My Urban Garden Deco Guide

Urban terrace design specialist Rephorm have this new outdoor firepit/ bonfire ...

 Stainless steel, Borosilicateglass (Diameter 30cm); works with Bio-Ethanol

At every Maison et Objet trade fair, Viteo, the now famous the Austrian brand of outdoor furniture/designs , comes up with a new design rather than 20.

That design is very often my preferred novelty of the show and  is always  super sleek . So here it is: last week Viteo presented Cementum line. The  range includes  with a low bench, low table . What I loved  is the slot inserted at the end of the low table allowing for a grill or a fire pit.  www.Viteo.at

Outdoor Fireplaces are the object of serious design attention. Congratulations to leading outdoor player  Val-Eur for its new  Trident fireplace borrowing the  camera aperture principle!

Hope the year has kicked off well for you!

If you browse the web you may notice all the resolutions we are encouraged to take.

In a nutshell, be it to be Eco 'Logical' or penny wise , it seems buying less, swaping more, building from available materials etc are  the buzz for this new year.

I am not in love with the design but found the following great to kick start the year on trend. Up to you to adapt-re / design and make it ultra chic.

A home built fire pit : a picture based lesson to build your own here

Le Figaro Madame - a french magazine- just featured a long story encouraging us to be bold and brave and ... change the festive venue this year.... Go for an old fashion outdoor around the tree gathering is what they recommend!.

I have sourced quite a few ideas  this year to keep warm outdoors and I think this is the time to provide the link  HERE for  a few fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, patio heaters etc..

I am in total shock over the events in India and feel it even more important we value calm, loving surroundings that we are very privileged to enjoy!

I found this great outdoor fire-pit designed by http://www.insidethegreenroom.co.uk
... they designed this outdoor space [as others they to their credit] with a real sense of gathering.

My grand parents and my  mother were interior designers and forged my view on what is good decorating.I believe its ultimate value is not to show of money or means or even trendiness but to make your place one people will be happier in.

http://www.insidethegreenroom.co.uk   deliver on that and that is great.

 Its the time of year : the hunt for warmth is on!

Mode UK have a great selection of firepits and BBQ's or designs that are dual function ...firepit and cookers!.

 And this new one which I like ( spotted on Yardz )http://www.mode.co.uk/index.asp

 My friend Azra and I have a ritual : an almost weekly drink at the local pub ...always outside ....even if it is cold and drizzles...even if we are the only ones! Turns out people end up joining us as they pop out for a cigarette...all end up talking. In this day and age that should be encouraged. So if eco reasons call for a ban on heated parasols, can we revert to good old outdoor  fires? I am all for that!

At the very top end of the market is the work by Cathy Azria . This artist/sculptor is re-inventing the bonfire for the urban garden. Built to special commission, her fires form the heart of an 'outdoor room'. Running on mains gas, they can be designed into a chimney or built into fireproof/frost proof vessels.LINK here

One signal that summer is really over is when the BBQ   gets packed up and goes into deep hibernation in the garage.

Not necessarily a good idea. Partying outside is also great when the temperature drops.

Just saw this great set of recipes by a US chef preparing a healthy and spicy 'apres ski' BBQ : no burgers but a Mexican menu ! Organic tortillas, cheese, pesto chicken ...to get started

Celebrity Chef - Winter Barbecue - The best video clips are right here