Project: Outside Space

Outdoor kitchens, built-in seating, dedicated BBQ space, hanging chairs – make your garden like an additional room in your home and you’ll reap the benefit through the seasons.

1. This fire pit is cosy at night but can be covered and concealed with a coffee table design when not in use – Harrington Porter.

2. Use your extension to create a sheltered summer kitchen area – Roundhouse.

3. Go the whole hog, with navy blue Marina Curve Chairs, dining table and free-standing outdoor island kitchen with grey granite work surface and built-in gas grill and infrared rear burner – Indian Ocean.

4. Circular tables and chairs are perfect for small patio gardens – Neal’s Nurseries.

TIPS FOR THE PERFECT, CONTEMPORARY GARDEN DESIGN

• Plant evergreens first, then you’ll see what your garden will look like in winter when all the herbaceous plants have died down

• Buy flowering plants on monthly visits to your garden centre, to ensure all round interest in future years

• Plant three or five of each plants for a bold designer look

• Spring and summer bulbs are a great, inexpensive way of adding to your garden

• Grasses add movement, contrast and structure

• Don’t remove but dig in autumn leaves as nature’s own soil improver

• Fertilising and watering regularly helps prevent pests and diseases; just like us, healthy living helps them fight off nasties too

• Leave seedheads and grasses through winter, they protect the plants below and look spectacular covered in frost

• Don’t get despondent when things don’t go to plan, call in the experts.

Source: Neal’s Nurseries

5. This roof terrace has plenty of social spaces with a built-in sofa and zinc bar – Ensoul.

6. The perfect place to take in the evening sun under this pavilion kitted out with a fire, seating and cooking facilities – Dyer Grimes. Photography: Nick Kane.

7. Add drama to your garden at night by lighting up feature trees and shrubs – Eureka lightbulbs from Neal’s Nurseries.