PETER

Back again to bring you the latest Interior Design chat and how can we talk Summer interiors without talking about Picnicware! Personally I’m not a fan of the age old ‘picnic’ look. You know the four basic colour options you had growing up, where each member of the family picked a colour that they used each time they were resurrected and stuck with that choice for life (I was always forced to use Pink… go figure!).

For me when I’m dining outdoors I still want the elegance of indoors. Sure, eating outdoors is often less serious and a chance to have fun, but it doesn’t mean eating off of starfish plates! Ive been particularly excited with ‘ceramic imitation’ picnicware, especially this white set by The White Company. In this Melamine set each piece has a dimpled texture, an organic edge and every plate feels hand crafted. The same consideration runs through their imitation glassware, made from Triton it is BPA free and has the look of true glass. Its a little pricey at £10 for just one plate, but for those who use their garden a lot it could be a set worth purchasing. Marks & Spencer have an equally deceptive set of picnicware with their ‘Linen Reactive’ range. Again, It features an organic edge but this time a glaze finish often seen on ceramics with a natural crackled texture. Dishwasher safe and currently £15 for 4 plates, it might be the more budget friendly option. Ive yet to be convinced when it comes to reusable outdoor cutlery, but why not mix your everyday metal tableware along with your picnic plates to reduce the risk of breakages and wow your guests with the luxurious outdoor setting!

A top tip for me is to get creative with serving food outdoors: use chopping boards for serving bread rolls, casserole dishes for side salads and crème brûlée ramekins for sauces or nibbles.

You don’t need to buy an abundance of picnicware and it gives a more homely feel.

Speaking of buying, like many other aspects of interior design companies are understanding our purchase patterns and that we have higher expectations than ever when it comes to design. We dont want garden furniture and accessories to look plastic & cheap and accept that’s just ‘how things are’. When it comes to sofa sets we want padding and comfort, when it comes to solar lighting we want to be able to see our friends who are more than 3 feet away from us and when it comes to outdoor rugs we want them to look great, feel great and in some cases we want them to function both indoor and out. We want rugs that can withstand the pressures of the UK & Ireland ’Summer’ weather and look great while they work. Im always one to support local and Kukoon Rugs, a Northern Irish born company, have a great range of outdoor options from Scandi Berber designs, Modern Geometrics and my personal favourite the Classic Distressed Rubus rug. Having a morning cup of coffee or an evening glass of wine just feels better when you dont have dirt at your feet. Some of these rugs are so elevated they would even work great indoors for those who have pets or young kids prone to spills or parties that get out of hand and find the struggle of keeping the fabric clean all too much to bear. The low pile weave is a lot easier to remove pet hair and walked in dirt from when cleaning.

Lastly on the topic of Summer, do any of you consider the place you spend one third of your day in, your bed, and how you can make it work better for you? Ive always been a lover of 100% Linen bedding, NOT because I’m the type of person who usually finds themselves falling in love with the most expensive option… that is true, but I love it because I genuinely am an advocate for all the positives it has! Ok, so it’s an investment, it’s more expensive than Cotton, but Linen isn’t just a warm weather fabric as most would believe. Linen is temperature-regulating. It’s breathable, which is why it is commonly considered a must have in Summer but it can also trap air and keep you warm in Winter! Linen is sustainable and has natural antimicrobial properties that help prevent bacteria growth, keep it feeling fresher for longer. Speaking of lasting longer in the bedroom (oi cheeky!) it is a roughly 30% more durable fabric than cotton meaning its a better investment and the best bit - it gets softer with every wash! It’s the dream fabric. You can also cheat the first few months by buying a “Washed Linen” option (even more expensive) or simply play the waiting game and have even better bedding to look forward to over time. With more companies investing in Linen options the fabric that once came in only White / Neutral shades now comes all year round in Black, Deep Green, Grey, Yellow, choose a colour that will work for all seasons in your home and enjoy the benefits not just in Summer but all year round!

The year for me so far has been all about prepping for Season 2 of The Salvage Squad. It’s seriously taking between 5-6 months active work to make 6 hours of footage, which is crazy when you consider how much television is out there for us to binge! For the past few weeks I’ve been sourcing preloved items for the episodes, meeting families and now it’s time for the first makeovers to happen! Time to get stuck in, rip things out, reuse them elsewhere and bring old things in! I always get nervous we won’t finish in 2 days, the struggle is REAL i can tell you! I can’t give anything away about the designs but i promise there is inspiration aplenty! Wish me luck! I’m wishing my year away for the date you can all tune in!

Hope you’ve enjoyed this column and catch me on Instagram @TheWhiteHome Peter

Please note, this column is the opinion of the columinst and not that of GNI or Romeo & Julian Publiccations Ltd.