My Urban Garden Deco Guide

.... I am off to the Chelsea Flower Show.
I will keep you posted on my finds...
In the meantime an an image of an outdoor carpet by www.Freek.nl
The image is tiny but the look is great and their range of colors and sizes is huge!

Elitis is one of the best textile brands in the world. They have launched City Linen a true linen fabric dedicated to outdoor use . 32 colors are available including sharp trendy ones like acid yellow, plumb, indigo blue ...but also sophisticated grays.   

Featured in 2 leading design magazines, Deborah Sommers'  banners bring fashion flair and humour  to outdoor spaces. Loyal to her eco ideas, the banners are recyclable.

She has a huge variety of designs .All make GREAT gifts!

As the entire world is aware that a major issue facing the new president elect is adopting a little dog...I am taking the liberty of a little tongue in cheek post : dogs need homes of their own, specially in a hectic white house...

So here is a little gift idea by Magis:

It seems only right that man's best friend should get a house as sleek and modern as your own. This fabulously chic abode is perfect for pets under 40 lbs, keeping them comfortably off the ground and safely above the elements. Made of rotational-molded polyethylene and a stainless steel frame, complete with its own set of stairs, it is extremely durable and very easy to clean - there's even a small hole in the back for easy drainage. Appropriately enough, a brass plate above the door venerates your dog with the title he deserves: "amicus fidelis protectio fortis", that is, "faithful friend, strong protector".

 

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Outdoor textile innovator /designer Deborah Sommers has teamed up this collection with the WOK chair by Pascal Bauer [ at Totema ]

For me this new banner is so reminiscent of wallpaper found indoors - before we fell into the white cube deco mode! Love the contrast of the sleek design with that retro look.

I think its fair to say no one is changing the outdoor textile market more than Deborah. She is probably the one who can really claim she considers the space as another room...and is developing products to prove it!

 

 Opus Incertum  is found at italian design lab www.casamania.it
Let your imagination decide how best use it: to partition, to store...

Official blurb is 'recipient of the design distinction award by ID Magazine, the opus incertum is made from expanded polypropylene and measures 39.4" x 13.8" x 39.4" and can be stacked.   can be used indoors or outdoors. 100% recyclable. sean yoo grew up in los angeles and is currently a partner in apt5 design in italy. their design firm has collaborated with firms such as frighetto and jongform.

 

If your latin is like mine , rather on the thin side ...a quick clip from Wikipedia:

Opus incertum was an ancient Roman construction technique, using irregular shaped and random placed uncut stones or fist-sized tuff blocks inserted in a core of opus caementicium.

Initially it consisted of more careful placement of the coementa (rock fragments and small stones mixed with concrete), making the external surface as plain as possible. Later the external surface became further plain by reducing usage of concrete and choosing more regular small stones. When the use of concrete between stones is particularly reduced, it is defined opus (quasi) reticulatum.

Used from the beginning of the 2nd century BC until the mid-1st century BC, it was later largely superseded by opus reticulatum.

Award winning designer Susan Bradley brings us these new versions of her lovely laser cut outdoor 'wallpapers': a paisley in gold or green, and a Japanese motif.
'Outdoor Wallpaperâ„¢ is a unique award-winning product for outside spaces, bringing the indoors outdoors via cutting edge technology and innovative design. Outdoor Wallpaperâ„¢ reinterprets a familiar domestic item for outdoor spaces - use as a unique trellis, screening or simply a beautiful decorative feature, to create an immediate impact in any space. '

 

  
 

When it comes to pure contemporary designs be it furniture, lighting or planters, created just two years ago, Paris based Sabz offers an outstandingly consistent selection of all things outdoor . So even if you are not European based to order on line, check them out and see what the market has to offer and then track the item in your home market!

I love to see designs used and find browsing Amazon inspiring - even if just window shopping. Many best books now have a ' look inside' option!

If you browse designer clothes sites you will have noticed that a touch of quirky personalization is top trend. I think this is also true in home deco. I love this flower stand that will take all its style depending on the personal choices of flowers, or maybe branches or... other creative options.

 Icon of the Driade brand, this 160 cm metallic tree carries flowers henceforth is proposed in a very beautiful version in steel inox polite mirror. This new finishing excites the precious one drawing of this poetic signed object Kazuyo Sejima. Uses itself indoor or outdoor. Time for cheerful designs!

 Easy to buy, easy to apply and non committal ...that is the   recipe for success of deco stickers.

Oddly, designers have limited their offer to in door use stickers.

Fortunately, true to her vision of the Outdoor room as a real room in need for all deco trappings available inside, designer Deborah Sommers  has created a variety of stickers for outdoor spaces.  www.dgardencollection.com/

Here is a bit of info if you are new to the concept of outdoor stickers:

Frosted stickers will block the view but allow 80% of the light to pass through.Stickers can be adhered to any glass or plexi surface, outdoors or in. Easy to follow instructions are included.Once adhered, glass can be washed normally. Minimum outdoor resistance, 3 years. Stickers can of course be removed by using a straight razor or heating the surface (with a hairdryer for example) to loosen the adhesive.