Garden ideas
…but not at all – as you can see when we pan back a little. One key factor for success here is the limited, mainly monochrome palette – the black limestone path, black outdoor kitchen and grey gravel all tie into the design, giving the garden a cohesive and uncluttered look. If you’re choosing concrete or encaustic exterior floor tiles, they’ll need attention to protect them as they stain very easily without it. Do also bear in mind that even with protection, very pale tiles of this type in an outdoor situation will really show up all the dirt they’ll inevitably come into contact with. Don’t let that deter you, but – for example – you might want to plan for your potting bench to be at the other end of the garden, or you’ll feel as if you’re constantly battling mud with your hose and broom.
Go monochrome This compact garden measures 8 x 5m and the homeowners, when presented with the designer’s ideas, initially worried that these patterned concrete tiles, along with all the other elements packed into this space, would risk making the garden feel cluttered…
Fake it If you dream of tiles and a new patio, but currently have a decked area that’s staying put for the foreseeable, how about this for an idea? Rather than the annual outing for the pressure washer and decking oil, how about prepping your wooden patio for a few coats of paint instead? To get such an ordered design as this, you’ll benefit from a stencil (and a steady hand). Search ‘how to stencil decking’ online and get some tips for technique. Because of the grooves in decking, be prepared for the job to be a little more labour-intensive than painting a flat surface – but you only have to look at this pleasing seating area for motivation.
Pick a patch Outdoor patterned floor tiles don’t need to provide an all-over feature. Here again, in this Moroccan-themed garden, a section has been pulled out to create a focal point. In this example, rather than zoning a dining area, it’s used to contain a seating spot. Consider the material you’ll surround your patterned feature with. Here, in keeping with the theme, it’s decorative terracotta, with elaborate edges that echo the coloured section of the flooring. But you could surround tiles with grass – artificial or otherwise – decking or gravel. If you can mock up some combinations using screenshots of your prospective materials, you’ll get a better idea of which will look best together. Alternatively, scroll to the end of our previously published story on getting the most from Houzz to discover how you can make a moodboard from products available in the Houzz Shop.
Design on the diagonal How about laying your decking on the diagonal? By positioning the boards at an angle, the designers have given this terrace an informal feel. It works well with the cottage-style wicker furniture and planting, and the pale shade of decking gives it a natural, boardwalk vibe.
Create with composite This simple yet stylish decked area was designed to be family-friendly and low-maintenance. It uses modern composite decking, a blend of plastic and wood that won’t rot. It’s made from 95% recycled materials, and is slip-resistant. Its silvery colour contrasts beautifully with the contemporary fence and white raised beds. And French windows open directly onto the area, meaning chairs can easily be dragged out as soon as the sun makes an appearance.
Cocoon yourself in a private space If you’re having a deck built, include a banquette in the design. It’ll not only look smart, but help your garden to feel larger, too. It could be tailored to exactly fit your space and dining needs and would be as easy to look after as the decking itself. Overlooked and need privacy? Build a simple pergola over which you can drape fabric or planting.
Plump for pale and interesting This expanse of light gravel lifts the whole garden. The effect is softer and less clinical than paving stones would have been, and it won’t cause run-off when it rains. Source pale limestone aggregate for a similar look. Over time, dead leaves and other debris may blow in and become mixed up with your gravel, so expect some maintenance – you’ll need to rake and refresh every now and again to keep things pristine.
Walk on the wild side If you’re after an informal, natural look, gravel is the perfect solution – think Derek Jarman’s famous shingle garden at Dungeness. In this unstructured coastal garden, flowers grow in clumps for a pleasingly wild look. Mixing up different-sized stones is another way to add interest. Here, the owners have contrasted smaller gravel with large, smooth pebbles.
As soon as Barbara saw these giant porcelain floor tiles, which are 1m sq, she knew they were perfect for the garden. “They look as if they belong in an old warehouse and they’ve aged,” she says. Like the floor lamp and sofa, they’re part of a deliberate strategy of using items more usually seen indoors. Porcelain floor tiles, Alhambra Tiles. The porcelain tiles have different tones in them – including blue and brown – which blend beautifully with the foliage and the rusty frames of the mirrors Barbara’s used around the garden
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