There’s nothing more relaxing for a certain cohort of people than wandering around a garden centre at the weekend, imagining the potential that can be realised with a garden space.
For those lucky enough to have sprawling gardens, the possibilities are endless but even those for whom outdoor space is at a premium can realise the ultimate in outdoor living, with some careful planning and the right materials.
Now is the time of year when many people tackle big garden projects, with patios becoming an extension of home renovations. With a myriad of options to choose from, more and more people are reverting to traditional materials such as natural stone, to give them that elegant, practical outdoor living space they dream of.
Irish Country Living caught up with Cornelia Creedon at Atkins Garden Centre in Cork to discover the current trends customers are following when it comes to garden design and planning.
“It’s amazing how things have changed over the past 20 years or so, when gardens were an afterthought for people building a new home. Now we all want our garden and outdoor spaces to be Instagramable so more thought and more money is being spent on these projects,” she explains.
“We basically have two types of customers, those who are starting out and are looking for advice as much as products and then you have those long-term gardeners who know what they want and are constantly working on and reimagining their outdoor spaces.”
Outdoor living
While decking became a popular patio option for many Irish families over the past decade, Cornelia says more and more customers are moving away from traditional wood decking for more sustainable options.
“The original timber decking has a short lifespan and requires a lot of maintenance so even those happy with the look of it are opting for composite decking options now,” she says.
“Then there is a growing trend toward natural stone paving, which is more expensive both to buy and install than precast stone but has a much longer lifespan than decking.”
Cornelia says the move towards outdoor living space has continued since the pandemic and says people continue to view their garden area as an extra room in their house.
“Irish weather doesn’t always favour outdoor living but people want to have the option of sitting out and enjoying their gardens when the elements allow, and now is the time of year when people start to put the work in in terms of planning and installing patio projects,” she says.
“Prices have gone up in recent years, as a lot of the products are imported so you have to factor this increase into your overall budget. We have had no option to increase prices across the board as the price rise in fuel affects shipping costs alone. This isn’t just paving slabs; it goes all the way down to the floral pots we sell that come in from overseas.”
For those considering a patio project this year, there are a number of factors to consider before you commit to a design. It is a good use of time to mark out the area you intend to install a patio, which is easy to do with string lines to give an indication of the space you’re dealing with.
All patios need a gentle slope, away from the house, to prevent water pooling. It also means the foundations of your house won’t be impacted by your proposed works
Leave these markings in place for a few weeks, to see how the sun moves across the space to ensure you get the maximum benefit from your location and position. If you’re planning early morning yoga sessions or a midday brunch, you want to make sure you’re creating the sun trap you desire. In the same vein, if evening barbeques are a more likely event, you’ll want to ensure you’re in the right place to enjoy those stunning June sunsets.
Along with the sky, you need to give adequate consideration to the drainage of the land you’re using. All patios need a gentle slope, away from the house, to prevent water pooling. It also means the foundations of your house won’t be impacted by your proposed works.
If you’re confident you can carry out the work yourself, you’ll cut the cost of your project considerably. However, if like the majority of us you need to call in the experts, make sure whoever you hire comes with the credentials and expertise you need.
It’s always a good idea to view their previous work to ensure you’ll be happy with the finished product.
If you do decide to go down the DIY route, make sure you have prepared the sub base adequately. Solid foundations are a must as any short cuts here will potentially lead to cracking and movement which will cost a lot to repair later.
You also can consider various design elements to enhance your overall space, such as building a low boundary wall around the patio to include seating and flower bedding.
Patios allow you to relax in your garden.
There’s nothing more relaxing for a certain cohort of people than wandering around a garden centre at the weekend, imagining the potential that can be realised with a garden space.
For those lucky enough to have sprawling gardens, the possibilities are endless but even those for whom outdoor space is at a premium can realise the ultimate in outdoor living, with some careful planning and the right materials.
Now is the time of year when many people tackle big garden projects, with patios becoming an extension of home renovations. With a myriad of options to choose from, more and more people are reverting to traditional materials such as natural stone, to give them that elegant, practical outdoor living space they dream of.
Irish Country Living caught up with Cornelia Creedon at Atkins Garden Centre in Cork to discover the current trends customers are following when it comes to garden design and planning.
“It’s amazing how things have changed over the past 20 years or so, when gardens were an afterthought for people building a new home. Now we all want our garden and outdoor spaces to be Instagramable so more thought and more money is being spent on these projects,” she explains.
“We basically have two types of customers, those who are starting out and are looking for advice as much as products and then you have those long-term gardeners who know what they want and are constantly working on and reimagining their outdoor spaces.”
Outdoor living
While decking became a popular patio option for many Irish families over the past decade, Cornelia says more and more customers are moving away from traditional wood decking for more sustainable options.
“The original timber decking has a short lifespan and requires a lot of maintenance so even those happy with the look of it are opting for composite decking options now,” she says.
“Then there is a growing trend toward natural stone paving, which is more expensive both to buy and install than precast stone but has a much longer lifespan than decking.”
Cornelia says the move towards outdoor living space has continued since the pandemic and says people continue to view their garden area as an extra room in their house.
“Irish weather doesn’t always favour outdoor living but people want to have the option of sitting out and enjoying their gardens when the elements allow, and now is the time of year when people start to put the work in in terms of planning and installing patio projects,” she says.
“Prices have gone up in recent years, as a lot of the products are imported so you have to factor this increase into your overall budget. We have had no option to increase prices across the board as the price rise in fuel affects shipping costs alone. This isn’t just paving slabs; it goes all the way down to the floral pots we sell that come in from overseas.”
For those considering a patio project this year, there are a number of factors to consider before you commit to a design. It is a good use of time to mark out the area you intend to install a patio, which is easy to do with string lines to give an indication of the space you’re dealing with.
All patios need a gentle slope, away from the house, to prevent water pooling. It also means the foundations of your house won’t be impacted by your proposed works
Leave these markings in place for a few weeks, to see how the sun moves across the space to ensure you get the maximum benefit from your location and position. If you’re planning early morning yoga sessions or a midday brunch, you want to make sure you’re creating the sun trap you desire. In the same vein, if evening barbeques are a more likely event, you’ll want to ensure you’re in the right place to enjoy those stunning June sunsets.
Along with the sky, you need to give adequate consideration to the drainage of the land you’re using. All patios need a gentle slope, away from the house, to prevent water pooling. It also means the foundations of your house won’t be impacted by your proposed works.
If you’re confident you can carry out the work yourself, you’ll cut the cost of your project considerably. However, if like the majority of us you need to call in the experts, make sure whoever you hire comes with the credentials and expertise you need.
It’s always a good idea to view their previous work to ensure you’ll be happy with the finished product.
If you do decide to go down the DIY route, make sure you have prepared the sub base adequately. Solid foundations are a must as any short cuts here will potentially lead to cracking and movement which will cost a lot to repair later.
You also can consider various design elements to enhance your overall space, such as building a low boundary wall around the patio to include seating and flower bedding.
Patios allow you to relax in your garden.
SHARING OPTIONS