COLUMNIST: ANDY PEASGOOD
I am very quickly learning, in my studies for a Diploma in Garden Design, that the relationships and consistency of materials, textures, and colours are essential in creating a design. When looking at my own garden I see the basis of these principles but with the need for development and change where necessary.
Right now I want to sit in the garden and enjoy spring’s gift of colour. To that end, I have invested in a new table and chairs for the garden and it is just crying out for a lovely table display to finish it off.
Outdoor furniture prices have risen dramatically over the last decade and whilst those prices appear to have settled over the last 12 months, they are still premium prices. High quality garden furniture sets go anywhere from several hundreds of pounds to prices into the thousands. I have opted for a compact square table with four chairs, in black, which begins my development of bringing more accents of black to the garden. The table has a black tempered glass top which has a sleek ‘al fresco’ look to it, however, it could be sensitive to scratches from rough plant pots so I am going to make a little platform upon which to display plant pots.
This will be made from timber and stained the same colour as the potting shed and summer house, ensuring that I bring a little rustic charm to the contemporary table, as well as bringing consistency with the colour of the timber.
This incredibly easy yet effective project begins with measurements, understanding how big you want the platform to be on your table against how many pots you want to display. Once you have figured this out, it is straight forward DIY.
You will need a saw, drill, screws, robust material, staple gun, and any stain/paint if you have a preference for it.
Cut three lengths of timber (recycled fence slats in this case) to the same size and two smaller pieces to use as joining plates. Set the two smaller pieces further in so when flipped over, the platform looks as if it is floating!
Screw together ensuring the boards are snug, you can use a clamp and make sure the screws are countersunk (below the wood’s surface and not protruding).
Take some robust material, cut to size and staple over the base of the two joining plates.
Stain, paint, or leave, but I would recommend protecting the timber.
Pot up the spring bulbs that are flowering, and put the platform on your table to create your display.
I really enjoy how both the table and platform have their stylistic properties emphasised when paired together, delivering a compliment of rustic and contemporary design. Throughout the year, I will change out the displays and containers to display a variety of seasonal favourites.
Andy Peasgood is a keen gardener who enjoys design, plant combinations, and a ‘hands on’ approach to projects, as he shares the development of his garden.
A former Principal Dancer with Scottish Ballet and now a professional teacher and coach in vocational classical ballet training, Andy is most recently, a garden design student.
Follow more of Andy’s gardening journey on Instagram.