The beautiful outdoors
I’ve really loved bringing my signature fresh, pretty and vintage style to outdoor spaces. In my new book, I show you my style tips for creating amazing garden parties, picnics and barn dances, with handy hints for you to recreate some of my ideas at home or in outside spaces that you have access to.
My fondest childhood memories are of the summers I spent outside in my parents’ garden playing with my sister under the sprinkler, enjoying picnics with my family at Windsor Great Park, and blustery walks along the promenade while visiting my grandparents by the sea. For me there is nothing better than spending the day outside in the fresh air, soaking up the atmosphere.
2. One of my favourite pastimes is collecting vintage china – mismatched plates add charm. No table is complete without flowers, in jars or vases or simply scattered across the table 3. This little shed, which I painted with a candy-stripe finish, is where the tables and chairs, a parasol and a barbecue are kept 4 I love making tepees – all you need are three long, sturdy sticks, a ball of string and a few old sheets or lengths of fabric. Arrange the sticks in a tepee shape, tie together at the top, then attach the fabric by knotting it to the sticks. Add a ground sheet or rug and cushions, and hey presto, you’ve created a hideaway. To finish, hang a posy of flowers from the top of the tepee.
I really enjoyed the freedom of styling outside spaces. There are not as many restrictions as there are inside and there are plenty of opportunities to try new things and most of all have fun. I like to be quite crafty with my styling ideas and make my own decorations, lighting ideas and textiles. Have fun embracing the magic of styling your outside space.
And if you need inspiration, just look around you. Consider summer dining in buttercup heaven (as pictured on the opening page). How could this magical setting not inspire you?
5. If you’re a seasoned picnicker, you’ll already have a basket and blanket, but add a special touch by pegging pretty hankies to a length of string tied to a fence 6. I strung mini lampshades along a ribbon, secured it to a branch, then threaded it with solar fairy lights 7. The ‘sofas’ are made of scaffolding boards, with storage beneath for seat pads, simply covered in old lace tablecloths
We are lucky to live in a world with many stunning natural beauty spots – lakes, country gardens, city rooftops with amazing views, and fields filled with wild flowers – buttercups, poppies and lavender, all of which encourage me to create appealing spaces to eat, relax and entertain outside.
I felt inspired running around this gorgeous field of buttercups on a perfect summer’s day in the countryside and, of course, I donned my floral dress for the occasion. Beautiful fresh flowers are my favourite styling prop because they instantly enhance any setting as well as adding colour and scent. Summer is when some of my best-loved blooms are in abundance – lilacs, sweet peas, hydrangeas, stocks, peonies and, especially, fragrant David Austin Roses. I like to make loose posies, which I think look more dreamy and romantic than tightly bunched bouquets.
8. A canopy of tropical greenery creates intimacy above an outside dining area, enhanced by the vibrant painted chairs 9. Fill an old container with water, then float tea lights and flower heads to make an inexpensive lighting feature for evening gatherings 10. Getting out and about on my blue bicycle is something I love, especially filling its basket with flowers from the market 11. Floral patterned bunting and vases of naturally arranged flowers are offset by the purple boards of a painted outhouse
Outdoor Living, by Selina Lake, with photography by Debi Treloar, is published by Ryland Peters & Small, priced £19.99.
My fondest childhood memories are of the summers I spent outside in my parents’ garden playing with my sister under the sprinkler, enjoying picnics with my family at Windsor Great Park, and blustery walks along the promenade while visiting my grandparents by the sea. For me there is nothing better than spending the day outside in the fresh air, soaking up the atmosphere.
2. One of my favourite pastimes is collecting vintage china – mismatched plates add charm. No table is complete without flowers, in jars or vases or simply scattered across the table 3. This little shed, which I painted with a candy-stripe finish, is where the tables and chairs, a parasol and a barbecue are kept 4 I love making tepees – all you need are three long, sturdy sticks, a ball of string and a few old sheets or lengths of fabric. Arrange the sticks in a tepee shape, tie together at the top, then attach the fabric by knotting it to the sticks. Add a ground sheet or rug and cushions, and hey presto, you’ve created a hideaway. To finish, hang a posy of flowers from the top of the tepee. I really enjoyed the freedom of styling outside spaces. There are not as many restrictions as there are inside and there are plenty of opportunities to try new things and most of all have fun. I like to be quite crafty with my styling ideas and make my own decorations, lighting ideas and textiles. Have fun embracing the magic of styling your outside space.
And if you need inspiration, just look around you. Consider summer dining in buttercup heaven (as pictured on the opening page). How could this magical setting not inspire you?
5. If you’re a seasoned picnicker, you’ll already have a basket and blanket, but add a special touch by pegging pretty hankies to a length of string tied to a fence 6. I strung mini lampshades along a ribbon, secured it to a branch, then threaded it with solar fairy lights 7. The ‘sofas’ are made of scaffolding boards, with storage beneath for seat pads, simply covered in old lace tablecloths We are lucky to live in a world with many stunning natural beauty spots – lakes, country gardens, city rooftops with amazing views, and fields filled with wild flowers – buttercups, poppies and lavender, all of which encourage me to create appealing spaces to eat, relax and entertain outside.
I felt inspired running around this gorgeous field of buttercups on a perfect summer’s day in the countryside and, of course, I donned my floral dress for the occasion. Beautiful fresh flowers are my favourite styling prop because they instantly enhance any setting as well as adding colour and scent. Summer is when some of my best-loved blooms are in abundance – lilacs, sweet peas, hydrangeas, stocks, peonies and, especially, fragrant David Austin Roses. I like to make loose posies, which I think look more dreamy and romantic than tightly bunched bouquets.
8. A canopy of tropical greenery creates intimacy above an outside dining area, enhanced by the vibrant painted chairs 9. Fill an old container with water, then float tea lights and flower heads to make an inexpensive lighting feature for evening gatherings 10. Getting out and about on my blue bicycle is something I love, especially filling its basket with flowers from the market 11. Floral patterned bunting and vases of naturally arranged flowers are offset by the purple boards of a painted outhouse Outdoor Living, by Selina Lake, with photography by Debi Treloar, is published by Ryland Peters & Small, priced £19.99.