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.
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.
Originally posted 2010-11-17 18:53:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tags: garden beanbags, garden design glasgow
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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden » No Comments
Fair-weather play dates come and go, but notNeutral’s outdoor kids furniture will hold steadfast, rain or shine. A collaboration with Loll Designs, the BBO2 collection comprises 100 percent recycled post-consumer high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a plastic resin used to make products and packaging such as milk jugs, detergent bottles, and margarine tubs. Roughly eight recycled milk jugs go into every pound of the furniture’s weight. (more…)
Originally posted 2009-06-16 12:00:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tags: childrens garden furniture, childrens table and chairs, eco-friendly garden furniture, garden design, garden design glasgow, garden designer, garden designer glasgow, garden designers, garden designers glasgow, garden furniture, gardenimprovements.com, landscaper, landscaper glasgow, landscapers, landscapers glasgow, matthew thomson, nicky patterson
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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden » No Comments
When commissioned to design and landscape a new garden (especially around Glasgow) I am often asked to “have a look at the drainage”, or “do you think it’d look odd without a lawn, Nicky?” - this is especially true for larger gardens or those which will be used by children or pets.
Lawn-care in the west of Scotland is a constant battle against moss, dampness and heavy clay soil; but still we all love to have that little bit of “green” in our gardens don’t we? Lawns get muddy and need to be cut almost every weekend. Lawns are nice but become a chore. Not everybody likes chores.
So what about an artificial lawn then? (more…)
Originally posted 2010-02-22 16:24:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tags: artificial lawn, astroturf, fake grass, garden designer glasgow, perfectly green
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Tue, February 15 2011 » Exploring Materials, Promotions and Client Information » No Comments
Do you remember those retro beanbags from the 1960’s? Well, Fatboy, a company started in 1998 by Jukka Setälä in Finland, designs beanbags for the 21st century. Depending on your mood, Fatboy has 11 different styles and colours to satisfy your garden lounging needs. There’s even stylish options for your furry friends.
Depending on what product you choose, Fatboy is made from either a Nylon or Polyester fabricand and has a PVC coating to make them water resistant, stain resistant and easy to clean, making them ideal for entertaining, especially with the bbq season well and truly underway!
Originally posted 2009-06-15 10:21:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tags: Beanbags, children gardening, garden beanbags, garden design, garden design glasgow, garden designer glasgow, garden furniture, garden furniture design, gardenimprovements.com, landscaper glasgow, landscaping glasgow, matthew thomson, modern living, nicky patterson
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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden » No Comments
Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden » No Comments
Six Steps to Installing Child Safe Decking
Michael at Richard Burbidge has kindly offered some advice on planning decks and terraces with safety and children in mind:
In recent years decking has become one of the most popular additions that UK gardeners have sought to install.
The provision of a nice area to relax, have a drink or do some barbequing is attractive and current figures suggest that one in five of us have at some point undertaken a decking installation project.
However, if you fail to plan your project effectively it is likely that you could end up with decking that is not child safe. Here we offer useful tips on how to avoid such an outcome.
1. Getting the spindles right
One of the most common causes of injury involving children and decking is due to the fact that spindles have been placed too far apart. This can result in the child either falling through the rails, or becoming trapped between them.
Where the decking is raised there is the chance of the child falling a long way and children stuck between the spindles run the risk of suffocation. You can avoid the risk of either of these occurrences happening by ensuring that spindles are spaced no more than 99mm apart.
Also, be sure to avoid spindles that run horizontally (ie ranch style); as they could provide a ladder for children to climb up and over the decking rail.
2. Adding gates
If you have raised-decking then, it is likely you’ll have some stairs leading from it down to the rest of your garden area. At some point your child will reach an age where you trust them enough to be able to negotiate the stairs on their own. However, until they reach that point the unprotected stairs offer the opportunity of injury sustained through falling.
The safest option is to either make or purchase the required number of gates that can be attached to the decking balustrade. Be sure to fit childproof latches to gates to keep your child safely in the decking area.
3. Safeguarding the base
In many instances, decking is built on uneven garden surfaces, or has to be placed on stilts so that the decking is level with French doors. The base area underneath the decking floor presents a space that your child is sure to want to explore if it is left unprotected.
Your first option here is to add decking boards or other suitable wooden sheets and stain it to match the decking. This has the additional advantage of preventing pests, making a nest under your decking.
The second option is to fit some trellis to fill in the gaps underneath the decking. If you are concerned pests may try to make a home under the structure then you may want to consider attaching some chicken wire to the trellis to prevent access. Going down the trellis route leaves you with the option of training climbing plants and creepers to it to add to the aesthetic appeal.
4. Smoothing things over
Usually the finish of decking products will be pretty smooth. However, there is always the chance of splinters when working with timber and especially so when you are cutting pieces to fit. Therefore, once you have finished installing your decking it is advisable to spend a little time smoothing off any rough edges or surfaces with some sandpaper.
5. Handrail Height
Ensure the handrail is at a minimum of 900mm from the deck level for ground level decking. If your decking is above 600mm off the ground then the handrail should be set at 1100mm to reduce the risk of falling over the top.
6. Furniture placement
Whilst our last tip doesn’t specifically relate to the installation of decking; it is one that we can’t leave out. It is imperative that you always place any patio furniture as far away from the edges of your decking as is possible. Children love to climb and if your furniture is close to the edge there is always the risk that they will attempt to use it to get over the decking rail.
Originally posted 2011-06-20 11:59:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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Tue, February 15 2011 » Nicky's Garden Tips » No Comments
Here’s some handy hints on getting started with composting delivered by Margaret Hoyenga over @ Nest In Style. Good luck and let us know how you get on!!
Nicky Patterson, Designer @ Gardenimprovements.com
Originally posted 2009-06-23 17:00:34. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tags: compost piles, compost your own, composting, garden composting, garden design, garden design glasgow, garden designer, garden designer glasgow, garden designers, garden designers glasgow, gardenimprovements.com, how to compost, landscaper, landscaper glasgow, landscapers, landscapers glasgow, matthew thomson, nicky patterson
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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden, Nicky's Garden Tips » No Comments
If you have one, I know you love your shed. You might not think it, know it or say it…but deep down you really cannot do without it! Yours may be a handsome new shed, still proud in its newly treated timber – it reminds you of log cabins and Swedish saunas and you treat it like a grown-up Wendy house…sort of! It might be a dilapidated old shack, creaking with character and woodlice – you run a gauntlet of HUGE spiders and webs to get the rusty old garden shears every summer, cursing as some old tin of paint or a lawnmower blade whacks you shin on the way past! Either way, you love it. You might think, know or say you hate it – but you don’t. (more…)
Originally posted 2009-10-02 10:17:44. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tags: garden architects, garden designer, garden designer ayrshire, garden designer clarkston, garden designer east kilbride, garden designer glasgow, garden designer newton mearns, garden designer paisley, garden designer scotland, garden designer southside, garden designer west end, garden makeovers, garden makeovers scotland, Garden Shed, gardenimprovements.com, landscape contractors, landscape design, landscaper, landscaper ayrshire, landscaper clarkston, landscaper designer glasgow, landscaper east kilbride, landscaper newton mearns, landscaper paisley, landscaper scotland, landscaper southside, landscaper west end, nicky patterson
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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden, Influence and Inspiration » No Comments
The monkey-puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) is like Fugu; when handled the wrong way it can be lethal! Today I had to learn how to trans-plant one without cutting myself to ribbons!
These leaves (or blades I'm calling them) are RAZOR-sharp!
(more…)
Originally posted 2009-02-06 21:06:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tags: clarkston, garden designer, gardener, gardenimprovements.com, gardening tips, glasgow, landscaper, landscaping tips, monkey-puzzle, monkey-puzzle tree, moving trees, newton mearns, nicky patterson, tree
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Tue, February 15 2011 » Nicky's Garden Tips, Promotions and Client Information » 1 Comment
With so many clients wanting new and exciting features in their gardens, the team here at
GardenImprovements.com thought these bird feeders are a great idea.
Joe Papendick makes these cool sculptural bird feeders out of hand forged steel and other metals.He then applies a chemical to the metal to bring out it’s natural aged patina and color. I’m sure all the birds would be a twitter if I planted one of these in my garden. I know
I would! Check them out at
http://www.etsy.com/ (more…)
Originally posted 2009-06-27 09:00:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Tags: Bird Feeders, garden architects, garden designer, garden designer ayrshire, garden designer clarkston, garden designer east kilbride, garden designer glasgow, garden designer newton mearns, garden designer paisley, garden designer scotland, garden designer southside, garden designer west end, garden makeovers, garden makeovers scotland, gardenimprovements.com, landscape contractors, landscape design, landscaper, landscaper ayrshire, landscaper clarkston, landscaper designer glasgow, landscaper east kilbride, landscaper newton mearns, landscaper paisley, landscaper scotland, landscaper southside, landscaper west end, nicky patterson
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Tue, February 15 2011 » Ideas for the Garden » No Comments
