Page 128 - homes & gardens
P. 128
ExpErt viEw
PLANNING AN
OUTDOOR ROOM
ChARLOTTe ROwe,
design director of
Charlotte Rowe Garden
Design, 020 7602 0660,
charlotterowe.com.
n The key to making an outdoor space
an extension of the home is to continue
elements of the interior scheme outside.
This can be done with materials, such
as stone fooring, or by bringing the
colour palette into the garden.
n Small gardens lend themselves
particularly well to creating an
outdoor room, as they have a feeling
of intimacy. Designing a room within
a larger garden requires some form
of partitioning in order to delineate
the space and give it a sense of
cosiness. I prefer to do this using
“green architecture” such as trees,
LIVING WALL An uninspiring fence SUNKEN TREASURE Garden designer hedging, shrubs or plant pots.
has been transformed into a striking Charlotte Rowe, 020 7602 0660, charlotte n Where space is limited, consider
vertical garden in this patio space, rowe.com, created this seating area on a built-in furniture such as benches and
thanks to a simple wire system that lower level to the rest of the garden to defne coffee tables. Incorporating raised beds
holds standard-size terracotta plant it as a separate zone. A structure featuring behind a bench and against the wall of a
pots. For a similar design, try Insitu wall cedar slatting provides partial screening garden will help to soften the boundary.
planters, insituwallplanters.com.au, from the sun, while a freplace ensures If space allows, go for good-quality
from AUS$220. the area can be used on cooler evenings. outdoor sofas and armchairs, which are
more comfortable. Today’s designs are
really practical – on many models, even
the cushions can be left outside.
n A semi-open structure, such as an
arbour, is another way of carving out
a seating or dining space within a
garden. As well as offering shelter, it
will provide privacy in an overlooked
urban garden. Be very clear on the
planning requirements in your area if
you are considering any built structure.
n Our unreliable weather means that
even the most welcoming outdoor room
is often unusable other than on balmy
summer days and evenings, so consider
adding a freplace, a frepit or some
other kind of outdoor heating to
encourage year-round use.
n Throughout the winter, the garden
will only be viewed from inside, so a
good lighting scheme is crucial. It
should be subtle, so be careful not to
over-light. Some of our clients have
speakers and even televisions, the
fnal word in outdoor living.
128 | H&G | SePTemBeR 2015
