I think a courtyard garden is one in which you can really get creative and dramatic and make big changes quite quickly. Courtyards need not be dark and gloomy when they can be little boxes of paradise to escape to. In my cottage courtyard, I’ve taken inspiration from my travels to Morocco and India, two of my favourite places to visit, and am trying to create my own fusion style of classic English with exotic overtones.
Now let us all cross our fingers for a Summer of sunshine so we can all actually get outside to do everything!