Q&A Francis Sultana

The designer gives us an exclusive insight into the creation of his Chatterley outdoor furniture

What was your inspiration for this new sculptural collection?

The collection was inspired by a romantic interpretation of the woods around my countryside house, the Hunting Lodge in Hampshire, U.K. I am influenced by fairy tales, which were also a huge inspiration for me in the overall design.

How long did it take you to develop?

I do the actual designing quite fast—in about a month. But making models and getting ready for production takes around three months. That said, I have been thinking about this collection for a long time as I really wanted to design an indoor–outdoor collection, especially since my recent work for the iconic hotel La Palma, Capri, which has had a lot of indoor–outdoor furniture.

Which was the first piece?

The Henry chair was the first piece and it led me on the journey for the rest of the collection.

What’s the secret to getting outdoor furniture right?

It’s all about practicality—knowing what you need: tables, comfy chairs… and understanding the main requirements for outdoor furniture, which is to help you relax and to provide chic and comfortable places for eating.

Are you a fan of alfresco dining?

I always eat outside in summer months if I can. I mean, why would you be indoors if you had the choice? francissultana.com

Marrakech express

FOR ITS 2023 collections, outdoor furniture specialist Ethimo looked to Morocco for inspiration: “The vibrant atmosphere of Marrakech, amid the colors and sensory opulence of hidden gardens, the linearity of contemporary architecture interwoven with the brilliant nuances of ancient buildings, the intense colors of the desert…” Along with sculptural tables and chairs and outdoor lighting, Ethimo has launched Bulbi, a collection of concrete outdoor vases created with Studiopepe. The collection comprises six roughtextured vases in different shapes and sizes, each hand-finished by artisans. ethimo.com

Flower power

LAUNCHED IN 1972, the Interflora World Cup has taken place in cities including Melbourne, Shanghai, and Philadelphia. Finalists from 25 countries create incredible floral sculptures, but until last year, the competition was only for industry insiders. The 2023 three-day event, taking in place in Manchester, England, on September 7-9, will be open to the public and tickets are now on sale. Florists will compete in six heats over three days, working under strict time conditions ahead of the grand final. Interflora’s director of florist services, Nick Priest, says: “The World Cup will be a real spectacle and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see floral designers at the top of their game at work. They will be creating complete works of art on an impressive scale and our tasks will provide the ultimate test of nerve and skill.” interflora.co.uk

Soak it all in

“IMMERSIVE OUTDOOR LIVING products that intersect good design, human experience, and nature,” is how Canadian company Goodland describes its wood-fired hot tubs, which are inspired by Japanese bathing culture and a love of being outside. Founded by furniture maker and designer Craig Pearce, Goodland launched in fall 2021 with hot tubs that are made from 100 percent recyclable materials including western red cedar and marine-grade aluminum, and that are a million miles away from the plastic, LED-lit, swirling-water tubs of the ’90s and ’00s. Take-up for his wooden baths has surprised Pearce: “Not only are people buying tubs but customers are claiming it has changed their lives—it’s like we’re building a community of authentic bathing fanatics, and I love it. It’s been an exciting time and a challenge for our small team, but we’re all here putting in the work with a smile on our faces.” hellogoodland.com

Clever buoy

BARCELONA’S MAGONIS IS quietly reshaping the world of water transport with a range of innovative features and projects. The new Wave e-550 for example, the company’s 5.5-meter (18 ft) bowrider day cruiser. Its standard equipment includes a dolphin striker and anchor, a telescopic bathing ladder, platforms, and a full teak deck. There are plenty of optional features, too, including a refrigerator, shower, anti-theft device, and the new foldable and flexible solar awning, which can charge the boat with up to 1kWh. Another new way to charge your electric boat (whatever the brand) is with one of Magonis’s latest releases—the MAGBuoy. The world’s first charging buoy, it is equipped with a built-in battery and receives energy from an underwater cable that connects it to a city’s electrical grid. To charge their vessel, users pull up close to the buoy and plug its cable into their charging port. magonisboats.com

Bentley bespoke

BENTLEY RECENTLY REVEALED that orders for its cars with bespoke content have increased fivefold since 2018. If you are planning on commissioning a marque this year you’ll be in safe hands with Bentley’s Mulliner design team, which created 500 unique vehicles for customers around the world in 2022. Completed projects included a Continental GT commissioned by Bentley Tampa Bay—its blue, yellow, and white paintwork was inspired by the blue marlin, one of the world’s fastest fish—and a Continental GT Convertible commissioned by Bentley Naples in Florida, which has 22-inch (55.8 cm) speed wheels in gloss black that contrast perfectly with the car’s white exterior. The 500th Mulliner commission is destined for a U.K. customer and will be customized to showcase Spark, a new blue exterior color. bentleymotors.com

Best in tent

PORSCHE OWNERS WHO hear the call of the wild this summer should answer it by packing their new roof tent from Porsche Tequipment before hitting the road. The clever piece of kit was designed to transform the sports car into a hotel room for nature lovers, and was developed at the Weissach Development Center, “the birthplace of all Porsche models.” The tent has an exclusive hardcase design available in black/light gray and black/dark gray and can easily be installed on the roof transport systems of the 911, Macan, Cayenne, Panamera, and Taycan—both with and without roof rails. Once opened up, the all-season, two-person tent has floor space of 83 x 51 inches (210 x 130 cm) and comes with an integrated high-density polyform mattress, two side windows, and a roof window as standard. More accessories will be added to the offering this year, including an inner tent, a heated blanket, and a shoe and bag organizer. porsche.com