My Urban Garden Deco Guide

If you are regular observers of outdoor designs, you will agree designers seem to have decided kids do not play outdoors!

Now PLUST.com has presented this quirky triple set of chairs and stools including a kids seat! J'adore. The combo of wood and plastic is top of the trend.

The Woodstock series was at the Milan Furniture Fair 2010.

Dear Garden Designers,

Creating the ideal atmosphere in your home and garden takes effort, but the results are well worth it.  
I am looking for examples of modern garden designs and learnings from those who created them. What materials did you discover? What materials were you disappointed by?

Look foward to sharing your insights!

Anne

I just viewed a really interesting interview by Philippe Starck, Maison et Objet 2010 designer of the year. In it, after quite a few digressions he explains we should view additional designs in the context of what is missing. Applied to garden design I think this is so crucial. Many people decide on their outdoor space without asking what is missing in their lives and what an outdoor space could ADD. The trend is to duplicate the indoor space.

In some cases that is great, in some it is a missed opportunity.

If your life is stressed and spent in a building block you may make reconnecting with nature a priority and choose a sofa made in grass..  If you have little time with your kids you may go for a swing but one that suits both of you.

If you have little time to read etc etc ...

The list of what can be missing is so long and the new answers offered by innovative designsso abundant !

Happy questioning!

Today in my post on the Garden Design USA blog...

Outdoor Furniture for a Heatwave

July 16, 2010

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photo: Vondom PR

The irony of outdoor spaces is that when it gets too hot they are almost worse than indoors! Getting a little fresh air becomes impossible. However, over the past few years clever designs have made the hunt for shade easier. We have seen the rise of new options: the individual parasol, creative shade furniture, amazing sun sails, etc...

This year, designers seem to have taken on the challenge of hydration and cool drinks. 

The cooler/table

Quite naturally as we get used to multi-tasking furniture, an increasing number of low tables either include a rack for drinks and bottles or actually incorporate an ice bucket or cooler 'slot'. Designed by Domani, the always chic Belgian brand, the Cool Table is just what its name suggests! In zinc, the oval shaped low table has a 'slot' to keep your drinks fresh. Perfect for pool parties!

Now Vondom, the Spanish creative leaders, have also included in their super edgy new Faz collection a low table (pictured) with such a feature. I am pretty certain this is about to be a standard feature!

The over-sized ice bucket

I think it is fair to say that Belgian brand Extremis was the first to bring one of these to the market. The very successful  IceCube works as an oversized ice bucket for parties but can be used the rest of the time as a seat or a space divider.

This year at the Milan furniture fair, Serralunga followed in their footsteps with the new LLUNA Ice. Again, it seems this will soon be a must have for all ranges!

Given that it has just been announced that June was the hottest month ever, I hope it will encourage more designers to help us beat the heatwave!

Designed by Orlandini and Radice, Baba is a monolithic armchair.with a matching pouf, Omnia, which according to your needs, can become a table or provide storage. 

Both are in polyethylene (particulary heat-resistant).

Different colours are available. From Domitalia.it