- MATERIALSAND TEXTURES
In selectingcolours,materialsand textures,considerthe locationof your outdoor
space and whethershadingis available.“The darker the material,the more it will
absorbheat,” says Rowena.“Keep dark coloursto a minimumunless your space is
mostly in the shade.”More colourfulapproaches,meanwhile,are best relegatedto
items that can be stored away –picnic and table ware, for example,and accessories
like cushioncoveringsand throws.“Vibrantcolourswill get washedout by the sun
easily,”says Rowena.“Colourfulitems should be small and easy to store, to keep its
colourfulvibrancy.”
For everythingelse, there’sclassic earth tones and naturaltextures.Richard
Miers, an award-winninggardendesignerfrom the UK, points to their reliabilityand
sustainability:“I use naturalmaterialsas much as possible,such as hard wood and
naturalstone. They take on a lovely aged patinationwhen exposedto the elements.”
Woodsare especiallyfavouredfor outdoorspaces.Keith Williamsof Nievera
Williamsrecommendsipe or teak, while Reginarecommendshardwood,which
maintainsits form throughwindy and rainy seasons.But don’t forget to factor in
maintenance.“Darkershadesof wood, like naturaloiled teak, will requireregular
maintenance–oiling once a month during the sunniermonths,”Rowenapoints out.
Go beyondaestheticconsiderationswith plants that bear fruits and vegetables,
too. “Mix edible plants, culinaryherbs, and fruits with the other plants,”advisesRichard.
As well, incorporatepops of colour with seasonalflorals –or do as both Richardand
Keith do: don’t be afraid of “going green on green.”
“I remindmyclients that green is acolour –and the most restful one at that,” says
Richard. “As long as the plants are healthy, sometimes green is all the colour you need.”
挑選色彩、物料和質感前，先考慮戶外空間的地
點和受陽光直射的時間。Rowena指：「物料愈深色愈
吸熱。除非長時間受遮擋，否則應少用深色。」繽紛色
調適用於可收起的物品，如野餐用品、餐具、墊子套和
毯子等。「奪目顏色很易被陽光曬至褪色。繽紛用品應
以體積小巧和易於儲存的為佳，確保色彩長保明亮。」
大地色和天然質感是最穩妥和經典的裝備主題。英
國得獎花園設計師Richard Miers表示，這些元素既可靠
又具持續性：「我盡量使用天然物料，例如實木和天然
石材，它們隨年月變舊的模樣優美十分。」
很多屋主也喜愛在室外使用木材設計。Nievera
Williams的Keith Williams建議重蟻木和柚木，而Rowena
則推薦實木，能抵受風雨，保養問題亦要留心。Rowena
指：「深色木材如天然柚木等，需要定期保養，夏季時
份大約要每個月上油一次。」
別少了大自然元素的份兒。能長出蔬果的植物也
可成漂亮點綴。Richard建議：「不妨加入可食用植物、
香料草本和水果樹。」你也可借用季節性花卉來注入繽
紛色彩，又或是參考Richard和Keith的做法，由綠色主
宰整個佈置氛圍。
Richard說：「我常提醒客人，綠色植物也是色
彩，而且是最能令人平靜的色彩。只要植物健康，戶
外空間就只需要綠色。」FINE VIEW
Echo luscious surroundings
with earthy hues of
mustard, olive and sky blue;
enjoy sun bath with Bali sun
shades and Solanas seating
units from Gandiablasco.
美不勝收
以大地色回應天然風光；
選用Gandiablasco的Bali
太陽傘和Solanas座位設計
享受太陽浴吧。Photography by Tracy Wong