By Colin & Justin
Ahh, bliss! As we compose this week’s column we’re sitting on our Scottish terrace, basking in unseasonably temperate highs. Aye, when the weather plays ball in Glasgow, it’s a wonderful place. That said, it would be a whole load more wonderful if we could simply pop a lid over the entire city. British weather, you see, in general terms anyway, can best be described as “ish.” Never Baltic, never Saharan, never really anything. Which is one of the reasons we so love Canada. We’re drawn to pronounced seasonal demarcation, a climatic plan of attack that tells us what to expect as each period unravels. Crisp falls, for example, which tend to deliver bitingly cold winters. Temperate springs which yield, in turn, to gorgeous summers. You get the gist . . .
It’s fair to say we’re obsessed with thermometers. Glued, as we often are, to CNN News, we’ve observed that much of Canada is currently enjoying similar highs to those we’re experiencing this side of the pond. And this information, for us, is manna from heaven because our next task, when the sun sets and we shower off the Ambre Solaire, is to jump online and book our North American travel. After six weeks filming in the United Kingdom, we’re home from homeward bound. Yay!
Which brings us neatly on to the great outdoors. We have a landscaping project in Halifax (one which we’ve been fielding due to a burgeoning diary) and, with a rare two-week window of opportunity upon our return, we’ll finally be giving it our undivided attention. Sure, it promises to consume our available schedule but we’re really looking forward to digging in. We’ve specified ebony decking (inspired by Bauhaus uncluttered aesthetics), a small rectangular lawn outlined with black bamboo and an assembly of Dedon weatherproof furniture. Perhaps, if we can twist our client’s arms, we’ll reveal the fruits of our horticultural labours in these very pages.
But our clients aren’t the only Canadians who’re gardening obsessed. Canucks in general love their outdoor space. Year in, year out, we’re constantly inspired by the work you guys do to ensure porches and decks (not to mention patios, gardens and terraces) are as attractive — and practical — as possible. We’re excited to observe a growing commitment to exterior space and, as devoted fans of al fresco entertainment, we’re envious of the fun factor we imagine takes place in each zone. Sure, we’ve a sizeable enough balcony of our own, but at 39 (windy) floors up, getting anything to grow is as likely as getting our buddy Gerard Butler to take up floral art.
And so, with warm days finally upon us, we reckon now is the perfect time to proffer some exterior maintenance tips to help you prepare for relaxing afternoons in what we hope will be ongoing sunshine. Or, for that matter, in readiness for casual, balmy evenings with the barbecue at full tilt. It’s amazing what you can do, with even just a little expense, to make the great outdoors even greater. Here’s how.
Getting the best from your space
Okay, we know what you’re thinking. Just how do I add that all important — yet often strangely elusive — design factor? Well, it’s not that difficult. A porch or front step, for example, should serve as a welcoming stop-off point as you fumble for your keys. It should provide visitors with shelter as you make your way to greet them. Porches allow you to spend time en dehors even if the weather is less than perfect and, if properly shielded from side winds via roll-down blinds or screening, they can be enjoyed well into autumn. Add a (supervised) shiny steel patio heater (they’ve come down in price over recent years) and you could well find yourself enjoying al fresco activity even as winter takes hold.
Finding inspiration
As summer approaches and you start planning how to dress your patio or veranda, consider how its furnishings should relate to the rest of your exterior. Plunder the detail of your home’s build period — roof lines, eaves, posts and rails, etc — and mirror these in your outdoors propping. Modern exteriors can be successfully dressed with contemporary pieces, but a traditional exterior tends to look best when dressed with wicker, wood or rustic detailing. Okay, so a little mixing and matching can be fun, but it’s good to respect your home’s architectural “vernacular.”
Ongoing care
Before thinking of furniture and accessories, make sure areas in which everything will be sited are well maintained. Prior to the mercury’s vertiginous ascent, it’s a good idea to tackle a little DIY. Here are a few points to consider:
• Use a power washer on pressure-treated lumber to remove grit and grime. Doing this won’t just clean, it will also help reveal the original tones and patina of your flooring.
• Treat your timbers. Apply top grade wood preservative to inhibit moisture ingress and sun damage.
• Remember that, with proper maintenance, a well-made deck constructed from pressure-treated wood can last 20 years or even more.
• If you have a slabbed terrace or patio, clean between each tile and apply weed killer.
• And if you’ve got grass? Invest in a cute wee mower and start striping that verdant greenery.
Tidy up
One of the worst things you can do is treat your garden, stoop or deck as a storage zone. A front porch used as a messy stop between kitchen garbage can and refuse collection is such a turnoff.
• Tip: Buy colour-coded crates, stash neatly together and make sure they don’t overflow. If you’ve nowhere to stash, think about the environment — sort refuse into boxes and seek out your nearest recycling centre. You know it makes sense.
Set dressing
A collection of pots planted with bright flowers and foliage will add a dash of drama to even the dullest approach. And, due to their portable nature, you can move them around as and when required. But don’t panic; you don’t have to be an expert horticulturist to achieve good results — many plant these days are specifically bred to challenge even the most inclement weather. Choose hardy plants to act as decorating accents against neutrally painted siding, pillars or walls.
• Tip: Hanging baskets are a great way to enliven proceedings, though remember these can dry out in as little as an hour on particularly hot days.
Finding extra function
On TV, and in private commission, we’ve dressed many gardens as comfy dining areas and we’ve attired others as secondary warm weather living zones. If you install safety gates to enclose young kids, decks and patios make fabulous playrooms as long as constant supervision is considered — particularly at the front of your home.
Top 10 tips
To create the perfect deck, patio or terrace:
• Develop a strong visual relationship between inside and out.
• Investigate building code and planning requirements before starting any building work.
• External lighting is important, so employ the services of an electrician and wire everything correctly so you can enjoy space at its best.
• Position small in-ground solar lamps at the side of steps and illuminate back and front doors with sensors that flick to life as you approach.
• Dress to impress — clever planting in pots and tubs is the simplest way to add outdoor style.
• A few jolly cushions will add “pop” to the plainest furniture while decorative outdoors crockery will awaken even the most boring table.
• Opt for stains that penetrate the surface of your deck or porch rather than those that simply sit on top of timber. And don’t be shy to chin your sales assistant — in better stores, such as Rona, they’re equipped to provide all the info you require.
• Debris in grooves between deck boards will trap moisture — this in turn may encourage mildew and rot. So start clawing it all out. The manicure comes later.
• Scan your own neighbourhood for inspiration and take photos of everything you like. Consider all your options and, if necessary, make a 3D model or plot everything out on graph paper.
• And finally! When you’ve dressed to impress, go one stage further by adorning your space with flickering lights and get ready to host that glamorous candlelit supper you’ve been promising your friends. Pop cute wee tea lights into storm jars and light citronella candles to keep bugs at bay. There’s little worse, after all, than dishing out that chic wee salad only to find a plague of yellow jackets sucking the life out of your balsamic dressing.
In essence, it really isn’t that hard to make your garden, yard or deck a positively welcoming and exciting haven. This year, as our professional calendar rolls ever faster, you’ll see us tackling more outdoor spaces than normal. We suppose we’re all now familiar with the term “bring the outdoors in” but perhaps these days, in light of how the gardening market is blossoming (if you’ll excuse the pun) maybe it’s finally time . . . “to bring the indoors out.”
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