My Urban Garden Deco Guide

Modern garden design issues solved by Earth Designs, London, UK

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:33:51 +0100

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.

Finding inspiration:Garden designers and landscape architects

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:13:40 +0100

I thought I 'd share a few names of great garden designers for a change.

I will kick off with the BBC's list of Garden designers and landscape architects

and will add www.VladimirDjurovic.com and www.CharlotteRowe.com.

...Take a few minutes to visit the sites!

James Alexander-Sinclair

Marcus Barnett

Jinny Blom

Christopher Bradley-Hole

Thank you fellow publishers!

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:13:39 +0100

With 30 980 backlinks ... my little blog has moved up in the world to be considered a CONTENDER

Thank you!!!

Limited Presence 0 - 1,000		Average Presence 1,001 - 5,000
	Above Avg. Presence 5,001 - 20,000		Contender 20,001 - 100,000
	Player 100,001 - 500,000		900 lb. Gorilla 500,001 +

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:13:39 +0100

With 30 980 backlinks ... my little blog has moved up in the world to be considered a CONTENDER

Thank you!!!

Limited Presence 0 - 1,000		Average Presence 1,001 - 5,000
	Above Avg. Presence 5,001 - 20,000		Contender 20,001 - 100,000
	Player 100,001 - 500,000		900 lb. Gorilla 500,001 +

Reaching further

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:02:35 +0100

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

Plug and play outdoor cooking

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:28:46 +0100

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

Online shopping : learning to buy outdoor designs.

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 22:00:26 +0100

Many buyers of outdoor designs are surprised to see how different tings look in real life versus ib photo. It is very important when buying to realise the finishes and materials ARE NOT those we are used to when buying indoor designs. So as purchasing season kicks off:

> read terms and conditions

Deborah Sommers and Beth Boutry run www.Outdoorzgallery.com and have amazing clauses such they do not guarantee the designs for any purpose.

Ie a chair is not guaranteed to be used as a seat !. It is absurd and really border line. I can hardly see that to be suitable when selling high ticket outdoor designs. I can only encourage them to amend these Terms ! The site is not secured either.

> check out the design via sites offering great product zooms

> do not buy on unsecured sites

Trace the light : swing light by Slide.it

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:10:30 +0100

@http://www.slidedesign.it ... imagine this lively light when the swing is in action, changing speed and trajectory...

The functional sculpture

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:26:17 +0100

Why settle for functionality? ... seems to say Italian brand 21ST LIVINGART via its collection of light/planters.

Why not ensure pots and lights become stunning sculptures for your modern outdoor space?

The brand was at Maison et Objet and it drew my attention because the booth was buzzing with admirative visitors discovering this new kid on the block.

http://www.italian-furniture-design.com/vmchk/lighting/floor/caprice.html

'Kadabra' and Caprice are two of their designs (available is white, orange and green).

Smarin : celebrating nature's designs

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:35:01 +0100

Smarin, the French brand, creators of faux stone indoor or outdoor poufs you have probably seen , have a new winner: a new faux rain drop seat called Liquid that I really love.

Made from M1 standard translucent bio-resin, with a low-energy consumption lamp inside, the seats can be used switched on or off.

A complete set of seating with table is also available.

Maison et Objet 2010: outdoor furniture by Stéphane Ducatteau

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:39:51 +0100

At Maison et Objet 2010 I met Stéphane Ducatteau, who is charming and whose work is top notch. I really liked the look of these pieces ( affordable) and was totally surprised at how confortable they are.

These are pieces I would buy.

www.stephane-ducatteau.com

Faux Nature

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:48:34 +0100

Love this fake over sized Apple by Bull and Stein.

Makes a fun statement, easily.

http://www.bullstein.com/

Practicality : Designers get real

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:50:49 +0100

In the 90 's and early naughties, glam outdoor pots were brought to the market and wowed us all.

Now the decade opens with a new trend.Slowly but surely, designers' attention has shifted to practical issues that people have with planters: portability and lack of space.Here is one design by www.Flora-online.de.Coasters allow you to move them around and easily bring them indoors.

Clever.

Research your outdoor grill/BBQ via TestFreak

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:14:03 +0100

I just had to buy a new computer and naturally went to various test and compare sites before making a choice ...

I never realised that such ' search and compare' services exist for high ticket 'tech' items we use outdoors.

One such site is http://www.testfreaks.co.uk/ who test BBQ grills etc ( the products listed here http://www.testfreaks.co.uk/grills/ ).

Turns out to also be a quick way to know many the products available in the market as their research is quite extensive.

Narguiles by Airdiem: hot and not even for pot !

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:47:52 +0100

I will admit I felt remarkably (embarassingly ???) out of touch with things when I discovered 53 % of young parisians have tried Narguiles and that in US campus they are hot and not even for pot!

Then, worse I discovered how many trendy people have now bought one to share ....at home.

It is about aromas

Why do people buy and love their Narguiles? Honey, apple, cinnamon and a zillion others It is not about smoking pot !....Got that wrong too!

Now I am taking this seriously (personally???) and will explore designs !!!!

If you are like me and think OK, I will give this new trend ... maybe... but help!!! they are too cheap and ugly..Join me in my discovery of this new deco item ...for outdoor spaces.

First a few of the classic designs...by www.AIRDIEM.Com

I am off to Maison et Objet 2010 where I know Airdiem have a stunning edgy new designs...