One of the great joys of summer is spending the evenings in the garden. However, things can get chilly when the sun goes down. Enter the fireplace, and in particular Morsø’s sleek, compact Ignis fireplace. Easy to move around and light, as well as clean afterwards, the Ignis is based on the Danish manufacturer’s storage cooking appliance design. The fireplace is made from a solid block of double-coated cast iron and is designed to be low-maintenance. Fit the Ignis with a stainless steel top grill to turn it into a mini oven. Ignis fireplace, from £299, morsoe.com/en.
Hugo Guinness is best known for his illustrations for The New York Times, but he has also collaborated with Carole Bamford to design bespoke products for Daylesford. Inspired by a meadow on Bamford’s Cotswolds farm, he has applied his talents to the Wildflower Collection – a range of tableware and signature blue linens. Expect to find dreamy images of cosmos, zinnias and honeysuckle. Large serving platter, £380, daylesford.com.
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‘Unexpected red’ has been a popular theme on online interiors feeds recently, and it’s also being applied to gardens. A clever splash of red can bring life to planting schemes – or even a wider view of the garden. One shade to consider is Blomster No. JB01, part of a collaboration between designer Jinny Blom and paint manufacturer Mylands that includes 12 new nature-inspired colours for use indoors and out. “I need certain tones to support my landscape designs,” says Jinny. “Red in Scandinavian landscapes is a sharp accent… an essential feature in any landscape or garden.” Blomster No. JB01, from £38 a litre, mylands.com.
When John Fowler and Nancy Lancaster bought Lady Sybil Colefax’s stake in her furniture company 90 years ago, the couple scoured the country for unusual antiques. One treasure was a pair of late 19th-century two-tiered flower stands, later donated to the V&A. The design suited Fowler’s combination of modesty and grandeur, and he often arranged flowers from his garden on the stands. A limited edition replica, handmade and painted in England, commemorates the occasion. Two-tiered flower stands, £744, sibylcolefax.com.
Outdoor kitchens have become increasingly popular in recent years and are now regularly featured in designs at RHS Chelsea. This year, oak furniture maker Gaze Burvill launched the Acorn Outdoor Kitchen Collection, complete with worktops, drawers, cupboard space and the option of adding an outdoor fridge. The highlight is that you can add your own cooking appliances to the pre-designed layout. Whether it’s a Big Green Egg, Wolf, Gozney or DeliVita pizza oven, it’s sure to satisfy the most ardent outdoor cook. The modular design can be added on and takes between eight and ten weeks to complete.
Gaze Burvill has recently achieved B Corp certification, joining around 8,200 businesses worldwide that are committed to high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Acorn outdoor kitchen, from £20,700, gazeburvill.com
The RHS has warned that boxwood moth populations are higher than usual this year after a mild winter and warm spring. While boxes may recover after leaf drop, the hunt for boxwood replacement plants continues. New to the market is Rhododendron Bloombux (R. hirsutism x micranthum plant), a hardy dwarf variety. Bloombux produces pale pink flowers in late spring and early summer, but when it stops flowering and is pruned, its small leaves will protrude forward. It is very hardy, lime tolerant and will grow as a specimen in the garden. Plant it in full sun or part shade. From £39.99, Crocus.
Outdoor storage is often overlooked. A handy shed for storing tools or a lawnmower, and furniture, is better covered in winter. But during inclement weather and the transitional seasons of spring and autumn, a neat, weatherproof storage unit in an easily accessible location can prove invaluable. Use it for cushions, blankets, hurricane lamps and even placemats and tablecloths. Part of Keter’s new Signature Collection, the Keter Decocoat Walnut Storage Box is designed with this in mind. It has a rustic wood-like finish and is also waterproof, UV-resistant and lockable. Available in 380L and 757L, from £150, diy.com
