LifestyLe Clare Nolan

trailBlazersFollowing Thomas Heatherwick’s amazing Olympic cauldron for the London games last year (left), outdoor fire designs have taken on a sculptural feel. They’re definitely investment pieces, though – think art rather than humble camp fire.

Outside: the rules•Consider all the design elements – colour, pattern, texture, furniture, accessories – just as carefully in your outside space as you would a room indoors. Rustic fence panels can be used to add texture, tall hedges to soften and cocoon the space as well as to add colour.

•Use flooring to section off or ‘zone’ the area. It doesn’t have to be expensive hard landscaping – a cheap waterproof polypropylene rug (Ikea sells some great-value designs, see overleaf) will work just as well. These won’t rot and can be cleaned with a quick hose down at the end of the summer, before being dried and stowed away for next year.

•In cool Britannia we need a little help to extend our time outdoors once the sun goes down. A real log fire creates a visual focus and adds a touch of magic as well as warmth. Toast sells a simple, chic medium-sized steel outdoor fire bowl (toast.co.uk). Don’t make the mistake of buying an oversized design – you’ll never be able to justify the number of logs it’ll take to fill and will end up using it only on special occasions.

For the ultimate outdoor living room, commission a builder to construct a fireplace. This London garden, designed by Leonora Bamford and Alexander Armstrong, features a rendered fireplace and Caledonian stone floor. Expect to pay around £100,000 for something similar. The chairs and sofa are by Sutherland Furniture (sutherlandfurniture.com) ➤

Is it a garden – or a living room, kitchen, play zone or entertaining space? Let your imagination run free

totally out there

ERCOLE FIRE PIT, £11,970, Ivano Losa for AK47, encompassco.com

FIRE PIT, from £2,430, Cathy Azria at BD Design, bd-designs.co.uk

SOLVINDEN SOLAR-POWERED TABLE LAMP, £20, Ikea, ikea.com

PENDANT LIGHTS, from £495 each, the Conran Shop, conranshop.co.uk

ARCH FLOOR LAMP, £945, Indian Ocean, indian-ocean.co.uk

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Newer NeutralsTaupes and beiges have given way to shades of grey inside and out. From soft, play-it-safe sages and tasteful French greys to nearly black charcoals and slates, be brave and give it a go. Darker colours offset verdant tones beautifully and can even make a small space appear larger.

NO-hassle grass Fake grass used to be a considered a bit naff but now you’ll find it gracing the most stylish urban gardens. No mowing, no mud, no seeding or repairing – it’s a win-win solution. And some artificial turf even comes with a few brown blades to make it look more realistic. It works on vertical surfaces, too, so it’s great for ‘greening’ walls where creepers won’t creep. Time to retire the Flymo? We’re seriously considering it.

POP uP, POP OutA good idea, given the unpredictable British weather, garden hideaways provide a way to enjoy the great outdoors without having to brave the elements full-throttle.

it’s CaNe agaiNFrom high street to high end, rattan, wicker and bamboo are weaving their way back into our gardens and conservatories.

BeyONd the Outer limitsIf you’ve got the space and the money, go big – how about an alfresco kitchen complete with wine cooler, wok hob, grill, sink and fridge? (Try specialists nascentialandscapes.co.uk and technovations.co.uk; prices start from £60,000 for a kitchen similar to the one pictured here.) But the more affordable options give delicious results too.

MAYFAIR ARTIFICIAL GRASS (left), £26.99 a square metre, and CHELSEA ARTIFICIAL GRASS, £24.99 a square metre, both Easigrass, easigrass.com

LYRA TWO-SEATER SOFA, £450, Habitat, habitat.co.uk

RIVA CHAIR, £450, the Conran Shop, conranshop.co.uk

MANOLO SOFA, £2,459, Kenneth Cobonpue, from Muse, muse-ing.com

OUTDOOR WOOD-BURNING OVEN, £779.99, Lakeland, lakeland.co.uk

HAzEL PLAYHOUSE, £250, Cox & Cox, coxandcox.co.uk

KLASEN CHARCOAL BARBECUE WITH TROLLEY, £270, Ikea, ikea.com

SOLAR-POWERED BARBECUE, £250, the Conran Shop, conranshop.co.uk

hiP haNg-Outs

BLACK ASH ULTRA TOUGH DECKING STAIN, £14 for 1 litre, Cuprinol, cuprinol.co.uk

DULUX WEATHERSHIELD EXTERIOR SATIN in GALLANT GREY, £19 for 750ml, B&Q, diy.com

OUTDOOR COTTAGE, £11,740, Patricia Urquiola, from Kettal, kettal.es

CUPOLA TENT, from £2,300, Beaumont & Westbury White Canvas Tents, whitecanvastents.com

CHILEWICH (61cm x 91cm), £119, Selfridges, selfridges.com

OutdOOr rugsPOLYVINYL ONIL CHEVRON (75cm x 175cm), £128, Missoni Home, missonihome.com

MAIA SWING, from £3,072, Patricia Urquiola, from Kettal, kettal.es

SWING, from £3,775, Daniel Pouzet, from Dedon, dedon.de

LYRA HANGING CHAIR, £320, Habitat, habitat.co.uk

RORHOLT (75cm x 200cm), £9, Ikea, ikea.com

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