I’m so excited that I’ve been featured in a second print magazine this month. This time in the UK, in the Modern Gardens Magazine. The October issue is out in the shops now and it’s full of inspiring garden ideas and DIY projects, so don’t forget to grab a copy!
I did a little Q&A with the UK gardening magazine which has really made me rethink what I want from our garden in the future. You may remember that it is not quite finished yet. Our garden make-over massively improved our outdoor living space but there is still a lot of work to be done. My goal is to focus on the borders next and maybe add some cool tropical plants into the mix. I’m a little sad that summer is over and I will lose my second living room for quite a few months soon. I’ll probably need to find ways how to make most of it during the winter months, tips anyone?
Here are my Q&A answers!
My garden is… south-east facing, so we get a lot of sunlight during the day. It’s 12.2 m x 9.14 (40ft x 30ft) and it feels private and secluded thanks to the surrounding trees. When we
bought our house 5 years ago, the only thing
I liked about the garden was the apple tree which gives us delicious
treats every autumn. We got some landscapers in and they installed timber decking which has transformed our lives. I wanted that area to feel like a second living
room – contemporary, chic and a place to entertain.
I share my garden with… my husband Andy and our daughters Ella
and Cara.
My inspiration is… Californian beach houses. I love the laid back
style that’s achievable even if you don’t live next to the beach – light
floors, clever contrasts, rattan furniture, classic stripes and lots of
tropical plants.
Best garden moments… barbeques with family and friends. I love
entertaining and what’s better than drinks on the decking? I love evenings when the kids have gone to bed and it’s
just me and my husband sitting outside chatting.
Favourite area… our new decking. It feels like
part of the house and we have breakfast, lunch and dinner there. I’ve made sure
there are rugs, cushions and glamorous accessories dotted around so it feels as
welcoming as the rest of the house.
My current obsession… metal wire planters. I’m going for an
industrial look and these are the perfect addition. I even got
wire side tables to match them from La Redoute! Contemporary décor is
the perfect complement to a leafy, natural looking garden.
Best buy… our rattan dining set. It’s from Alexander
Francis and seats up to 8 people. It’s such a durable material and you
don’t have to worry about putting it away for the winter.
Favourite plant… succulents. They’re the only ones I haven’t managed to
kill so far! I also like alpines, especially white ones, that look very
delicate on the decking. I also like growing chillies, I love spicy
food.
Top tip… it’s important that the garden flows nicely with
the rest of the house. I tend to stick to the same monochrome theme to keep
things consistent. If
you want to go for a totally different look in the garden, use some of the
same materials and fabrics that you use indoors to tie things together nicely.
Latest project… my entire garden is a work in progress. I’ve been so
excited decorating our decking that I have neglected the rest of the
garden a little bit. I’d love to add some tropical palm trees at the bottom to give it a holiday feel all year round.
For more information visit www.moderngardensmagazine.co.uk.
