Coastal chic

Ade and Becky turned a characterless suburban garden into a seaside-inspired oasis perfect for work, rest and play

- MARCIA MORGAN

SETTLE DOWN

Formal seating arrangements are perfect in gardens where you need defined areas. Ade and Becky wanted lightweight seating that can be moved around with the light throughout the day. By night, solar lighting creates a gentle ambiance for watching the sun set.

After moving into their 1950s home, Ade and Becky spent the next 12 years extending and renovating it. However, the garden wasn't lavished with the same attention. It had narrow, unkempt borders of shrubs and weeds, with a weathered grass lawn and large tree in the middle. 'It was the same as when we first moved in - apart from the life-sized plastic animals on the lawn that the previous owners tried to sell to us,' laughs Ade.

The couple had plenty of ideas, with a garden room top of their wish list. I imagined our ideal garden as a meadow with wildflowers and grasses,' Ade adds. 'Becky wanted it stripped back with white trees and rocks.' Instead, they added a trampoline and football so Henry could play on the lawn. 'He outgrew both, so we mostly stopped using the garden as a family,' says Ade. Post-lockdown, they wanted outdoor space with a view and to be able use the whole garden.

Becky also needed her own office.

Adding colour to your table setting creates a modern alfresco dining experience.