Kitchen Essential

Eating outside is one of the great pleasures of life. A simple lunch achieves cordon bleu status if served in the fresh air, and there is no more enjoyable way of passing a summer evening than a leisurely dinner outdoors.

Even in a small garden it is worth setting aside an area for a table and chairs. Ideally your spot should be sheltered from the wind; it should catch the winter sun, but offer shade in the hot months. No, you can’t change the course of the sun, but you can grow deciduous plants that let warm rays through in winter and cast dappled shadows in summer.

If you plan your patio area so that it can be seen from the kitchen window, you will gain an immediate impression of extra space — an effect that can be further enhanced if it is possible to use the same flooring, such as terracotta or slate, or similarly coloured materials. Wide french windows or a glazed door will reduce the visual barrier between outside and inside and you can strengthen the garden link with botanical prints on the kitchen walls, a pretty floral blind, even a flowery apron.

KitchenPatio Conservatories

An alternative — or an addition — to a patio, that will beat the most spiteful vagaries of the weather, is a conservatory. Long associated with gracious mansions, it is now finding itself at home even in modest gardens.

In order to reap year-round benefit, a conservatory should be sited to catch as much winter sun as possible. All windows and doors need to be thoroughly draughtproofed, and in cooler climates, double glazing or some sort of heating is almost essential. Don’t, however, underestimate how hot a conservatory can be at the height of summer. There should be at least two large opening windows in the roof to allow the heat to escape.

Off-the-peg conservatories can be bought, or you can have one tailor-made to your own requirements. Make sure the design you choose doesn’t have any inaccessible valleys that may get clogged with leaves. Toughened glass should be used for doors and windows; on the roof panels it should be laminated to reduce the risk of breakage should a tile or slate slip from the roof of the house. Ideally, double glass doors should link the kitchen and the garden room. If the room will be used regularly as an eating area, remember that swing doors are easiest to operate when you are carrying a laden tray. Conservatories are not just for daytime: the design should also incorporate subtle lighting for night-time use.

Most conservatories need some sort of shading to screen out the fiercest summer sun. The choice ranges from simple roller blinds to sophisticated automatic devices. If you need blinds for privacy as well as shade, make sure they do the job and remain opaque when you have the lights on at night.

KitchenPatio Fitting furniture

The type of furniture you choose will depend very much on the size of your patio or conservatory. If space is no object, you may prefer a table and chairs that are left permanently in place. For a patio, they should be heavy enough not to blow around and, even in a well-sheltered spot, they must be fully weatherproof. This rules out wicker and cane although, if you like the romantic associations of wicker, you can look for traditional all-weather woven furniture, which is available at a price. Other options include cast iron, coated aluminium and the more sophisticated plastic furniture.

Even if the furniture can be left outside, it’s advisable to bring the cushions in at the end of the day. Modern materials have improved greatly and the problems of mildew and rot are less likely to occur, but no technology, alas, can protect fabric from atmospheric dirt, bird droppings and non-colourfast leaves.

The classic choice for a conservatory is casual and comfortable: wicker and cane fit the bill perfectly here, but they tend to be bulky. If you want to use the room as a second dining room you need to choose compact pieces. Look at chairs and tables that are slightly lower than standard dining room furniture and take into account the amount of space needed to move a chair up to and away from the table — a minimum of one metre.

If space is limited, outdoors or indoors, look at lightweight folding furniture that can be brought out and put away easily as required.

A small patio leading off the kitchen provides a pleasant setting for a meal or entertaining guests

For both patios and conservatories, an old fashioned trolley can be a boon when it comes to serving and clearing away; the trolley may also be useful for storing condiments, place mats and the like.

For safety’s sake, especially when children are around, it is worth investing in non-breakable plates and acrylic glasses for outdoor eating. There is a wonderful range of bright and sophisticated designs available.

A place for KitchenPatio plants

Plants, of course, play a vital role in establishing a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Start with some evergreens, such as conifers and ivy outside, or ferns and palms in a conservatory. Ring seasonal changes with bulbs and colourful bedding plants. Make the most of the kitchen connection and grow your own decorative foods: herbs, tomatoes, chillies and peppers, even a grape vine, all will flourish in sheltered, sunny conditions. Citrus trees in tubs will also thrive as long as they are protected from frost; their flowers smell heavenly and you may even have a fruitful harvest.

Drawings, paintings or photographs of vegetables or flowers look wonderful in the kitchen. They need not be expensive prints. A watercolour illustration or photograph of an artichoke, for example, can be cut out of a magazine and simply framed.

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