My Urban Garden Deco Guide

This post offers a glimpse into how modern garden designs take form.

 I love this project by Katrina Kieffer-Wells  ( www.earthdesigns.co.uk design).

 

 It deals with real life issues of many urban garden owners:

> gardens & privacy

> garden lighting

> gardens &  storage

> urban dining and ENJOYING an outdoor space in a variety of way.

 
The client desired a stylish and sophisticated outdoor room, with enough space for entertaining, dining and relaxing and for playing. The long garden was south facing yet still heavily shaded by neighbouring buildings at its base and by mature trees.

Privacy was a major issue, not only from properties on either side, but also from the flats above.

SOLUTION:

The garden is on two levels with the main area adjoining the house containing two separate areas for dining and for entertaining and relaxation. Flooring throughout is large rectangular cream travertine paving.

The main focal point of the garden is a large timber structure with integrated shelving and cream travertine topped fixed bench seating around the base. This structure has two open doorways to allow entry from different points in the space, and is ornamented on all sides with a selection of decorative fillers placed within individual alcoves. A dining area to the right of the space features a raised bed rendered block bed on which a long railway sleeper bench seat has been fixed. Three tall tapering slate planters on the opposite side to the dining area give a sense of balance to the space.

The back section of the space is on a higher level and is accessed by wide steps to the right of the cube structure. The upper garden features an artificial lawn surrounded by a travertine tiled pathway. The focal point of the upper garden is a large garden office in the bottom right hand corner.

Planting in the space is simple, low maintenance and elegant, featuring box balls and box hedging in the lower garden and tall willowy bamboo in the upper garden.

The garden is elegantly lit throughout. A set of low voltage downlighters illuminate individual alcoves in the timber cube, while stainless steel spotlights on the side wall and on each of the four corners of the cube provide ample light to the seating and dining areas. In-ground uplighters serve to highlight the planters to the left hand side and a series of low voltage lights give a calming glow to the upper garden.

   

 

 

As well as launching my firm with a marketing and communications consultancy, I also contribute to a number of international magazines such as such as GARDEN DESIGN USA.

You can see my Maison et Objet review for the US market at http://www.zinio.com/reader.jsp?o=int&pub=113272806&prev=sub&offer=114410433 pages 29 and 30.

 

 

So, dear designer friends: keep me posted!

 

Anne

The end of the bulky BBQ is close!

French brand, OUTCOOK, designs a great new set of modules so you can set up a true outdoor kitchen with a variety of cooking functions and storing options:

http://www.exterieur-meuble.fr/58/Les_caractéristiques.html

Yes yes yes... the garden is the new outdoor room...OK OK OK it is the new lounge and cooking space...
Now that is kind of old news.

THE NEWS now is the revival of the Narguile,the Hookah. The news is that they will be the hot item on terraces and outdoor spaces. Some designers will even dedicate special corners to this 'pleasure'.

A French company, Airdiem , will be presenting a completly new approach to this 5 century old product at the forthcoming Maison et Objet show.

The site is www.AIRDIEM.com .

 

International designers

Airdiem has teamed up with a whole range of elite designers including Hilton Mc Connico .. they have a range of designs that make this not only a sublime deco object in its own right but it is set to be the hot item any decent terrace will have very soon.

Hot Hotels are ordering, the press is tapping them... because they are great entertainment pieces for guest.

 

'Top Gun' high tech meets design

Narguilés designed by Airdiem have an extra secret added oumpff because the components are top notch.

Mr Gormand, the co founder was a helicopter pilot in the elite french school of Saint Cyr... That says a lot about him and his demanding nature.

When he and his wife fell in love with the Narguile they decided to up the game in line with France's tradition of producing the most exceptional pieces.

They researched and researched and went so far as to use aeronautic's most adavnced materials....

Honey, apple, cinnamon...

They offer a range of flavors and aromas in beautful bijou/ perfume like 'pots'

I 'll post a few images when they come in... Here is the newest of the range a very cool design for the younger party animals!

 

 

I personnally am not a BBQ type but I love the idea of cooking outdoors as easily as I can indoors.
Ego Paris - the always amazing provider of stunning outdoor furniture- have made this amazing table: you can 'slot in ' an extra panel fitted with an induction cooking plate.

This is really a great design that truly deserves the prestigious red dot award.

http://www.brunohoussin.com/newsletter/index.php/post/2009/07/07/BRUNO-HOUSSIN-AU-SALON-MAISON-OBJET-2009

'The summer kitchen of my childhood has came down to a table, a stove and a basin.
On this observation, I developed flexible plans of work integrating the essential features: preserving, washing, preparation and cooking. '

As always Born Rich found the high-end glam product and this time it is a grill/barbecue.




'Porsche fans can now bring the thrill on wheels into meals with the powerful X-Series grill designed by Porsche Design Studio in collaboration with Grand Hall, who earlier impressed grilling fans with their vertical T-Grill. The X-Series grill is available in two versions: with and without island. The luxurious grill is a result of four years of research which reflects in its list of specs. The X-Series features an impressive design with matching specs: built-in rotisserie, counter balanced hood, sliding lid, Smooth-start ignition, LCD panel display with built-in countdown timer and electronic instruments and gauges with a rechargeable battery. The X-Series also incorporates the all new Crossray(R) burner technology which uses up to 50% less gas and emits up to 80% less smoke besides ensuring complete safety - no flare-ups, no choking smoke! "The collaboration with Porsche Design Studio has been an incredible process to be a part of," said Jeffery Sears, CEO for Barbeques Galore. "Porsche Design Studio brought their impeccable sense of detail, beauty and best-in-class engineering to create a superior outdoor grilling system. We incorporated Crossray(R), which is the most advanced gas grilling system available to consumers. The result is a winning combination of functionality and style found in the X-Series." The grill features 1,120 square inches of cooking space with four ceramic infrared burners that deliver up to 52,000 BTU of highly controllable heat. The stainless steel island version comes for $7,999 while the standalone version sells for $5,999 through Frontgate.

Italian kitchen and bath specialists, Boffi, are re-releasing Joe Colombo's 1964 Minikitchen. The wheeled kitchen features a mini fridge, two burners, outlets for appliances, a cutting board, and multiple storage compartments.
Works in or outdoors.

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My review of the latest Outdoor kitchens and BBq's is ready....
If you would like to receive it and discover the new sleek, barley there designs as well as the variety of cooking techniques now on offer: sign in to my feedburner on the right or above!

An example of what I will showcase on my next newsletter.
Full details on this new design at http://www.dexigner.com/product/news-g17533.html

 
The  special edition on outdoor cooking  will cover 50 cool designs.... quite unlike the bulky BBQ back yards have known!

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