As in the house, it is equally important to create a sense of style with furniture and ornamentation in the garden. Use furniture as visual accents as well as inviting a spot of relaxation in all parts of the garden. You will be surprised to discover how different and refreshing the garden looks from a new angle. The scale must be big - bear in mind the elements you place are in competition with the scale of the outside world - shrubs, trees, buildings even the land and sky.
Design tip: Furnishing and Ornamentation is the final touch, giving drama and expression to the focal pints. Don't be afraid, for example, of placing a life size sculpture in a small courtyard - it works, even improving with time when plants have grown in scale to work with it.
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| This charming oak bench suspended from an oak pergola, transformed an unused bit of garden into a favourite spot for the whole family. |
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| The white bench stands out against a dark background under a dense conifer - it makes an inviting picture as well as a dry place to sit in a sudden shower. back to top |
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| The mirror above a stone barbecue really brings the garden to life, creating a strong "outdoor room" feel especially with the oak stools. |
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| Steel "Trellis Pot" by Fiona Stephenson is designed to be naked in winter and filled with smaller growing clematis in summer. Standing 120cm high, it makes a strong statement in either contemporary or traditional settings. back to top |
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| Simple but stylish teak furniture makes this small garden inviting and functional. An irrigation system keeps the planting exuberant and healthy. |
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| Blue ceramic pot and sphere create an interesting view from a side door which previously looked out to a laurel hedge. Teak deck, hedge and pebbles provide a textural setting. The cordyline provides the drama. back to top |
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| An interplay of foliage and structure make an eye-catching focal point along the side of a house. The geometrical style foliage behind the pot is created by clipping a twining climber close to a wire grid on the wall.
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| A sundial on a classical column rises from a setting of slate - water worn paddlestones and larger pieces. Low conifers at ground level have yet to establish a low horizontal outline. |
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| Six foot high metal ostrich can make a quirky and fun view at the end of an axis. We have made a freestanding oak frame (not shown) to emphasise the picture. back to top |
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