FURNITURE FLOPS
on chairs if placing them on grass; they will sink into dirt quicker than a stiletto after a rainy day.
Cover your fabrics and furniture. Or better yet, bring them indoors when not in use. Prolonged exposure to rain and sun quickly ages furniture.
Use timbers designed for the Australian summer. Non-tropical timbers don’t handle humidity well, so get to know your woods.
Black furniture and fabrics will absorb every bit of energy and heat from the sun, resulting in burnt bums and faded fabrics.
1 Malabar round dining table, $2199, Domayne. 2 Cali Cross dining table in White, $2760, GlobeWest. 3 Pebble table in Grey Concrete, $1069, Vorsen.
4 Cannes round dining table, $3455, GlobeWest. 5 Malmo outdoor dining table, $1595, Coco Republic. Abbott concrete dining table, $2295, Coco Republic. 7 Havelock dining table in White $1399, Freedom. 8 Cannes Oval dining table, $3915, GlobeWest. Picnic outoor dining table, $3550, Robert Plumb.
10 Rimini seven-piece outdoor setting, $2799, Harvey Norman. 11 Montpellier dining table, $1399, Freedom. 12 Morton woven outdoor dining chair, $649, Eco Outdoor. 13 Armona chair in Matt Green, $299, Vorsen. 14 Pedrali ‘Tribeca 3665’ powdercoated armchair, $480, Robert Plumb. 15 Cuba stackable outdoor dining chair, $325, Coco Republic. 16 Chelsea nine-piece outdoor dining setting (only chair pictured), $2599, Domayne. 17 Palm Springs sun lounger, POA, Grazia & Co. 18 Cascade day bed, $699, Freedom. 19 Penthurst outdoor sunlounge, $2595, Coco Republic. 20 Cannes Sling sunbed, $2300, GlobeWest.
Richard Unsworth is the force behind Garden Life, one of Sydney’s most successful landscaping firms and go-to store for designer plant pots
In your experience, which potted plants deliver the best instant impact? More mature plants with larger scale and/or dramatic foliage give the best instant impact. Think about large agave or aloe specimens, dragon trees, frangipanis (the best summer tree) or more traditional olive or citrus trees for a Mediterranean vibe. Advanced cloud trees are great, too.
What are the most important elements to consider when choosing plants for pots?
Light: match the plant to your conditions. Care: know how much you want to nurture them. Do you need drought-proof, resilient specimens you can leave for weeks in summer without watering etc. Space: give your plant room to grow into the pot.
Which plants are trending right now?
We concentrate on resilient performance plants that work in containers, rather than focusing on trends. But saying that, citrus and olive trees are increasingly popular.
Any tips for potted plants on balconies?
Use the best available potting mix and research the conditions your plants love. Always water well, and let plants dry out brie ly before watering them again.