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Up the Garden Path
Quality assurance, high-design and originality . . . gardens are calling the shots

Kiwis are not just house proud, they're outdoors proud too. However, a gnome or two, a spattering of decorative rocks, or Aunty Jane's hand-painted daisy pot simply don't make the cut when it comes to dressing up our open areas in 2010.

Which trends should we be following if we're to take our gardens to the next level? And how should we know when to stop – does every nook and cranny need attention? When addressing and dressing our outdoor domains, it's important to begin with an overall plan, say Dawn MacLean and Rae Hooper of OUT DECO. “We have noticed that often people buy a pot to fit a plant they already have, rather than buying a pot that fits their overall environment and then finding an appropriate plant that works with it,” say the pair. “For example, you can have a number of different shaped pots if they are all a similar colour or texture. Likewise, you can have a number of pots the same size but with contrasting finishes.”

Ian Fryer of NZ Art echoes similar pot-like sentiments. “Too many pots can clutter the visual appearance – a good blend of colours, sizes, shapes and textures keeps things interesting,” he says. “Often people don't buy things for their gardens that are big enough. Customers find things that catch their eye instore, but don't consider what they will look like in the wide open spaces. For example, a sculpture that looks big in a small area of a garden centre will be dwarfed in size once taken home and placed beneath a four-metre tree.”

It's important that people have an overall plan of what they want to achieve in their outdoor areas when thinking about larger purchases such as pots and sculptures, says MacLean. “This plan needs to fit with their lifestyle, so that purchases can then be made over time to fit with this plan,” she says. “It's important for retailers to give their customers a choice from the quirky to a little more formal or conservative as the environments people are working with are so varied.”

Variety is the spice of life after all, says Elizabeth Wilkinson of CC Interiors. And trends in outdoor furnishings incorporate more than one look or theme much of the time. “Arabian Nights is the look for this summer: think natural wooden outdoor tables, lanterns, vibrant colours and Moroccan, tent-like appeal,” she says. “We've also picked up on a boiler room/vintage trend coming through in both indoor and outdoor furnishings, so half-finished upholstery, hand-beaten metals, and movement away from that ‘mass-produced' look is what's being showcased a lot overseas.”

Anything that can double as an indoor and outdoor decorative or furnishing piece is what many of us desire, say our gift experts. “There is a strong trend of people spending more time at home. New Zealand's climate makes it possible to entertain family and friends in our outdoor areas for a large part of the year,” says MacLean. “This has led to people dressing up their indoor and outdoor areas. We have found that feature planter pots are being used a lot more to offset doorways, drives and patio areas.”

Fryer says all of NZ Art's products are indoor/outdoor pieces because people are demanding dual-purpose furnishings more and more. “Many folks like sculptures indoors and are definitely making their outdoor entertainment areas more comfortable and interesting,” he says. “Our pizza ovens are definitely increasing in popularity because more and more customers want alternatives to a barbeque.”

Wilkinson also plays witness to ever-increasing indoor/outdoor product trends– especially at overseas fairs – and believes that duel products that have eco-friendly ties will be hot on Kiwis' lists for summer 2010. “The source of products reigns very high for many customers. Less than 75% of the world lives on less than NZ$7 a day – it's issues like this that factor into people's buying decisions more readily nowadays. Fair trade and sustainable warranties are weighted with much anticipation and expectation.” Because of its sustainable status and comparatively small ecological footprint, bamboo is a sure winner in the garden furnishings department, says Wilkinson. “You can do so much with bamboo – I saw it everywhere at the European trade fairs this year,” she says. “Jute is also another eco-trendy material that's swinging back into popularity – it's heavy duty and can withstand the outdoors. Cane is surfacing again as a popular material for summer, with woven cane lanterns, candle holders and baskets all set to feature on outdoor tables this summer.” And for those that remember the cane of old, “it's rumoured that golden cane is going to make a comeback further down the track – so brace yourself for that!” laughs Wilkinson.

Whether it be a planter, new chair or just a small trimming for our gardens, most of us want quality assurance in everything we're buying nowadays, says Ruth Horton of Copper Workx NZ. “Because it's quite common for many imported metal designs to rust within a few months, there's a real drive to support New Zealand-made goods,” she says. “The more serious gardeners are patient and plan their gardens, so they're more inclined to choose a quality product that lasts, rather than an imported product which has a shorter lifespan in our harsh New Zealand climate.”

Garden accessories beyond our cultural roots are also hot on customers' lists, says Horton. “We're seeing a swing towards flowers and bright-coloured birds to be placed in or near the garden – and I suspect the trend for easily maintainable gardens of tussock and flax has people looking more and more for decoration in the form of accessories,” she says. “Kiwiana has hit many gardens hard in recent years in the form of pukekos and tuis, and spiral Maori designs. This is starting to abate a little, with more focus towards contemporary artistic products – although hearts are still making headway in people's minds and gardens.”

A demand for something fresh and revamped is also a trend the OUT DECO team say is crossing into the marketplace. “People want something a little more refreshing, and the market has reacted to this trend with an increasing range of new products. A variety of stores, from gift shops to garden centres, are now selling garden art.

“Kiwi consumers are still wanting New Zealandrelated products – such as kiwis, pukekos and moreporks – but they want quirky and original designs. We've recently designed a range of Kiwi garden art and wall hangings which are proving particularly popular. People are putting them on outdoor fences and walls and also using them as inside features.”

Kiwi for Kiwis is a trend that'll never die, says Fryer. “I believe that most New Zealand consumers like to have New Zealand-made Kiwiana – we find that consumers like to buy something that has a meaning or a theme,” he says. “Firepots are always an interesting addition to the garden for the summer. Not only does the flame create atmosphere, but is also good to keep away the flying pests.”

And it's the soothing atmosphere of a garden that many people are beginning to crave once again, says Horton. “The garden has always been the place to relax to gain a respite from life in the past, and we have hurried ourselves away from this, deciding only to have a couple of pots outside and very little inside due to the extra work involved,” she says. “We have noticed that more people are going back to the garden: toiling with the creation of a vegetable patch, or planting more pots around the house with flowering plants and even swan plants to watch the cycle of life with the monarch butterfly, because they want to recapture some sense of peace in their lives. “

Although contemporary art is increasing, often people like to combine a mix of products, such as birds, flowers, butterflies and water features, to create a fusion of that which makes them smile.”