Garden Living

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STYLISH OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT

The great thing about entertaining in the garden is that you can afford to be so much more relaxed about the whole affair. Whether it's an intimate family gathering, an impromptu barbeque bash or a fully blown sophisticated soiree there's no need to stress about people spilling red wine or getting crumbs on your pristine carpet; no worrying about any dancing getting out of control and of course the big bonus of being able to let the kids run riot in a large outdoor space.

But whatever your choice of event, most of us would want our guests to feel that the alfresco entertainment experience on offer was likely to demonstrate a further example of our commitment to stylish living, as witnessed at a more traditional "indoor" socialising occasion. The question is, does your outdoor room deliver the same standard of design as the rest of your house? Does your garden beautifully complement your chic indoor space, or is venturing alfresco a bit of a fashion faux pas?

Plan for perfection

Creating a gorgeous garden space is no different to fashioning a great looking interior. Once you've made the decision to change your garden scenery, make sure you allocate some time to the planning process. Think how each room in a house serves a specific purpose (sometimes more than one), and remember that the same principle applies to your garden, so it's important to consider the various functional needs your garden will be expected to cater for. You may see your outdoor space purely as a private haven and somewhere to unwind and relax. For others greater importance is placed on using the garden as a social setting and outdoor family play room. And for some people the space outside and around the house should be simply viewed as a style statement in its own right.

Style checklist

Once you've prioritized the functions you need your garden to fulfill, it's worth asking yourself some basic questions such as:

• Do you intend to use the garden year round? If so, it will be worth considering heating and lighting opportunities for the outdoor room
• How much importance do you attach to creating an environmentally aware outdoor space? With the emergence of today's "conscience consumer" more and more of us are looking to incorporate features which demonstrate a commitment to sustainable living and reducing our carbon footprint
• What style of garden are you drawn to? Style presents itself in a variety of guises ranging from traditional, formal to innovative and contemporary
• How much money are you prepared to invest in your outside room? Be prepared to allocate a specific budget to the task of transforming your garden and then work at sticking to it! Bear in mind the state of your outdoor space can seriously affect the overall value of your property and according to the Halifax Home Improvement survey, a garden is in the top five features considered to be an "essential" asset for any property

Maintenance matters

Then it is time be realistic about how much time you will have to maintain a newly designed garden. It's no good lusting after lusciously planted gardens which feature exotic horticultural specimens if you're not prepared to dedicate - or just simply don't have - the necessary time available to care for the plants. Similarly, don't go for a terrific expanse of perfect lawn unless you can regularly find the man hours to keeping it looking fabulous. There are a multitude of time saving initiatives which can be incorporated into your design (such as mowing strips, irrigation systems and the use of gravel / paving to name but a few) which will help reduce the time spent labouring and increase the time spent savouring your new garden.

Call in the designer professionals

Talking on a one-to-one basis with a professional garden designer is the best way to identify a clear picture of what garden will be the right fit for you and your family. If you need professional help to turn your dream garden into reality, then Scenic Blue (insert territory)'s design service, using qualified garden designers couldn't be simpler. Working with Scenic Blue gives you immediate access to the same team of award winning designers which won an RHS Gold medal at last year's Chelsea Flower Show as well as a whole host of further design accolades including a total of 13 BALI National Landscape Awards and the title "Landscape Contractor of the Year" at the Horticulture Week Awards 2005 in association with the Horticultural Trades Association.