The Sketch Book and Shovel

Boggy Blogging from Nicky and the Team @ GardenImprovements.com

Indoor Wall-Tiles with a Difference

planter wall tiles2 Planter Wall Tiles by Maruja FuentesAt GardenImprovements.com we are constantly striving to convince people to introduce their gardens into their normal lifestyle habits: (more…)

Originally posted 2009-06-22 17:00:44. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden » No Comments

Great Garden Design Ideas #2

Second in a series of blog posts showcasing some of the great ideas out there that help inspire our garden designs and will inspire you to get design motivated!! (more…)

Originally posted 2009-03-16 12:10:13. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden » No Comments

Recycled Chairs to Fab Garden Bench

before and after garden cahir becomes garden bench

One of my favourite websites: here’s an idea we can all try out!!

Studio G – Garden Design & Landscape Design inspiration » Before and After: Recycled Chairs to Fab Garden Bench.

Originally posted 2009-10-11 09:51:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden » No Comments

Daybeds: Great Garden Furniture

These fantastic garden daybeds certainly inspire us to design gardens to put them in and I’m hoping that by showing them here as demonstrated at FreshHome they might inspire you guys to get us to draft you up some fantastic design for your own garden!

Sampan Daybed

These beautiful daybeds are made by Lifeshop Collection, a company that is specialized in indoor and outdoor contract furniture, hotel furniture, contract lighting, contract artwork, casegoods, and resin furniture. The summer is near, and a piece of outdoor furniture like this would be great, to relax outside your house, and breathe fresh air. These pieces would be also awesome for an outdoor party. – Via – Espaciohogar – Via – Freshhome

Cheers

Nicky Patterson, Garden Designer @ GardenImprovements.com

Originally posted 2009-03-26 17:00:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden » No Comments

Great Garden Umbrellas and Parasols

A funky and modern twist on the traditional garden parasol design: these can be used when the garden design is such that a traditional umbrella structured parasol might compromise the overall theme of the space.

Not Your Grandparent’s Patio Umbrella

Coolaroo Shade Sails are bold, brightly colored in square and triangle shapes. It’s remarkable how one lone shade sail can lend an outdoor space a contemporary touch. String up a group of shade sails—like in the photo, below—and you can transform a space into something you’d expect to find at a modern art museum.

Coolaroo Square Sail

What you can’t see from the photos is how durable the Coolaroo material is. This isn’t like hanging out a sheet. The shade sails are made for life outdoors. The sail’s nylon edges will not tear or fray. The color of the material will remain bright even when permanently hung outside and exposed to moisture, intense sun – which is inevitable in Glasgow! – and temperature extremes. The D-rings on the corners of the Coolaroo will stay anchored to the included stainless steel poles. Coolaroo products come with a 10 year warranty. If your shade sail becomes damaged the company will replace it for free.

Best of all, the Coolaroo fabric blocks out 90% of the sun’s harmful UV rays while allowing breezes to pass through. So life under a Coolaroo is cool in more ways than one.  – VIA – SpotCoolStuff

Cheers

Nicky Patterson, garden designer @ GardenImprovements.com

Originally posted 2009-03-25 17:00:58. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden » No Comments

Get Ready For The Summer – Clean Your Garden Decking

This guest blog has been written by Michelle Strassburg, co-founder of UK based Wood and Beyond sellers of hardwood decking:During this time of year we often get calls and emails from people asking ‘how should I clean my garden decking?‘ It seems that the first few days of summer always bring people out in numbers to the garden and the condition of their decking after the winter months is less than satisfactory. There is also an important safety aspect for keeping the garden decking clean as it will prevent the surface from becoming a slippery one. Cleaning hardwood decking isn’t hard and will ensure the structure will remain in great condition despite the harsh winter elements. Here are couple of tips which we recommend you take. (more…)

Originally posted 2010-04-27 15:38:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden, Nicky's Garden Tips » No Comments

Stacks of Eco-Friendly Fun for the Garden

Mello bamboo stool by Ekobo PHOTO

Here at GardenImprovements.com we’re always on the lookout for funky and innovative ways to brighten up and modernise your outdoor living areas. Check out these MELLO stools- glossy, minimalist and funky looking, the bamboo poufs are stackable, come in two sizes and the many bright colours that are typical for Ekobo products. (more…)

Originally posted 2009-06-26 13:00:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden » No Comments

Garden Safety for Children’s Play and Learning

Garden Safety Kids And Garden SafetyIf like me you’ve got kids and you’ve got a garden that you like to keep looking good, then you’ll no doubt be wondering how the two will get on with another.  The Kids Garden website has a guide on some straight forward dos and dont’s to help us mediate between the two.  Some points are a tad obvious but most will indeed be of value to parents of children of all stages.

Why not give yourself a head-start this Easter weekend and get the juniors involved in preparing the garden ready for the summer ahead?

If you have a project in mind where you’d like to have an area dedicated to children’s play or if you’d like to build a garden which will act as an activity and education resource for your children, as well as providing suitable grown up pursuits (such as relaxing and entertaining!) then please drop us a line at GardenImprovements.com and enquire about our Garden Design Services.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend!

Nicky Patterson, Designer @ GardenImprovements.com

Originally posted 2010-04-03 00:26:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Tue, February 15 2011 » Nicky's Garden Tips, Promotions and Client Information » No Comments

Garden Tandoor; the Next Trend in Outdoor Cooking?

tandoor at a madrasah

I love eating outdoors – BBQs are a truly brilliant way of combining two of my favourite activities, cooking and messing about in the garden!  The time for BBQs and outdoor activity isn’t over yet – despite the chill setting in here in Glasgow; fire up that chimnea and get some of that air round your gills next time we have a clear blue Sunday!

Check out these alternative outdoor cooking ideas from the ever impressive Studio G:

Studio G – Garden Design & Landscape Design inspiration » Garden Tandoor; the Next Trend in Outdoor Cooking?.

Originally posted 2009-10-12 12:13:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden » No Comments

Nifty Idea:: The Original Bazaar Bag

I like the idea of a garden being a flexible or at least a multi-functional area and products like these outdoor/indoor beanbags are a perfect accessory to that ideal.  We have used them often in our designs as they are perfect loungers for families, and kids especially, but are particularly useful in gardens where the sun moves across the space without really staying in one area for the full day.

Bazaar Bean Bag - Red

They come in a great variety of colours to suit your landscaping and they’re on offer right now @ BeanBag Bazaar!!

Source: The Original Bazaar Bag | BeanBag Bazaar.

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Originally posted 2010-11-17 18:53:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden » No Comments