dom.cliff

Autumn has some fabulous days when it’s an excellent choice to be outside. It’s a lovely time of year to be out and about in the garden or going for walks. That special autumnal mixture is like nothing else: glorious sunshine, dropping temperatures, high winds and wonderfully coloured falling leaves, sudden rain and a slight […]

Even though summer is over it’s still very nice to sit outside in the garden or on patios, terraces and balconies. Rugs, jumpers and a patio heater help to take off any slight coolness or deeper chill. If you’ve got an outdoor space take as much advantage of it as you can! Enjoy your outdoor […]

City life tends to be demanding and draining, so it’s essential to develop a safe space that enables the occupants of a home to relax. One way of achieving this is to switch up the concrete jungle for some time in a green space such as a park or common, but what can you do […]

Home and garden security is an important concern for any homeowner or tenant, especially if their property is appointed with high quality furnishings from a provider such as Rattan Direct. Crime is an unfortunate fact of life in our society, and thieves are becoming increasingly savvy. Quality home furnishings are like catnip to burglars, and […]

Lawns aren’t looking their best where I live. After a summer of heavy use, and just recently a lot of rain, the grass has some thin patches, while in others it has grown long and straggly (thanks to the rain). The good news is that the recent rain means I can start on my annual […]

It’s the August bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and, as is traditional, the weather picture is mixed. Here are three tips for what to do in the garden this bank holiday . Do what you can – it all makes a difference. 1. Be in the moment You know how the house […]

Let me tell you about the two types of rattan furniture. There is beautiful natural rattan furniture, at home in the conservatory or other places indoors, and there is lovely synthetic rattan furniture, ideal for the garden and all places outside. Both natural and synthetic rattan are durable materials, well suited to furniture. Natural rattan […]

A cantilever parasol is fantastic for providing shelter from the sun (or even the rain) when you’re outside enjoying the fresh air. A parasol is one of the things that contribute to comfortable, long, leisurely lunches or extended work meetings. Over time, though, parasols do get dirty and they can get mildew if they are […]

I’ll be on the terrace! Rattan furniture is perfect for a terrace, whether the weather is changeable or settled. Sitting at a table to read the paper in the morning, catching a few rays on a sun lounger, resting on a comfortable sofa with a cup of tea – all are possible with rattan garden […]

If you’re not converted to the power of cushions to make you feel comfortable then I urge you to think again. They really are superb multi-taskers. How can a simple cushion make you feel stylish, cosy, comfortable and supported – all in one go? Well, I don’t know but it’s true. And this magic can […]

It’s obvious: while you are away on holiday your garden isn’t, and is likely to miss your TLC. Not just a sorry sight when you come home but, as Alan Titchmarsh suggests in his book ‘The Gardener’s Year’, possibly a security risk. Here are his tips to reduce security risks while you are way. “It’s […]

To my mind, a garden party is something rather more than just a party in a garden. It has a more – how can I say this? – grown-up or mature feeling. Let’s look at three types of garden party and three possible themes. Three types of garden party We all know about the garden […]