PROJECT INSPIRATION
Outdoor rooms
Genius ideas for reworking the garden – from lap pools to cinema screens
Open-air cinema
pop-up outdoor cinemas are a feature of summer in the city now, but you can also enjoy the silver screen closer to home. Designer John Tong of +tongtong originally created this raised deck as a seating area, but his kids had other ideas. ‘We never thought of our back yard as a place to perform… until we had kids,’ he says. ‘They immediately started using it as a stage, so i added a timber backdrop to emphasise the height and scale of the space.’ He then took things a step further, adding a low-tech film screen: ‘We clip a white bed sheet to the surface for family film nights,’ he adds. ‘it’s now an all-round space to socialise, entertain, relax and play.’
Project details For the British weather, try moisture-resistant timber cladding, £9.29 for a 915 x 516mm panel, Homebase. Find projector and screen packages, from £550, at projectionscreen-shop.co.uk.
dining area
garden designer Stuart Craine often integrates dedicated dining areas into the contemporary outside spaces he creates for his clients. ‘These include sections that flow out as a continuation of an indoor kitchen to more secluded outdoor rooms that are set away from the house,’ he says. ‘if a dining space is established and ready to be enjoyed all year round, a client will tend to use it more,’ he adds. define a discrete zone within your garden by using an architectural device, such as a roof structure, a textured wall or a change of surface underfoot. a boldly painted wall can also be very effective.
Chill-out zone
‘Advances in outdoor fabrics and printing techniques mean that myriad colours and vibrant patterns can be enjoyed outdoors,’ says tricia Guild of Designers Guild. look out for ikats, stripes and tropical florals from Designers Guild, osborne & little, thibaut and Jim thompson, while Sunbrella excels in weatherproof brights. Combine with built-in seating for a space that feels like a second living room. ‘Built-in bases are a great way to create a relaxed lounging area, as they take up relatively little room,’ says John Davies of John Davies landscape. Surround a seating zone with foliage to make it feel more intimate.
cook’s corner
cooking in the garden has progressed from basic barbecues to sophisticated stoves, ovens and even full-scale outdoor kitchens. A more professional set-up makes it easier to cook, entertain and enjoy your outside space. ‘Wood-fired pizza ovens, stoves and barbecue carts can be rolled out in service easily, but permanent cook-out areas are on the rise,’ says steve Birkbeck of outdoor kitchens Uk. ‘timber-clad units inside timber-roofed structures are the leading style, with kitchens finished in brick, concrete-grey tiles or render gaining popularity,’ he adds. Most outdoor kitchens use propane gas, but they can also be connected to your home’s main gas supply.
secret nook
Cub houses aren’t just for the kids. create a Bloomsbury-esque hut (star gardener Jo thompson set a trend with her writer’s retreat at last year’s chelsea Flower show), a yoga platform or a beach-style palapa for summer partying. customise an off-the-peg garden room with bespoke windows (see high-street stockists BHS, B&Q and Homebase for stylish and affordable buys), upgrade a playhouse with canvas awning or commission a carpenter for a unique structure. As long as it’s not used as a full-time living and sleeping space, you won’t need planning permission. Bert’s Boxes, by the designers Bert & May, are well worth checking out if you’re dreaming of a more substantial and permanent addition.
Modern oasis
in urban gardens, the idea of the ‘water feature’ has moved on from tinkling fountains to a more architectural role. a shallow pool can lend texture to a garden’s design in much the same way as glass, concrete or timber. Garden designer Charlotte rowe adds: ‘City gardens still need an element of formality, so a small pool strikes the right balance between flow and restraint.’ Larger lap pools are not only great for daily exercise, but can add value to your property, while outdoor showers are also a practical way to introduce water to a garden. ‘They’re great for rinsing off after a day alfresco – or even hosing down the dog,’ says Trystan Graham at outdoor establishments. opt for timber battens rather than tiles to avoid a municipal feel.