Caxton magazines staffWhether you’re planning on lounging about or entertaining friends, make the most of the balmy weather with these savvy ideas for outdoor areas
UNDERCOVER OPERATION
If you’re lacking a shady spot for entertaining then a Bedouin-style tent is the ideal solution. “They’re a great way to extend your living area out into the garden and you can furnish them anyway you want to,” says Alex Cresswell-Turner of Trade Secret who imports them. “In the evening we light a chandelier to create a magical Arabian Nights experience.” The tents are waterproof and UV protected and come in a choice of colours and patterns.
OPEN SESAME
As Karin Duwenshee and Esy von Falkenhaym are keen entertainers, and neither of them want to miss out on the action when they have friends around, they wanted some way to link the kitchen and the deck of their Somerset West home. Designers Evi and Jochem Elsner from Home Concept came up with a clever solution by transforming a kitchen window overlooking the decked braai area into a bar.
Stacking glass panels allow the window to be opened completely while a Caesarstone windowsill and stylish bar stools provide the ideal place for guests to sit and enjoy a drink while chatting to the cook.
BEAM ME UP
Like most busy urbanites, the owner of this Cape Town pied-à-terre yearned for a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.
“Our brief was to create a seamless transition between inside and out,” says Dawid Augustyn, managing director of Establishment, who designed the house and deck area. To make the most of the views, the team raised the timber deck to the same level as the long narrow swimming pool and living areas. For after-dark appeal Bloom Lights, from Crema Design, were used for multi-purpose accent lighting, whether it’s for a cocktail party with friends or late-night reading on a deckchair.
WATER’S EDGE
If you’re not keen on a large swimming pool, why not opt for a double-duty water feature/plunge pool instead? In this Cape Winelands home this pool-cum-water feature, designed by Zania Grobelaar from Dear Zania Interiors, echoes the finishes used in the house with a wall of dry-pack slate and an L-beam steel structure. A balau deck envelops the pool allowing ample space to sit and dangle your feet in the water.
PRETTY FUNCTIONAL
When sculptor and architect Jean Louw from 2AD Space Architects and her husband Wilhelm, also an architect, decided to create a sunken entertaining nook at their Somerset West home, they envisioned an uncluttered space. Built-in seating painted grey presented a maintenance-free, long-lasting option. Seat and scatter cushions add the necessary comfort.
