summer time for exterior decorating

MAKE AN ENTRANCE

Walls painted in Shirting Masonry paint, £50 for 5L, Little Greene

White exterior walls look beautifully smart with foliage and plants. 

Yellow 322, £17.25 a kg (plus VAT),
Keim Mineral Paints

‘I used this earthy yellow on a wall in a garden I designed for the Chelsea Flower Show in 2011. It harmonised with the Cotswold drystone walling and helped accentuate the yellow in the planting palette. I wanted a modern colour to contrast with the traditional elements of the garden. I like the dynamic between old and new – it gives a garden a sense of timelessness.’ Cleve West Garden Designer

Shirting masonry paint, £50 for 5L,
Little Greene

‘The longer I design, the more I
realise that light in the garden,
both natural and artificial, is one
of the most important things to
consider. Paint the walls
surrounding a patio white and
you instantly increase the light
levels outside, as well as inside
the house. Anything looks good
grown against white walls – from
clean, green lines of low box
hedging to tall, vibrant verbenas.’ 
Caroline Tilston, 
Garden Designer