The veranda at Hope Hill

The Veranda at Hope Hill

One of my favourite spaces in the entire house, this is where we like to relax and entertain.

• The connectivity between rooms is really important. At Hope Hill, I've created an easy journey through the drawing room and out onto the veranda by creating a corridor through the space that's free of furniture.

• It's a good idea to use one material consistently in an outdoor space to give it friendliness. On this veranda, I chose rattan and gave each piece a coat of paint in the same Messel green for a cohesive look.

• Try to create a central focal point like I have with the Bougainvillaea-filled pendant and central ottoman.

• Zone the space to create different areas of seating for different occasions or times of the day.

• Mirrors are great for bouncing light around the space, and giving brightness to darker corners. They also offer pretty reflections on what would otherwise be a blank wall.

• If you have a tight and narrow garden or terrace, think about adjusting the doors to be in-swinging or bi-folding so as not to eat into the square footage outside.

• Don't be too precious about only using furniture that's intended for outside. The beauty of rattan is that it's inexpensive and can be repainted when it starts to look a little tired.

• Candlelight provides a magical atmosphere and I love to use lots of lanterns in an outdoor scheme.