LLOYD LOOM
Our Chatto collection doesn’t use all-weather wicker. Instead, it’s made using the traditional British craft of Lloyd Loom, where paper is wrapped around a steel wire, woven over a frame and painted.
METAL
The most obvious place you’ll find metal in garden furniture is in the poles of parasols but often it’s also hiding, out of sight, to give structure and support to wicker pieces too.
Strength without bulk: all the materials we’ve talked about so far are strong, but when it comes to steel, this characteristic means that a relatively slim frame can easily take the weight of a granite or marble table top. It makes it a good material to choose if you want your garden’s furniture to have a more delicate look. Aluminium promises strength too, but it’s lighter than steel which makes it ideal for creating the frames of wicker pieces and the poles of our parasols – as sturdy as they are, you’ll still be able to move them around easily.
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Longevity:while aluminium on its own will continue looking good for years and years, steel needs a little help because, left bare, it can rust, so look for steel that has been galvanised and powder coated. The end result is tough and long-lasting. Otherwise, all steel and aluminium need is an occasional jet wash or wipe down.
A polished look:where teak gives you natural texture and warmth, metal’s a material for those of us that want our gardens to have a sleeker feel. Use it to smarten up rustic finishes or tie in with crisp stone paving and formal planting.
ALL-WEATHER WICKER
Wicker’s synonymous with garden furniture. It’s perhaps the material we expect to see the most, especially when it comes to seating. For most of our outdoor collections, we prefer to use a material that we call ‘all-weather wicker’.
Durability: a resin fibre, all-weather wicker is tougher and more durable than natural rattan and it won’t flake or peel over time. Hardy and reliable, it’ll withstand sunshine and showers for years and years to come.
Easy going: it won’t ask very much of you either. Even though your piece will benefit from being brought inside over winter, it’s not an absolute must. And cleaning it can be as simple as a hose down – although you can also use a soft brush or jet wash (from a distance) if it’s especially dirty.
Texture: wicker furniture is great for adding to the layers of texture in your garden. It’ll bring in another surface style and, like timber and stone, pick up on other natural materials to help the space feel considered.
It’s not as chunky as all-weather wicker, which means you might prefer Chatto if you want a more delicate look – and, of course, a touch of colour. Despite its lightweight appearance, it’s super strong (it won’t bend out of shape or break), but the main thing to know is that it really does need some protection from the weather and you shouldn’t leave it outdoors all year long. It’s happy outside in the summer and with the occasional shower, but the rest of the year, this is more of a collection for bridging the gap between indoors and out – just the thing for orangeries and sun rooms.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
Timber, stone, metal and all-weather wicker are the four main materials used in garden collections, but here and there you’ll spot a few others like glass tops on tables, cushions on sofas and chairs, and parasol canopies.
Choose outdoor chair cushions, scatter cushions and parasols made using polyester materials (a thicker canvas for the parasols and a softer, cotton-like textile for cushions). They’re weather- resistant but not weatherproof, which means that a sprinkling of rain from time to time won’t hurt them (air them off though, if you can) but you shouldn’t leave them outdoors all year long if you’re wanting to keep them looking as lovely as the day you brought them home. You can wash them at 30° when they really need it, or simply dab with a damp sponge.
Look for parasol material with UV protection so it’ll help protect you from the sun’s rays while you’re under its shade.
As for the glass, it’s there to offer a steady surface on all-weather wicker and Lloyd Loom table tops, keeping glasses upright and crumbs from getting stuck in the weave. Make sure any glass used in furniture is toughened, so you can be sure it’s not going to break easily.
For more advice and inspiration on home or garden furniture, visit
Neptune.com or visit them in store at 16-18 Harborne Road, Birmingham.
LIVE24-SEVEN.COM
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