The Best Room in the House Isn't in the House

Every June and July, something shifts. Without really noticing, our favourite room in the house isn't in the house anymore.

Morning coffee moves outdoors. Dinner stretches a little later into the evening. A book is enjoyed in a comfortable chair while the garden changes almost daily around us. We spend so much time designing our interiors, yet for a few short months each year, it's the outdoor spaces we gravitate toward most.

Two years ago, we completely reimagined our backyard, creating places to gather, dine, and simply sit for a while. This summer it finally feels as though the garden is coming into its own. The climbing roses are beginning to cover the fences, the trees and shrubs are settling in, and the perennial borders are filling out in a way that reminds me that good gardens, much like good homes, are built patiently over time.

Below is a small glimpse of one corner of the garden. I promise to share more of the seating and dining areas soon—it's just a little difficult to photograph at the moment with a new house under construction next door!

Below are a few of my favourite pieces for creating an outdoor space that feels every bit as welcoming as your living room.

Wishing you a beautiful summer spent outdoors.

— Bonnie

Charlot Outdoor Chair

Inspired by classic British garden furniture, the Charlot Outdoor Chair is the chair you'll linger in long after dinner has ended. Designed in Denmark and beautifully handcrafted for year-round outdoor living, it combines exceptional comfort with timeless.

Melange Rechargeable Lamp

The Melange Rechargeable Lamp has become one of my favourite summer pieces. As dusk falls, the Italian alabaster begins to glow with a warm, candle-like light that's both beautiful and surprisingly practical. Because it's cordless, it moves effortlessly from the dining table to the garden, or wherever a little extra atmosphere is needed. It's one of those pieces you'll find yourself reaching for all year, but especially on summer evenings outdoors. 

Outdoor Antiques

If you've ever visited our showroom or seen my own garden, you'll know I have a weakness for outdoor antiques. For me, they're the finishing touch that gives a garden soul. Whether it's a weathered cast iron urn, an antique conservatory table, or a moss-covered concrete statue, they bring a sense of history and character that simply can't be replicated.

Unlike most outdoor décor, antiques only become more beautiful with time. They weather gracefully, settle into the landscape, and somehow make a garden feel as though it has always been there. It's that little bit of je ne sais quoi that makes all the difference.

French Linen Tablecloths

A beautiful table doesn't have to be reserved for special occasions. These French linen tablecloths are some of my favourite pieces because they're as practical as they are beautiful. The washed linen feels incredibly soft from the very first use, launders beautifully, and only gets better with time. Whether it's dinner in the garden or a simple weekday meal, they're the kind of everyday luxury that makes gathering around the table feel just a little more special.

Rattan Placemats

Handwoven from natural rattan, these generous placemats bring effortless texture and relaxed elegance to everyday meals and summer entertaining. Beautifully crafted, durable, and easy to care for, they're made to be enjoyed season after season.

Outdoor Candles

Our Belgian concrete outdoor candles are truly unlike anything else we carry. Handcrafted by a mother-daughter duo in Belgium, each one is poured into a substantial concrete vessel and filled with a wax blend designed to withstand summer heat without melting in the sun.

Sculptural by day and beautifully atmospheric after dark, they bring a warm glow to outdoor dining, garden steps, patios, and covered terraces. Once the candle is finished, the vessel can be cleaned out and reused as a planter, making it a piece to enjoy well beyond the season.

The Softest Part of Outdoor Living

When it comes to outdoor living, we believe in using the right materials in the right places. Performance fabrics are ideal for seat cushions and outdoor rugs that stay outside all season, but for decorative cushions and throw blankets, we almost always choose natural fibres.

Our favourite Tensira cotton cushions and Nash throw blankets are soft, comfortable, and easy to bring indoors when the evening ends or the weather changes. They're the pieces you'll actually want to lean against, wrap around your shoulders, and enjoy long after the sun goes down. Sometimes the most practical choice is also the most beautiful.

Last but certainly not least... Baskets

If there were one accessory I couldn't live without in summer, it would be baskets. They're endlessly useful—whether gathering flowers and herbs from the garden, carrying dishes outdoors, holding throws on cool evenings, or simply adding warmth and texture to a space.

Beautiful, lightweight, durable, and made from natural materials, they're the pieces that quietly move from room to room and season to season. We use them as planters, trays, storage, and sculptural objects throughout the home. Few things work as hard, or look as good doing it.