Professional


Performance fabrics are more expressive and decorative than ever before – and look so good that they are often specified for indoors, too. This is Osborne & Little’s Summerhouse collection.


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Kettal’s Dots light shows how far garden lighting has come from the more traditional lanterns or integrated spotlights.


a trend, perhaps because of climate change, or perhaps because of our increased desire to live outside accompanied by a lack of pleasant weather to do so. Vlaze’s Adapt freestanding kitchen units, made from vitreous enamel, can be used inside or out, and Cinzia Moretti works regularly with Open Habitat, which makes glass pavilions where the roof and walls can slide back. Interior designer Laura Hammett says she’s seen a rise in demand for winter gardens – a modern take on the conservatory, with a covered roof but walls that can be opened up when the weather suits. “We’re designing them as if they were the outside,” she says – so the materials used, from decking to fabrics, are all suitable for outdoors.


Like many designers, she’s excited by the greatly increased choice on the market when it comes to outdoor products, but is not one for decorating an outdoor space exactly as if it was indoors. “I’ve shown clients velvets that can be used outdoors and they can’t believe it, but I would never do an upholstered sofa wholly in velvet for outside,” she says. “To me, it just feels a bit odd, like it’s in the wrong place. I like things to feel more natural.” She also says garden furniture companies need to catch up when it comes to accommodating bespoke requests: “we do so much bespoke design for indoors, and we can’t really do that for outdoors – yet.” She has worked on that basis with Gaze Burvill, however, creating a semi-circular seating arrangement for one Surrey project. The


“We work with a lot of subtle, neutral colours – but outside, daylight can kill those. You have to go much darker and much warmer than you think to compensate for the coolness of exterior natural light.”


Laura Hammett, interior designer


company recently held a panel discussion (with Hammett as one of the speakers) and workshop tour at its Hampshire HQ, in recognition of how interior designers are becoming a more important client base. One of Hammett’s tips for creating harmony both inside and out is to be aware of how different colour can appear across both. “We work with a lot of subtle, neutral colours – but outside, daylight can kill those. You have to go much darker and much warmer than you think, to compensate for the coolness of exterior natural light.” European brands such as Cassina and B&B Italia are highly regarded for their outdoor furniture lines and Ligne Roset just launched several classic designs in outdoor versions. Anna Howell, interiors editor at furniture retailer Chaplins, says that, alongside seating, “we’ve also seen a sharp rise in the popularity of sculptural stone dining tables, which appear majestic and enduring. Another key story is lighting. From stylish floor lamps to


Woodhouse and Law works across house and garden projects together, with interior architectural details such as materials echoed across both spaces.


delicate pendants, designers are going beyond the usual portable lanterns to create a complete day-to-night environment.” Performance textiles and rugs are another growing product category.


The main barrier to more architecture and interior design projects not incorporating more landscaping is budgets. “It’s a tricky one, because it’s an obvious thing to save for later on; I’d say only 10-20% of our clients on private house projects have a significant amount left for landscaping,” says Ben Ridley from Architecture for London. “But it’s more the planting itself that gets pushed back. Most people want the hard landscaping done – steps, lighting, built-in planters,” he says, adding that lots of integrated features, whether bike or bin stores, barbecues or full outdoor kitchens, are popular.


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