If ‘summer’ and ‘afternoon’ are the two most beautiful words in the English language, as Henry James wrote, owning good garden furniture to make the most of those warm, languid hours is practically a duty. From folding deckchairs to hammocks and swing seats, with more formal sofa sets in between, there’s garden furniture to suit all manner of lounging.
Different materials bring different looks to a garden. This is a truism but give some thought to the influence furniture will have. Generally inexpensive, and improved with squishy cushions, cane is widely available – try Tikamoon (tikamoon.co.uk), Hadeda (hadeda.co.uk) for designs handmade in Malawi, or, for instant patina, the second-hand goods portal Vinterior (vinterior.co). Synthetic rattan is practical, and widely used in outdoor sofas and chairs. Bramblecrest (bramblecrest.co.uk) and Kettler (kettler.co.uk),…
