DIVE I N TO SUMMER
I’m writing this missive sat on a plane, thousands of metres above the Atlantic, as I head off on a whirlwind trip combining business and pleasure. It’s the perfect place to reflect on this issue’s theme of getting away from it all – retreating to hot and sunny destinations, or simply your own back garden.
Over this magazine’s 30-year history, we’ve prided ourselves on being inside the heads of you, our loyal readers. So we know that during the summer months, you’re likely to be less focused on renovations and major decorating projects, choosing instead to spend more time outdoors or exploring new places. It is the time to embrace some escapism, after all.
This month, we’ve done just that, finding beautiful homes in the most fantastic locations around the world – all with amazing coastal views or alfresco spaces bathed in sunlight. Then, for those wanting to transform their own outdoors, we have the lowdown on creating a modern garden alongside our shoot featuring the latest design pieces to use. We also explore the history of the swimming pool. (We may live in blustery Britain, but we can dream, right?) And, finally, our Escape section highlights Porto and Palma as the places to visit right now.
Talking of trips abroad, I’m reminded of the words of one of my favourite writers, Bill Bryson: ‘Nothing beats finding yourself at large in a foreign city on a fair evening, loafing along unfamiliar streets in the long shadows of a lazy sunset… hesitating at street corners to decide whether that cheerful restaurant you will remember fondly for years is likely to lie down this street or that one.’ Happy summer, wherever your travels take you.