There is an underrated beauty about a garden in the cooler months. The considerations one must make before setting up for an evening in the garden in the lead up to Christmas become little evening rituals - lighting the firepit and some candles, stringing festoon lights and bringing cozy throws and cushions with you. The efforts one puts into the mere act of spending time outside make it all the more special. For me, setting up camp outside for the evening is a real celebration of the trans-seasonal garden. It is an act of devotion to the crispness of the air, the star-dimpled sky and the warm glow of the house through the windows.
Jonny Brierley, the CEO of Moda Furnishings, the British rattan outdoor furniture company, is an advocate of the winter garden too. “The winter months are all about layering,” he says. “During the colder months we decorate our interiors with textured throws, decorative cushions while sitting in front of a roaring fire, so why not take this attention to detail out of doors? Never before has the word ‘cozy’ been associated with the garden. Now, however, people want to give their garden a cozy feel, making it an extension of their homes,” Brierley adds. He suggests that with the introduction of softer outdoor-use upholstery, lighting, accessories and even fire pits to the outdoor furniture market, clients are paying the same diligence internally and externally.
The allure of creating a space outside that appeals to the cosiness of indoor spaces is taken to the next level by some clients of Renaissance London, a fireplace restoration and reproduction specialist in Shoreditch, London. Many of its clients, which includes such celebrities as Mick Jagger, the late George Michael, Orlando Bloom, Gilbert & George, Kate Winslet, Robbie Williams, Jeremy Irons, Naomi Campbell and George Osborne, have been specifying outdoor fireplaces. Fitting an outdoor fireplace will turn your garden into something of a winter wonderland, evoking a surreal, stylish look. “You can install any fireplace outdoors,” says Owen Pacey, the Founder of Renaissance London, adding, “but I’d always recommend Bath Stone or Portland Stone for durability outside.” Pacey encourages clients with all sizes and shapes of gardens to opt for a fireplace feature if their hearts so desire, explaining that “you don’t need a big garden to fit a fireplace outside. In fact, the scale of a fireplace can actually create the illusion of more space.”
From a practical perspective, Pacey believes that garden spaces are increasing the value and demand for properties now more than ever due to the uncertainty, restrictions and threat of the national lockdowns. “Adding a beautiful period fireplace will really add the winning wow-factor,” he says, “so while it’s important to enjoy the fireplace in situ, bear in mind that future buyers might just be lured in by this quirky, distinctive and stylish feature.”
