How to create the dreamiest outdoor living area this summer
Whether you have a compact terrace or an expansive garden, our guide to creating a luxurious outdoor living space will help you take full advantage of the fast approaching summer. Outdoor spaces, more often than not, can easily become a bit of a second thought, but they should be treated as if they were a different room in the house, after all, it’s where you spend most the time in the summer. Below are our favourite standout pieces on offer, from flooring and garden furniture to showstopper lights, for you to create your own magnificent summer oasis.
Outdoor Decking
Firstly, you need to think about what type of exterior floor surface you’re going to choose, from grass, to pavements, tiles and decking there’s something for everyone. To seamlessly extend your entertaining space into the outdoors, we love the resilient Composite Decking collection from Havwoods. Their practical, yet stunning high-performance boards have been designed to bring the beauty of natural timber to exterior spaces without warping, splintering or rotting. Designed to withstand the elements all year round, their range is available in a wide variety of styles, colours and finishes to suit your taste. We love this super smooth Vulvan Wood Grain finish from Havwoods Trekker outdoor decking collection.
Alfresco Kitchens
For your alfresco kitchen, Lundhs Real Stone provides a wonderful surface. An extremely strong and durable material, which is as visually arresting as it is practical, the natural Norwegian stone is not affected by the outdoor elements and provides the perfect surface for food and drink preparation. The 100% natural stone is also suitable for tabletop barbecuing thanks to its naturally cool and non-porous structure.
For another outdoor kitchen surface option, check out Cullifords’ SapienStone collection which is heat, light, scratch and chemical resistant thanks to its unique manufacturing process. They have a great variety on offer, from the ultra-contemporary to more traditional styles in a choice of sophisticated hues that offer an exquisite finish to the outdoor kitchen area. Our favourite is Basalt Black, pictured below, for a dramatic contrast against the lush green hues of your garden.
Luxury Garden Furniture
If you’re looking for elegant outdoor furniture, check out Juliettes Interiors new luxury garden furniture collection. Made up of both contemporary and traditional styles, from sumptuous sofas and chic chairs to luxurious loungers, the range is perfect for creating your own outdoor paradise.
“When choosing outdoor dining furniture, you want something that will be comfortable and beautiful for years to come” says Juliette Thomas, Director & Founder of Julietttes Interiors.
For a more contemporary feel, suitable for a modern apartment balcony or townhouse, there are beautiful benches, pouffes, modular garden seating sets and modular corner sofas to choose from. The more traditional styles are perfect for a countryside abode, from wicker coffee tables and woven rope armchairs to daybeds, there’s everything you need to maximise outdoor living and alfresco dining in those gloriously long, balmy summer evenings.
Statement Outdoor Lighting
To make a bold lighting statement in your garden opt for the new Kasvaa light from award-winning British bespoke sculptural lighting company, Cameron Design House. The incredible illuminating pendant is the creative duo’s first piece created for both indoor and outdoor use. Made from 100% recycled brass and inspired by natural forms of pollen, seed heads and flowers, the pendant light has been designed to fully immerse into your garden setting and provides a breath-taking glow when dusk sets in.
Striking Exterior Surfaces
If you wish to make a dramatic design statement, complete your outdoor living area and bring your new space to life with bookmatched stone slabs from Cullifords. Bookmatching is the practice of matching two or more stone pieces, which ensures that the adjoining surfaces mirror one another for an impactful construction. It’s a trend that has become increasingly popular with those looking to create an impressive design focus or divide outdoor space into ‘rooms’, it works incredibly well for exterior walls due to its eye-catching effect and super durable qualities.
