REAL garden

Creative projects

‘I’m particularly proud of the pallet seating, because of its simplicity and because it meant I could indulge one of my passions – upcycling. It’s simply a pallet pushed against a wall, which creates a natural low seating area. I bought some wood preserver to protect the timber and secured the slats in place before creating a seat pad for the top. I used an old sofa cushion we had for the base, which I covered in a tablecloth, then piled on carefully chosen scatter cushions.’

Favourite finds

‘Mum and I took a lot of the same inspiration from Marrakesh, but there were distinct ideas that we each wanted to incorporate. For me it was the lanterns. Hanging from trees and trailing up the industrial steps, they create a sanctuary of light as the day turns into night. My mum’s favourite are the small-scale mirrors that add interest to the fence. Styling and creating a successful outdoor space is all about layering. Different layers of colour, experiences, memories, textures and materials all come into play for the perfect final piece.’

Power of plants

‘The mature ivy growing over the fence from next door make a green “roof” to the pallet seating area. Our large red robin tree came in handy to hang lanterns from, plus it gives colour all year round. Potted hydrangeas aren’t native to Morocco but grow well in this space in the shade, and the white blooms give a neutral backdrop to the vibrant scheme. Indoor palms here and there add instant height to the courtyard. We take them in during the winter months as they wouldn’t survive in the cold. Succulents are the plant of hot, desert climates so were an important choice for us here. They come in such varied shapes and sizes, they can’t fail to add interest.’