ow that summer is upon us, thoughts turn to making the most of the long days and warm nights ahead. Whether you want a chic entertaining space or simply a place to chill out in the sun, a few tweaks and some clever purchases can quickly transform your garden into a hip, outdoor living space. Bringing the indoors to the outdoors has been a budding theme for the past few years, with many styles of weatherproofed furniture and textiles available to translate into making the most of your garden’s cosy atmosphere. Terraces are ideal areas to segue seamlessly into the home. One designer trick is to use the same flooring for both the indoors and outdoors – especially effective if you have bifold doors or retractable glass windows. Stone & Ceramic Warehouse’s new porcelain deck tiles are wood-effect planks, which do away with the usual maintenance needed with real wood. The new Palma Collection porcelain tiles, meanwhile, emulate the beauty of natural stone, but without the costly upkeep of real stone, so they look good all year round and can be used in kitchens and on patios alike. With comfortable rattan daybeds and intricate wrought iron tables and chairs, Cambridge-based Neptune has an inspiring collection of chic furniture. Think of your terrace as a second living room, and seek out mirrors, side tables and plenty of plants in oversized containers to create an enchanting feel. Caroline Mann, outdoor furniture buyer at Wyevale Garden Centres, adds her advice: “As a nation, our outdoor spaces are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and teaming your furniture sets with complementary finishing touches, such as rugs, cushions and fire pits, can bring it to life. Create colour and atmosphere without losing floor space by introducing trellis plants and hanging lights, and choose potted plants and lanterns to add texture without overcrowding. Mirrors are also a great way to draw light into u
Previous page Deckchairs, £40, Wyevale Garden Centres This picture Harrington chairs and sofa, from £595, Neptune Top right Brighton bistro set, £169, Wyevale Garden Centres Bottom right Sunbury bistro set, £399, Wyevale Garden Centres
122
J U N E 2 0 1 9
C A M B S E D I T I O N . C O . U K
Powered by FlippingBook