Copper swing seat

. Copper is a beautiful material to have in a garden. It is heart-warming, eye-pleasing, reflective and ever-changing. But what can one do with it? As this photograph shows, a swinging seat is a good choice. It is fun to have, nice to see and loved by children.

Woven resin garden furniture

Here is another useful contribution to a cosy outdoor meal. The seating arrangement is companionable; the woven barrier protects your legs against unwelcome gusts; some heat can accumulate from all the legs-under-the-table; you can play footy-footy with the companion of your choice – and deny all knowledge of the game if this proves expedient. The resin looks like rattan but has immense durability. The glass tabletop is much easier to clean than a bare weave. Recommended!

Upholstered garden furniture

‘Outdoor’ and ‘Garden’ furniture makes one think of hard, durable materials – which last well but are none to comfortable. But a range of modern fabrics is available which can resist the weather. They will not be damaged by getting wet. But we would still recommend taking them indoors when there is a long period of rain, or when they are not likely to be used because of the winter weather. Uneven surfaces are always likely to support green moulds if they are wet for extended periods of time.

Infrared outdoor patio heater

. OK, we admit it does not score highly on the sustainability scale. But sure as heck it can increase your comfort level on a chilly evening! Infrared rays pass through the air and are absorbed by your skin and clothes – and your garden furniture. Maybe they will even keep the food warm!

High quality garden buildings

. As often before, we found ourselves admiring the range of Summerhouses made by Scotts. They are inventive, useful and very well built. In fact the larger ’summerhouses’ make very good garden offices. You can settle down on a hot afternoon to catch up on your emails with a sweeter-than-usual temper.

Tubular green garden seat

. This design is becoming a garden classic. First, it passes the crucial test for ALL SEATING: it is comfortable. Second, the rain runs off the tubes. Third, it has elegance. Fourth, the inward curve on the seat makes it more sociable than a straight seat – you do not have to put such a twist on your neck to smile at your companion.

Orangutans in garden design

I have never really felt the need for Gorillas in my garden. But there must be many people who have, because this statue is shown year after year at the Chelsea Flower Show. Were I to be given one as a birthday gift, I would place it in a thicket and use clippers to keep open a vegetated window for occasional viewing.

Elegant modern outdoor furniture for garden design

Well designed and modern furniture can be a great starting point for an elegant modern garden design. In buying the furniture one is saying ‘thank you’ to the designer. Then, in the manner of all artists, one can use the designer’s work as a starting point for one’s own garden design.

Garden wall made of old washing machines etc

. One hopes this will never become a really popular idea – but one has to admit that it is pretty well done here! It is also a sustainable design, because it is surely a far better use of old washing machines than dumping them in landfill sites.

Green roof made with sawn branches

Here is a really easy way to make a green roof: keep your old branches, arrange them on a frame and place turfs on top. This idea works particularly well if you have a coppice tree in your garden – which is both a traditional and a beautiful idea, as Monet and Van Gogh showed in their paintings.