Styling garden spaces

Layering textures and salvaged finds.

Hello my fellow garden lovers, how are you? I’m trying to keep cool in the shop with a fan blasting straight at my face. I can’t really grumble as I’ve been away in Suffolk this week and the temperature was lovely- although the locals still felt it was hot, it was a relief to have cool breeze and a luxury to swim in the sea. Anyway, holidays aside, it was nice to get back last night and sit out till late in the garden. Hubs and I had a simple salad and a glass of rose, then decided to do a spot of gardening at 9.30… as you do. Gardening in the evening is all I can manage when it’s this hot.

This post - I’ve decided to share a few pics from the camera roll that I’ve taken over the last few years. Hopefully you can glean some inspiration for your own garden.

The two pics above are of the french shed in the main garden. I like to create rooms within the garden. I’m always buying tables and chairs, it’s a crazy addiction of mine, but I think it’s important to always have a chair in the garden right where you want to flop, but also to admire the different views. And tables- well tables are always useful! I’ve just bought a gorgeous vintage trestle table with oak top that I’m going to put in my greenhouse to replace the one I stole for the shop. I’ll load it up with pots and props but during open gardens I think I’ll pop it in the french shed to serve tea and cake off. Once I get it set-up I’ll take some pics for you.

When creating spaces to enjoy in the garden, it’s important to get the layering right, not everything needs to be useful, sometimes bringing in something beautiful will add to the look/feel you’re going for. I love vintage rustic, I feel it adds charm to a country cottage garden. Bringing in soft faded floral linens, the faded bit is important as I don’t like things to clash with the garden- it’s a subtle elegance, think Darling Buds Of May and the Larkins. I like to bring out the garden lanterns in the evening too. I’ll hang mirrors around to give the impression of hidden spaces and use a mix of vintage and my own pottery. Even though the garden is full of flowers, I still create little picked arrangements for the tables.

These draws were salvaged from a neighbour at my last house and artfully plonked in our garden, I often use old pieces of furniture to make rooms within the garden- pieces I’m not precious about peeling or cracking. I use a lot of salvaged things, the tiles in the old greenhouse (former house) were being thrown away, can you believe it.

In my shop in Hitchin I have both new and vintage gardenalia, not forgetting my pottery and fabrics, I also have a lot of pieces now on the website so I’ll pop a link at the bottom for you. I’m afraid I only ship within the UK though, sorry. If you’re local you can always arrange collection from the shop, just send me a message through the website.

For me a garden should feel comfortable and a little undone around the seams. Nothing fussy or perfect, the joy is in the imperfections! There is an art to it though, careful consideration is still taken over textures and colours. Wood is either left natural or painted white or black. To show off the foliage and flowers I always like a painted black on woodwork, it makes everything a little more pleasing. Pair soft sage greens and pale lilacs/blues with dashes of hot pink- just a touch, and the whole space will come alive but still be soft. I opt for these colours as they also glow in a rather ethereal way once the sun goes down- especially a pale blue. I’ve not long bought a gorgeous salvia this shade but I returned home to see it had done it’s thing, I’ve chopped it back and when it does it again i’ll take a pic for you with the name.

Hopefully the heat will ease off over the next couple of days. I’ve been seeing on instagram people putting trays of pebbles and water out for the bees, such a clever idea! They tend to land on the lily pads in the gravel garden but I think I’ll do this down in the main garden once I get home.

As always you can follow my instagram stories here where I post things that inspire me and pics of my garden and travels. And as promised, the link to the website -

Have a good weekend.

Emma.