OUTDOOR LIVING IDEAS

Make the most of your home’s external areas with Charley Ward’s round up of fabulous features to add to your garden space

Maximise the useage your garden gets all year round with Charley Ward’s pick of inspiring additions

While the average British garden may once have hosted little more than a set of rattan furniture and the occasional barbecue, the shift towards designing properties with large spans of glass means there’s a much greater connection between our home’s inside and outside zones than ever before. As a result, we’ve become far more adventurous in the way we use our outdoor spaces, to the point that you could even consider them another room of the house. Read on to discover the ways you can create the perfect garden living area this summer – and beyond.

Bring the outside in

Installing a run of glazed doors has myriad benefits; they can look stunning, will allow in large amounts of moodboosting daylight and can help to you make the most of any pleasant views. The benefits are especially apparent during the warmer months, where you can throw them open and allow plenty of fresh air inside.

For those wanting more frameless views, opt for sliding doors over bifolds, as these tend to feature wider spans of glass with slimmer sightlines, like the Idsystems units featured in the main image above. You can find out more about sliding doors in our guide on page 69. However, if entertaining is your raison d’etre, then the fully opening entrance that bifolds offer might be more your bag.

Install a deck

Timber decking creates an attractive, warm living area that’s highly versatile. It’s also a relatively low cost option if you go for softwood or composite boards, although higher quality hardwood versions will be more expensive – and, as always, price is dependent mainly on the area you’re covering. Decks come in a wide variety of colours and can usually be painted or stained to your exact specifications.

A well-placed deck can also cover unsightly drains or inspection covers (make sure they’re accessible!) and they can still be appropriate even if your home is set on a sloping site. Plus, they can usually be extended or modified fairly easily if you want to alter them in the future. When the Cochrane family remodelled their Edwardian terrace house (right), they installed this area of anthracite grey decking by Ecodek; it runs right up to the edge of the glazing for a smooth transition from inside to out.

Make a splash

Aside from any health benefits associated with swimming, nothing beats relaxing by the poolside on a summer’s day, so installing one of these features in your garden is a real luxury. Planning permission is not generally required for

pools as they fall within permitted development rights. However, if you live in a protected area or own a listed property, then it’s worth checking with your local authority before you commit to starting any works.

Adding an enclosure, like the retractable polycarbonate model by Starlight Pools on the previous page, is a great way to beat the weather and extend the usage you can get out of your pool. It will also protect the structure from the elements, keep it hygienic and provide full UV protection.

Create flow with floor tiles

A growing number of companies now offer matching tiles for use both indoors and outdoors. By using the same flooring either side of your glazing, your eyeline is not broken, ensuring a real sense of flow through your home and into the garden. This helps create that coveted feeling of space and openness.

These minimal white porcelain tiles (left) are part of the Valverdi range by The London Tile Company. They’re slip resistant, stain and frost-proof and 100% colourfast, so the inner and outer units will always match – even after decades in the sun. Prices start from £35 per m2.

Beat the British weather

Extend your living space into the garden with a dedicated all-weather patio roof. Designed to provide shading and rain protection, these roof panels lie flat and interlock to create a fully watertight covering when closed – so you can still sit out and enjoy dinner in the garden, even when it’s raining. On brighter days, the panels can be opened, letting you control the amount of shading or simply allowing the sunshine to spill through.

This contemporary aluminium option (below), by IQ Glass, has a rotational range of 120°. Each installation is bespoke, with colours, size, configuration and optional integrations supplied to your preferred specification. Don’t be afraid to dream big, as the structure can be designed to work with up to 7m between each supporting post, resulting in large outdoor living areas.

Stay warm in the evenings

A fireplace can make a fantastic focal point and, for outside zones, the warmth that’s provided allows for extended socialising into the evening. While there are plenty of standalone models to choose from, if you’re still at the design stage of your project, then consider if you could specify a built-in model for your scheme. This can add real architectural flair and, of course, some extra functionality to your new home.

In addition, if you only have a modest garden, a built-in unit can save valuable floor space that you could use for a set of garden chairs, for example. In this project by Gruff Architects (pictured above), the stone chimney makes for a pleasing contrast with the simple timber-clad structure, while the decked area provides a space to relax by the fire.

Enjoy al fresco dining

Bring your summer barbecues up a notch by installing an outside kitchen. You could get your architect to design something bespoke and have it made to your exact requirements, or you can take advantage of one of the modular options available. These WWOO concrete kitchens (below) come in two-to-six segments, with corner units and additional outdoor showers available.

They typically feature a sink and a woodfired oven or gas barbecue plus some shelving units to store essentials.

Pair one with a dining table and chairs to create a fully functional kitchen/dining area that’s perfect for hosting parties. They’re priced from £5,482 for a two segment unit.