INSIDER INSIGHT
HOW THE EXPERTS MAKE THE IDEAL ENTERTAINING ZONE
PLAN YOUR GARDEN FOR ENTERTAINING ‘A lot of garden designs fail because they don’t consider humans enough. We need to have a reason to go somewhere – a bench, a glimpsed view or a fire pit,’ says garden designer Matthew Wilson. ‘You can create zones using plants – this doesn’t have to be hedges, it could be swathes of ornamental grasses. Use a mix of hard landscape materials to break up paved areas and give zones their own flavour. Around areas where you sit and eat, cluster fragrant plants, such as lavender, phlox and shrub roses, along with night-scented stocks and evening primrose. And have edible plants, especially herbs, close to the barbecue for the chef to use.’
LIGHT YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE ‘There are four layers of lighting that we can use when designing a lighting scheme for a garden,’ says Ellie Coombs, MD of Nulty Lighting. ‘Firstly, there is accent lighting, which highlights key focal views from the property. Next there is orientation lighting – this should be low-glare and should illuminate paths and dining areas. Ambient lighting blends with nature to create a sense of comfort – fittings need to be flexible to allow for growth and changes in plants, so spike lights are a great solution as they can be easily moved. Finally, incorporate feature lighting to provide personality. This may be illuminating a sculpture, water feature or even a plant that you like.
INCLUDE AN ALFRESCO KITCHEN ‘Outdoor kitchens should be viewed as an extension of your home and style – you need them to be robust yet beautiful so that they enhance your outside space and make all-year round dining a real possibility,’ says Simon Hawkins, managing director of The Outdoor Kitchen Collective. ‘For low-maintenance outdoor kitchens, look for those made from durable materials such as steel, porcelain and concrete. These require minimal upkeep and will provide years of enjoyment. Include a Renson canopy for additional protection – providing an extension of your living space and full cover from the elements.’
ADD A COSY FIRE PIT ‘The popularity of fire pits has increased tenfold over the last few years and are available as both freestanding and permanent structures and in a variety of different materials, such as concrete, metal and cast-iron,’ says Declan Kingsley-walsh, managing director at Morsø UK. ‘Though woodburning fire pits remain popular, there are also other options such as propane, gel fuel and natural gas fire pits. Though all essentially perform in the same way, the fuel can determine the design of the fire pit. Woodburning fire pits tend to be the most cost-effective and guarantee a cosy camp fire atmosphere. They are also inherently safer than gas-burning fire pits.’
“GARDEN LIGHTING NEEDS TO
BE DISCREET AND GENTLE BUT VERY FOCUSED TO WORK”
CHARLOTTE ROWE, garden designer