Outdoor looks

By Helen Kirwan-Taylor 14.04.09

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The French have a fantastic way of taking an old idea, turning it on its head and starting a new trend. The designer Christian Liaigre took Forties classic lines and some Brancusi sculptures and turned it into the hottest decorating look of the Nineties (which everyone copied, thereby prompting him to launch several lawsuits).

Then came botanist-designer Patrick Blanc. In my garden, nasty unwanted ivy grows up the walls all by its lonesome. But Blanc, who has copyrighted his vertical garden walls, turned the nuisance into the must-have look of the past three years. Trendy French institutions (including Pershing Hall hotel and Fondation Cartier in Paris) all include a dramatic evergreen climbing jungle wall.

His work (all 260 metres of it) can now be seen in London scaling the walls of the Athenaeum Hotel. If the look takes your fancy, it can (sorry Mr Blanc) be rather painlessly recreated using some clever wiring and lots of aggressive, rapidly reproducing plants.

Thanks to hi-tech engineering, outdoor furniture now looks almost as good as indoor. If you're looking for really wild ideas, check out www.cribcandy.com, a site run by curators that shows everything hot off the press, including automatic watering cans, self-planting walls (for a DIY Blanc effect) and some unusual outdoor items including cool geometric fibreglass planters with walnut lids by Phase Design.
Cribcandy is the serious garden designer's favourite site. Another great, more classic find is Oxford Planters (www.oxfordplanters.co.uk). Its vertical slatted wooden Keble planters (from £425) work beautifully in town or country houses (zinc and steel are thankfully out of fashion). For novelty and fun, you simply can't ignore the Spanish, who make a planter that lights up - the Llum plant pot by Vondom (£290, at www.larimarclassics.com). For colour, try the Ensombra parasol by Gandia Blasco (£1,350, at www.chaplins.co.uk).

Secret service

People in my area do not share the names of their gardeners - there aren't enough good ones to go round. So it's lucky that Chris Hodge, a well-known name in West London, has started up on his own. If you want something slightly organic that does not scream 'brand new' or 'from a catalogue', he's your man. An Inchbald School of Design alumnus, Hodge will build, plant and maintain. He calls his style 'shabby chic' - ie, natural. £20 per hour for maintenance (07855 689 429; www.hedgehodgegardens.com).

Boon landing

Everyone in design loves Piet Boon. The 50-year-old Dutch former builder really knows how to make furniture. His collection of teak furniture called Piet Boon Zone Outdoor (www.pietboon.nl) is substantial, sustainable and modern, but the slightly oversized Goldilocks effect makes it fit with either a modern or classic exterior. Fabrics are waterproof for easy maintenance. You can create a whole outdoor living room set starting with the Anne Hoog dining table (£2,989), Niek Hoog teak fauteuil (£2,409) and Gijs daybed (£3,010), available at Viaduct (020 7278 8456).

THE INSIDER: Egg containers

CASH
Above left: Organise your eggs with this large ceramic chicken from Vintage Star - it will look fun by the fridge, £9.99, at Dunelm Mill (0845 165 6565; www.dunelm-mill.com).

CHEQUE
Middle: Try a traditional wire egg basket. This one from Lavender & Sage will work with any interior. £21 (0845 601 0522; www.lavenderandsage.co.uk).

CREDIT
Right: Emma Bridgewater's designs make you want to spend more time in your kitchen. This Large Hen on Nest comes in her Black Toast design (above) or polka dots. £49.95 (020 7371 5489; www.emmabridgewater.co.uk).