home: featured [ Next ]

It may be a little damp and chilly but it’s definitely a good time to start planning styling the garden for this summer.

Give yourself something to look forward to by creating a new look for the garden with all the excellent pieces new-in at Next. Plan your outdoor living space with furniture, lighting and outdoor dining ware.

Next offer branded and own brand pieces. There’s great design, great silhouettes and great styles for their furniture. It’s easy to collate a outdoor lounge or dining area with complimentary accessories, planting and with all the details down to melamine ware for safe outdoor dining and strands of cool lighting to light your area after dark.

home: event [ Barbican exhibition ]

Explore the history behind the making of the conservatory and other green spaces at the Barbican at ‘Flying trees and sunken spaces’ exhibition that runs until March 20th.

They say;

Explore the history behind the creation of the open spaces, gardens, and conservatory that are found across the Barbican Estate and Arts Centre.

For over a decade (1940–1956), the devastated postwar site where this exhibition now stands was a wild landscape. Debate on the urban role of open space raged on, while weeds gently but effectively regenerated the City from its ashes. A monumental landscape emerged, combining low and high rise buildings and spaces, creating an enclosed, urban fabric within the City.

Flying Trees and Sunken Squares is the fifth of the changing foyer displays. It explores the history and design of the Barbican Estate and Arts Centre and is divided into three sections. A selection of books from founding CP&B partner Geoffrey Powell bring to light references from continental Europe and inspiration from the English garden. A selection of archival drawings and illustrations conveys the interweaving of artifice and nature. At its centre historical drawings of the Conservatory and newly commissioned botanical photography celebrate the glass and steel design of this hidden garden.

home: featured [ La Redoute ]

One of our favourites for homeware is La Redoute, so we’ve been picking our favourites from the current collection (see picture). There’s a wealth of trend aware pieces to choose from and now get 40% off with code BLACKFRIDAY at the checkout. It’s the perfect time to make an investment in statement pieces (including the rug that even had its own instagram feed!) with this huge discount.

home: nice price [ throw ]

Since there’s the odd day with a chill in the air and autumn is on its way, we are looking for warmth and thinking ahead to cosy nights in. Plus to make the most of the last summer nights, keep throws handy with outdoor furniture to ensure you can stay outside for longer.

Ikea has these perfect VARKRAGE throws at just £4 each. They are machine washable and available in grey or blue.

home: made [ outdoor patio stencilling ]

Looking to great a new look for the garden or update a patio? Pushing the trend for outdoor rugs further we love the idea of stencilling patterns or designs directly onto a patio or decking.

By using stencils (or freehand if very creative) you can produce a unique, look for an outdoor area – choosing from styles including geometric, Moroccan, ethnic, bohemian or midcentury.

We found some great sites offering tutorials and design ideas of how to achieve these looks including The House Of Wood, Cutting Edge Stencils, and Stencil Search.

home: nice price [ garden lights ]

The popular industrial design of cage lights have been a strong trend in interiors and this trend is now available for outdoor garden styling.

Grab a bargain from the Sainsbury’s outdoor range – these solar powered string of cage lights was £12.50 but is now £9.37

Create a warm light around a seating area for outdoor entertaining.

home: made [ garden pot design ]

It’s May and the sun is beginning to make more and more appearances, so it’s definitely time to think about brightening up and bringing a new look to the garden. Think about current trends or colours that you’d like to incorporate into the garden and then you just need the paint and pots.

Decorating cheap plastic or ceramic pots is an easy way to update the garden time and time again.

Head to diy or craft stores for paint or spray suitable for outdoor use and explore Pinterest for pattern or colour ideas.

Including: MakeItLoveIt tutorial design (top left)

High street stores including Wilkos and any of the pound stores are great for getting basic plain pots and planters. For a better finish ensure cleaning the pots and a light sanding if old and tarnished to create the perfect base to design on. Set yourself up with outdoor primer, exterior sprays or paints and use a exterior varnish or lacquer to ensure a long lasting finish. Use masking tape or stencils to create modern designs with geometric influence, typography or embrace the popular dip/drop styles. And if you make a mistake it can simply be painted over.

For tips, guidance and advice head to CraftsByAmanda , PracticallyFunctional , TheCraftedLife and Diary Of A Mad Crafter (featured in top picture), Make It Love it (featured in second picture) or CountryLiving.

home: favourite thing [ leaf wallpaper ]

Brighten up any room and bring the outdoors in with a choice of amazing leaf print wallpapers. So fresh and organic, we love bold prints of palm or monstera leaves and so many stores are offering great prints in various green shades, various degrees of boldness and size of leaf illustration.

(Above picture from top left going clockwise : Mind The Gap Banana Leaves / Trouva £150 • Blue & Green Tropical Leaf / Murals Wallpaper from £25 • Monstera Leaves / WallFlora on Amazon from £23 • Christian Lacroix for Designers Guild Eden Roc Wallpaper / John Lewis £79 )

Effective for a statement feature wall with a fresh white interior, keeping it minimal but also incredible for a stronger multi wall look, mixed up with other large print patterns. – a strong trend this season.

home: nice price [ garden furniture ]

From the designer originals for hundreds to the many many in-the-style-of more affordable versions, we love the look of the Acapulco chairs, and jumping on the design band wagon and at an absolute steal, Asda have this amazing set for just £89.

Bring a splash of colour and style to the garden with this ‘Camden’ set, consisting of two lounge chairs and a small table. The retro form is perfect and you can add to and mismatch it with more of the same style but in other colours.

Asda outdoor department is brimming with great styles of garden furniture with very tempting affordable pricing. Plenty to choose from to give the garden a make over.

home: favourite thing [ planters ]

Spring has sprung and so have the new arrivals in stores. With a lot of people turning their focus to the garden now is the perfect time to get some colour outdoors and bring your green space back to life.

We have spotted these gorgeous ceramic, metal & fibreglass planters from Habitat. With a huge range of sizes and colours you are sure to find the right ones for you.

Available now from habitat.co.uk [ from £20 ]

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