We’ve pulled together some great summer ‘garden kit’ ideas, all currently with shorter-lead delivery times (check details with our lovely hard-working team on: 020 7731 9540 or email/chat – stock levels change daily and these are just a few of the many products currently in stock with suppliers). So sit back and take a look. It’s going to be a long hot summer with predictions that 2020 could be the hottest year yet.
Parasols – we’ve got you covered
Whatever the weather. Because let’s face it you never really know. But our garden parasols will keep you covered – rain or shine.
Our stylish Belgian brand Tribù has lots of parasols, including the Eclipse seen here, which has a strong eucalyptus wood pole and frame, and it’s also available with an aluminium frame. Plus it’s a parasol that makes life easy! And we all need life to be a bit easier at the moment. It’s very simple to operate – so there’s no fighting on the patio – and importantly it will withstand all weather conditions. Simply elegant and solid – and that’s how we like our summer garden furniture.
Introduce some garden Frou Frou
Dreaming of lying on your lounger listening to the murmurings of the Mediterranean? Maybe not this year but… let one of Symo’s Frou Frou parasols transport you to the land of sun and sizzle. This parasol is more fun than you ever thought you could have in your own back garden. Designer Davy Grossman’s award-winning 2.5 metre wide parasol is his response to the kitschy parasols of exotic beaches.
Frou Frou has two height options, one for sitting or lying, the other for standing, and three colours – white, green and black. It also protects you from sun and rain. And it’s guaranteed wind-resistant up to 7 Beaufort (which we think is quite serious!) depending on the base fitted. Exotic cocktails also allowed.
Garden chairs – rock your space
The Duo Rocking chair is a rocking favourite with us, designed by Koen Van Extergem for luxury garden brand Manutti. Duo is that great combination of traditional craftsmanship and some serious metalwork. The chair’s steel frame appears to be held together by rope (but don’t worry, it’s not) which also forms the back rest. Guaranteed to help you while away your garden time. Nodding off permitted.
And as we’ve mentioned nodding off… we think Emu’s Vetta deckchairs are probably the most stylish deckchairs around. Great for an afternoon snooze – and not a rolled-up trouser leg or knotted hanky in sight!
The Vetta has a strong lacquered steel frame, with looped rope arm supports. And you’ve a choice of six colourways (although, as mentioned, please check with us on stock levels for colours). The seat fabric is Emu-Tex, and it’s a hard-wearing outdoor technical fabric made with polyvinyl chloride thread. It’s got exceptional strength which gives great durability and maximum resistance to all the elements including UV rays, humidity and sudden changes in temperature. That’ll be the average British summer then.
Can a garden chair be sophisticated and pretty at the same time? Well we think so. And Emu’s Ciak Director’s chair proves it. Designed by Stefan Diez for Emu, these stylish chairs are made from powder-coated aluminium with an outdoor technical fabric for the seat and backrest. You can confidently use these all year round and they fold up neatly for easy storage. Although you’ll obviously want to keep these on show.
Occasional tables – for any occasion
We love an occasional table. Why? They’re fun and very practical. Somewhere to place your drink, book, sun tan lotion – and they just look… good!
Designer Marc Merckx’ inspiration for the teak Hexagon tables came from the rugged basalt columns of the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. Just like those famous basalt columns they’re made in a variety of heights and sizes.
As well as being fantastic manufacturers, Tribù are an environmentally friendly lot. They use only A-grade teak, grown on sustainable plantations in East Java, where every piece is hand-picked during the tree cutting process. The table top for these tables is glazed Lava Stone, which is a unique hand-crafted material with the strength of volcanic stone, combined with all the surface qualities associated with enamels. And, no two table tops are the same!
Manutti’s Vitral coffee table is the epitome of cool. Which will be perfect if a bit of cool is what we’ll need this summer. The Vitral look like contemporary indoor tables but they’re completely weather proof, made with high tech powder-coated aluminium.
Bistro style
Missing your morning commute coffee? We are too. So if you can’t go to the cafe – bring the cafe to you.
The Fast Tonik Contemporary Cafe Table is made from rust-proof aluminium. Designed by Robby & Francesca Cantarutti it’s the perfect table to give your summer garden patio some cafe style. And it’s powder-coated twice for extra durability. The stylish chairs featured here are the Niwa, by the same designers.
We love rainbows! Even more at the moment.
The Arc en Ciel bistro tables and chairs have an impressive array of rainbow colours on offer. Twenty-two in all, with colours including scarlet, mint green, orange, white, black and good old taupe (but again please check with us – as stock lists are constantly being updated).
Perfect for city gardens, balconies or patios, the Arc en Ciel tables are a neat 70 x 50 cm with a height of 74 cm. Made in Italy by Emu.
Lighten up
Summer nights… we’re certainly keeping fingers crossed for these. Prolong your stay in the garden with some weather-proof, stylish lighting. The elegant Flame garden lights contain an LED light which also comes with an optional remote control, or a multi-charger with two remote controls (just for those of you who are enjoying sharing the TV remote even more at the moment).
And as darkness descends take your candles outside. These garden lanterns from Tribù have sides made from thermically strengthened glass and frames in A-grade sustainable teak. Perfect for quiet summer nights under the stars.
Please check out our garden products section for more ideas. Lots of products are now on shorter-delivery times – contact us for more details.