[reblogged from bejacksfriend]

  Okay, so you want a new table and chairs for your back garden.  Is it going to be made of metal, wood, plastic… or crap?  Yes, junk; rubbish, refuse, waste.  Believe it or not, some people make the ugliest furniture out of the most ridiculous material and shove it in their gardens.  Beer cans, tyres, chicken wire, old ashtrays and even PS1’s (the original ‘brick-style type’ ones)!

  Why on Earth would you want to make a main attraction out of a total eyesore???  I’m all for recycling, but isn’t this taking things a little bit too far?  And, to top it all off, many of these Artists in Junk will post endless pictures of their ‘achievements’ on the Net so that everyone can share their excitement. 

  And me?  Well, call me old-fashioned if you like, but I prefer traditional garden furniture.  After the amount of time I spend making my garden look nice, I am hardly going to ‘set it all off’ with a chair made of used ear buds…

[reblogged from hedgerley]

  Choosing the right type of furniture is often the perfect finishing touch to a well-maintained garden.  And after all of that hard work with the digging, weeding and grass-cutting, you will be more than ready to have a sit down!  There is always plenty to do out there, isn’t there?

   But, if we’re not careful, then we will only go out in our garden when something needs doing.  Of course, you will need to spend a good few hours out there grafting if you want it to look nice and tidy, but it should also be a hotspot (and quite literally so in the summer) for relaxation!

   So, forget about all of the work for a while and take a little time to soak up the ambience of it!  After all, what is the actual reason for all of that work?  The whole point of your efforts is to create the perfect place for lounging around on your garden furniture!

[reblogged from photobucket]

  Most of us would agree that the basic colour scheme of vegetation is green!  But it is possible to choose from several other colours when you are designing your garden.  You can change the whole look of your garden by choosing different coloured plants.  Some people will even stick to one or two certain shades and this can look really nice.

  You can also do a lot to change the look of your garden by opting for a certain type of furniture.  Imagine how it would look with a wooden table and chairs to go with your fencing; or how about a wrought iron theme?  You could fit some new metal gates and buy some iron garden furniture to match!

  There are many different options and you can really go to town on its overall appearance.  There may be plenty of green out there, but this is merely your canvass!  What you choose to put on top is the true artistry of your garden.

[reblogged from typepad]

  It’s amazing how much wildlife there can be in your own back garden.  Even in built-up areas you can get a large variety of birds and hedgehogs who will often filch from your pet food bowl!  Sitting outdoors in the summer can be made even nicer if there are lots of different birds to watch.

  Of course, not all of us will have a very large back garden and you may think that starlings are the only birds in the area.  But it is surprising how many other breeds can turn up when you put out a certain type of wild bird food. 

  The only thing to bear in mind is that birds are not fussy about where they poo…  and if you set up a bird feeder near your nice cast garden furniture, then you really are asking for trouble!  Try to put a little thought into the best place for their seed.  It needs to be out of the way, but you still want to be able to sit and watch them.

[reblogged from wordpress]

  It’s really nice to sit and eat your meals outside in the warmer weather.  I’m not sure why it is, but many foods will taste different when you are eating them outdoors.  Maybe it’s because you are chewing up the fresh air at the same time as your nosh!

  The only problem about going al fresco is that there are always plenty of hungry insects on the lurk.  And given half a chance, they will only be too happy to tuck into your meal with you!  Apart from being downright rude, insects can be a little off-putting.  If you find a wasp or half a dozen thunder flies crawling around in your lunch, your appetite can go right out of the window (even outdoors).  You only have to have a basic knowledge of food safety to realise that grubs in your grub are a no-no.

  Try to keep any food covered up as much as possible and buy yourself a citronella candle.  Setting up one of these somewhere near your garden furniture should help to keep the majority of flying insects away and you will be left to enjoy your food in peace!

[reblogged from inhabitat]

  If you are a dab hand at woodwork, then you will know how just how many things you can make for your home.  Joinery really is a very useful skill to have.  Some items will take a surprisingly short amount of time to make and, if you have enough patience, there are far larger projects to consider.

  You aren’t just restricted to creating items for the interior of your property either; there are plenty of things to make for the garden as well; a shed, a decking area or maybe a pagoda.  You may like the idea of building your own garden furniture.

  The best thing about this is that you do not have to stick to someone else’s plans.  You can make it as traditional as you like or you could come up with a far more unusual design.  What about creating a table in the shape of a heart?  Or perhaps your furniture could have a medieval style?

[reblogged from anemos-eia]

  The wind can spoil the nicest of days.

  There you are, sat reading your novel in the back garden on a beautiful day in July.  The sun is out, the sky is blue…. and there’s a flaming gale blowing your hair across your face!!  In fact, you are beginning to feel downright chilly, even sitting here in the sunshine.  Blasted wind!

  So why not build yourself a little suntrap?  It’s not that difficult to do and it will make sitting outside a much nicer experience.  All you’ll need are a few slabs to form a patio area and a couple of fence panels around them to block out the breeze.  Get this done, set up your garden furniture and bob’s your uncle!  All sun and no more wind.

  Of course, you will need to position this correctly for maximum sunshine or you will end up even colder than you were before…

[reblogged from cantstopthebleeding]

  Getting your garden ‘just right’ can often be a very expensive business.  The trouble is that many people do not know when to stop with their modifications.  It is so easy to get carried away, especially if you keep visiting garden centres!  These are a great place to get ideas, but they are renowned for being really expensive.  Avoid buying any supplies from them unless it is absolutely necessary as you will often find items elsewhere for a fraction of the cost.

  If you want to improve your garden, then settle on a budget before you even begin.  If do this then you will know how much you have to play with and it will prevent you from turning it all into a ‘sprawling epic’ of a project!    

  By working to a strict budget you will be constantly aware of saving money whenever you can.  For instance, if you are looking for some new garden furniture, then you will automatically price it up with several different suppliers.  This may sound obvious to many people, but it is so easy to lose track of how much you spend.  Revamping your garden is a large job, but it doesn’t have to be overly expensive.

[reblogged from haterawards]

  If you are planning to buy a table and chairs for your garden then the first thing you will need to decide on is exactly how much you want to spend.  There is a huge selection to choose from with furniture to suit any budget.

  A lot of the cost will depend on what it is made from.  Plastic is normally the cheapest option, with wooden or metal furniture costing more.  Obviously, with this type of thing it is very much a case of ‘you get what you pay for’.  You may find a plastic table and chairs for a small price tag, but it will not be big on quality.  The chairs will usually be very flimsy and the plastic will often lose its coating over quite a short space of time. 

  Wooden furniture can vary dramatically in build quality, but even if you find a set that is well made, it will still require treatment every few years.  And if you fail to do this then it may well end up warped from exposure to the elements. 

   Aluminium is becoming an increasingly popular choice these days as it ticks so many boxes; it is lightweight to move or store, it does not rust and it is very easy to clean.  Cast iron garden furniture will also look nice, but this will rust and it is normally quite heavy to lift.

[reblogged from blaize]

  Most of us love the summertime!  It is so nice to get some jobs done out in the garden without feeling cold.  British summers are well-known for being a bit on the unpredictable side, so it is important to enjoy every minute that you can.  There are just so many different things to enjoy; sunbathing, taking a trip to the beach, gardening and playing Frisbee with the kids. 

  But another highlight of the summer is its wonderful, balmy evenings.  It’s a great time to make use of that traditional garden furniture and to eat your meals al fresco!  Warm summer evenings can be truly magical times because they just feel so incredibly relaxing; birds singing at the bottom of the garden, a few bumblebees finishing off their chores for the day and that beautiful hush before the sun goes to bed. 

  Sitting outside in the cool of the day is a wonderful way of winding down.  A glass of wine, some friends and a little idle chatter can create some lovely summer evenings.