dom.cliff

After the sun goes down on a warm day it’s tempting to linger in the garden. You’ll need lighting to make the most of it but it’s time to move away from standard off-the-shelf options. Transform your outdoor space into a paradise with clever DIY lighting that sparkles, twinkles and flickers. Here are three simple […]

This April, many of our posts will be about encouraging calm and tranquillity as it’s Stress Awareness Month. Today, I’ll talk about creating a calm corner in the garden by using natural materials and colour, water, plants and comfortable seating. A corner can be a very good setting for a quiet and private place. No-one’s […]

It’s Easter and the family are coming. What will the kids do – especially if the weather isn’t very promising? Never fear! Everyone can join in with our easy and fun last minute Easter activities. 1. Decorate the house It’s spring and it’s Easter, so you know the colours to choose! Yes, yellow and light […]

Sharing garden space has been happening for years, one way and another, possibly quite near where you live! It helps to knit a thriving neighbourhood together. It has many benefits and can be fun, so read on to see if any of these ideas might suit you. Sharing garden space has been happening for years […]

Reading takes you away from the here and now, expands your mind and challenges your views. Of course you can read anywhere, but having a special place for reading underlines how precious it is. A reading nook is much more than a window seat or an odd piece of unused space in the house. It’s […]

It can be pretty fast paced out there, and there’s a lot of stress around. That makes it all the more important for us to be able to recharge our batteries in a relaxing atmosphere when we’re at home. Exactly how you relax depends on you, of course. We’re all different! But if you consider […]

Snow and wind damage in gardens may not have been your biggest worry during weeks of very bad weather. But as the weather improves, the sight of battered plants and sad garden spaces isn’t what we want. And there are things you can do NOW, and as the weather improves, to reduce the risk of […]

You can find a repurposed pallet almost everywhere nowadays. In bars and shops, and as living walls, decking, planters, insect hotels, compost bins, bird boxes, cold frames, raised beds, fences, swings, staging and much more. You don’t have to be a highly accomplished woodworker to make some great things out of pallets. Knowing a few […]

Grass is lovely but it’s not always the best surface for what we want to do outdoors. And a lawn takes regular maintenance to look good, of course. If you’re thinking of putting down a different surface in your garden or outdoor space, here are some points to bear in mind, and some pros and […]

Rattan garden furniture comes in four colour combinations, ranging from the striking to the quite subtle. Each is more than the sum of its parts and each combination will add to your outdoor space. We feel confident that one of the combinations will suit your personality, your lifestyle and your outdoor space. Read on for […]

Yes, get the springtime look with rattan furniture! We’re actually a little ahead of the springtime game here. You could say we are stealing a march on March! It’s all good, anyway, because thinking ahead and taking action will mean you and your furniture will be in position for spring when it gets here in […]

A focal point draws the eye into your garden, sets the mood, makes a statement. And looks lovely. Think of fantastical follies, tempting summer houses and huge statues in National Trust, and other, gardens (see some here!). OK, these won’t fit in many gardens, but read on for ideas for small gardens. A garden bench! […]