With upward of 2500 hours of sun annually, South Africans arguably do outdoor living best. We look at some of the top players and the newcomers.
As climates go, we really do get to have our cake and eat it here in SA. “Indoor-outdoor flow” could easily be this country’s catchphrase. We have the luxury of capitalising on our outdoor spaces to the degree that we intentionally design for the blurring of indoors with outdoors. From lounge to veranda (or balcony) to garden, the furniture and accessories with which we curate these spaces need to match up to their interior counterparts – not only in aesthetics but in durability too.
Enter performance fabrics, thermal modification, solution dyeing, powder coating and a bevy of remarkable synthetics like all-weather wicker, polypropylene yarns, woven vinyl and composite woods. They’ve been a game-changer in the outdoor industry and have ultimately allowed outdoor and transitional pieces to progress without the limitations of the weather.
We take you through the options, whether lounging, dining or setting the scene.
LOUNGING
We’ve come a long way since the wire hoop chairs (a la John Salterini) of our youth, you need only to look at Haldane Martin’s Hula or Douglas and Douglas’ Woven Dining range (featured below) to prove it.
The outdoor furniture of today comes in an array of vivid colours, is both contemporary and all weather resistant and takes on forms that were previously impossible thanks to material advancements. The fabrics that accompany these pieces are typically high-end acrylics that are solution dyed, UV resistant, water resistant and mold resistant which means you can throw just about anything you like at them.
Asked what her thoughts on the current alfresco aesthetic are, Douglas and Douglas’ Wendy Douglas said: “We’re loving the terra cotta palette right now, whether it be on our metal framed furniture, pot plants or our checkered terra cotta and white flooring. We’re also into designs that nod to the past but are updated with contemporary furniture designs.”
Douglas and Douglas’ Woven collection offers a selection of sofas (available in various configurations) and armchairs ideal for alfresco lounging and built to last.
Douglas and Douglas’ Ananas Collection takes its cue from the pineapple featuring a delicately latticed pattern in powder-coated stainless steel whose appearance belies its sturdy materiality. The range of daybeds, sofas, chairs and loungers is masterfully designed and easy on the eye too.
The Storer’s daybeds are an inextricable link to our North African counterparts and make day napping look like an art form. Built from solid timber, these hand-carved pieces do require overhead shelter but lend a dose of hard-to-find exoticism and antiquity to the outdoor scene.
This wild reinterpretation of the humble rocking chair screams “bold” and “eccentric” and we love it. Douglas and Douglas’ powder coated stainless steel Rumi Rocker has a statement-making form that still offers practicality by way of its overhead rope canopy and marine-grade vinyl sling seat. Our tip? Give it a bit of space to really shine.
Woodenways shows us a more contemporary take on the outdoor sofa with the clean-lined Divine modular outdoor collection by 4 Seasons Outdoor (4SO). Deep seats make this an ultra-comfortable perch, while the solid teak and weather-proofing extras like UV resistant Olefin fabric and mould resistant foam mean it’s built for the outdoors too.
Also available through Woodenways, the 4SO Avila collection is hand-woven from Hularo wicker – the gold standard in synthetic rattan – with a stainless-steel matte anthracite powder-coated frame for optimal strength and durability. We love this collection for its careful blend of elegant curves and lightweight frames.
Just released, Moooi’s new Barani outdoor lounge collection is a harmonious balance between nostalgia and modernity. Created by Italian industrial designer Valerio Sommella, its playful curves take from the elegant swirling motifs of bygone patio furniture, but their restraint hints at a more contemporary, practical expression. Moooi is available locally from Crema.
What would a lazy lunch session be without a gorgeous little drinks cabinet? This version from Douglas & Douglas, named The Alchemist, could just as easily be used for your potting needs and is made from powder-coated stainless steel with reed glass doors and adjustable shelves.
DINING
A big part of any alfresco dining experience is the food preparation, but the social aspect of pulling off a fabulous meal for friends requires you to…well…be social too. Cue outdoor kitchens, the new breed of mobile kitchen for those who like to make their meals among their guests, rather than inside. Here, we showcase two outdoor kitchens that offer style and mobility in equal doses…
Aptly named Buite (outside) Sprung’s mobile kitchen is a neat design with compact proportions. Buite is designed for exposure to our harsh outdoor conditions with a galvanized steel frame, UV stable composite countertop and garapa hardwood shelf. What we love most is the fact that you could just as easily station this indoors as a cool, semi-permanent kitchen solution for a small space. Hook it up to a tap and a gas source and you’re good to go (Photo credit: Henrique Wilding).
Just as compact but with Douglas and Douglas’ telltale love of nostalgia, the Mobile Braai/ Bar Deli features a stainless or mild steel frame in customisable colour UV protection powder coating with a concrete top. The back of the unit conceals a thermo treated ash cupboard unit, mini Jojo tank and fitted wine glass racks. It even has a fitted mini Weber braai. The arched lamp and scalloped façade give it such a sense of whimsy it may as well have been designed for serving sorbet on the beach.
As we were saying earlier, the classic Hoop chair of our youth has been expertly reinvented by Douglas and Douglas in the form of their powder-coated Woven dining chairs. The seats – retailing at R3,950.00 – are made from locally produced, weather-proof recyclable woven fiber-cane and come in a host of delicious shades.
We’re all for the more convivial round dining table as a more intimate version of the rectangle and this one from The Storer paired with their cane chairs is a winner (cane lasts longer if under cover but opt for a polyurethane sealant if you’re concerned about exposure to the elements). The pale wood and metal make for a classic but clean combo while the handcrafted seats (even without cushions) make for an incredibly comfy perch.
Another round dining option, the 4SO Avila collection from Woodenways is more contemporary in style. The dining chairs are made from Hularo wicker, a groundbreaking synthetic rattan that stands up to the elements but also provides ultimate comfort. The chairs retail at R6,530.00.
Moooi’s elegant new Barani outdoor series (featured prior) also includes a dining collection. Featured here are the bistro tables and dining chairs with their understated yet nostalgic curves. Whilst water-repellent cushions and general weather-resistance come standard, the Barani series comes in a choice of three different colours: charcoal, scarlet, and oyster.
SETTING THE SCENE
Now that we’ve covered furniture to withstand (almost) every single weather eventuality, it’s time to style your outdoor space. From hand crafted accessories for your alfresco tablescape to indoor-worthy portable lights and a cool and contemporary firepit, the accessories are just as integral to mood-making as the seating and tables.
The Storer’s love of all things artisanal and handmade is plain to see in their glassware and earthenware offering. To run with this look, we suggest including a mix of honest materials from wood and brass to ceramics, and the more natural imperfections the better. From left to right: Handmade glasses, earthenware jugs and hand-forged brass trays. Locally crafted ceramic tableware in blush pink with Moroccan bowls. Hand-crafted Tamegroute pottery vases fired underground in the Draa river valley in Morocco.
Newport Lighting stocks a variety of rechargeable lights that are just as tempting for indoor use as outdoor use. Charge them up and take them anywhere you please for a warm glow.
The generous handle on these Nordlux Nuru lights reminds us of the classic oil lamp but this contemporary version is way cooler. Place these lights just about anywhere in your garden or on your patio for an instant injection of ambience. The Nuru lights come in grey and copper and retail at R2,610.40 from Newport Lighting.
Trust the Scandinavians to get the design of this everyday item just right. Nordlux’s Sponge collection designed by Says Who offers up table, standing, pendant and ‘spike’ lights with a warm 2700k output and three dimmable options. The portable Spunge light with handle on the left retails at R1,980.58 from Newport Lighting.
We’re here for the flexibility that Nordlux’s Kettle lights offer. Hang yours in a tree, place it on the table or add a spike or tripod base to turn it into a table or floor lamp. Prices start at R1,980.58 from Newport Lighting.
Why a contemporary and clean-lined firepit is so hard to source is anybody’s guess, which is why this one from Sprung’s hits the nail on the head. Choose from the round or square design with an optional garapa hardwood top which doubles up as a low table. Priced from R5,525.00 depending on the size and shape (Photo credit: Henrique Wilding).
Rugs add instant warmth (both physically and psychologically) to a space and the veranda or balcony is one place where this has always lacked. Since the advent of synthetic rugs for outdoor use, there’s been no looking back.
Made from polypropylene, a polymer fiber that gets woven just like any natural fiber, these rugs don’t fade when exposed to the sun and they’re water-resistant to boot. “Outdoor rugs have found their place inside the homes of busy families too. They are spill and stain-resistant, as well as pet friendly and feel as soft as a pure wool flatweave rug,” says Sarah Craig, owner of Herringbone Rugs.
Don’t be fooled by their appearance, these Herringbone Rugs are handwoven from 100% polypropylene and are every bit as soft as they look. “Colour and striking pattern have made a return,” adds Sarah of the current trends. Available in an array of colours beyond what is pictured here and priced between R1,600.00 and R1,750.00 per square metre.
