A closer look at garden gazebos
From BBQs to birthday parties, from music concerts to family meal times, everything is better when it can happen outside! The children can run barefoot on the grass, and we can all enjoy the sun on our faces. However, whether you need to shade from the sun or hide from the rain, a gazebo will always make an outdoor gathering a little more weather proof.
Gazebos are picturesque structures set outside, usually in parks or other public spaces, and often octagonal or turret-shaped. Amazingly, they have been around for several millennia, having been traced back to some of the earliest gardens in existence. They are mentioned in the early literature of China and Persia, and were common in Egyptian gardens of some 5,000 years ago. Some Egyptian royalty even considered their gazebos to be earthly paradises, which they wished to take to the afterlife with them.
Some of the early Persian gazebos were very opulent structures, boasting two floors, marble columns and even streams running through them to keep them cool. Impressive stuff! France and England joined in the gazebo craze in the 14th and 15th centuries. Famous British gazebos include those at Montacute House in Somerset, and Eton Hill in Nottinghamshire, both of which are worth a visit.
Of course, gazebos look great in private gardens as well as public spaces, and there’s a wide range of high quality, gorgeous gazebos to suit all price ranges available from Metal Design Furniture.
The Paris Gazebo is a particularly luxurious and elegant piece, which has the option to include a stylish wooden bench. Or if you’re tastes are a little simpler, why not go for the simple Classico Pergola, which you could use to create a green, growing roof over your garden. Whatever your tastes, there’s a Metal Design Furniture gazebo for you.
Colin Crabbe’s custom-made metal gazebo
It’s really nice when we manage to help someone with their vision for their home and garden, so this week we’d like to share some details about another one of our projects.
We were delighted when Colin Crabbe; world renowned collector and dealer of rare classic cars, contacted us for about producing a swim-spa enclosure.
Formula 1 fans of you may remember Colin’s company, Antique Automobiles, which made their Formula 1 debut as private entrants at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1969. Their driver Vic Elford raced an ex-works Mclaren M7A and a Cooper Maserati. In the company’s second season, Swedish driver Ronnie Peterson raced a March 701, achi
eving 7th place.
Colin also sourced and raced a pre-war Mercedes Grand Prix W125 – a story you can read in an interview featured in Classic Driver Magazine. Probably hidden by the Russians, the car was retrieved from East German/Polish border where it had been since 1945. Crabbe went on to win the Seaman Trophy at Oulton Park in 1971.
When the Crabbe family contacted us about an enclosure for their garden swim spa/hydro pool we were more than happy to help.
For the family, privacy was important
so we customised our Romano metal gazebo to their exact requirements. The 3m x 5.6m gazebo fits perfectly over their spa, giving them extra privacy and shelter from the elements.
Looking stunning in situ, the gazebo allows complete privacy with the use of curtains to create a fully enclosed area. This is also ideal for extending the use of the spa into the autumn and even winter months.
Regular readers may also remember the project we did for the Grims Dyke Hotel; the same elegant metal gazebo model was customised and used to create an outdoor breakfast area for their guests and sheltered space for events.
If you have bespoke requirements for a gazebo, pergola, Metal Design Furniture can help. Contact us with your vision and we’ll discuss how to make your individual project come true.
How to Fix our Metal Gazebos and Pergolas into the Ground
Metal Design Furniture offer a range of stunning metal gazebos and pergolas, with bespoke, size, colour and finishing options. One of the most common questions we’re asked is – how are they fixed to the ground?
Fixing your gazebo to the ground means that it’s secure enough to withstand anything, even if you live in a windy area. How to secure the structure depends on the surface you wish to fix it to. It can be done in 2 ways, depending whether you are placing the structure on hard or soft ground.
Hard Surface Install
The legs are screwed into the ground (see the picture opposite of a leg with the surface mount socket attached). When you buy, we will provide you with all the fixings you need, this may be special fixing pins or bolts for a concrete surface. It is best to inform us of your ground’s material when you place your order, we’re here to help you every step of the way, until your completely satisfied with your new metal gazebo.
Soft Surface Install
This may be grass, sand or other soft surfaces. You need to inform us where you wish to install as for soft surfaces, we make the legs 30cm longer. This enables you to install the structure directly in the ground. The legs can then be inserted into holes in the ground and concreted into place for extra security. A layer of grass or sand can then be placed on the top to keep it looking neat.
If you’d like to know more about building a gazebo visit our YouTube Channel – metal design furniture You’ll see 2 videos on which show the professional installation of our Paris Gazebo in 15 Easy Steps and our Romano Metal Gazebo – a full 8 minutes showing the entire process.
These will show you exactly what’s involved if you’re thinking of doing it yourself. Although, if you order your gazebo with us before the 15th April we’re offering free installation, that’s a saving of £300. Don’t miss out – now’s the time to buy!
Garden Series II: How to – Chill-out Miami Style
Design Considerations
Shelter – For use all year round, your chill-out space needs shelter from the elements. Consider metal gazebos or wooden pergolas with a roof. A large patio umbrella will do, just make sure you get something that’s sturdy enough to withstand windy and stormy weather. If you have a courtyard garden, it’s much easier, you’ve already got a sheltered structure, just create a roof for a totally enclosed room.
Heating – Obviously in the UK, we don’t have that Florida sunshine. To get maximum use from your space, so you can extend its use right into October or late into the night, some form of heating is a must. Ironically you’ll never be able to chill out when it starts to get colder!
The Essentials
Bold Tropical Colours – Go for bold colours which fit with the tropical theme. Or choose sunny pastels to reflect Miami art-décor. Vivid flamingo pink and bright orange flowers, with amazon Green cushion covers. Or sun, sand, s
ea and surf pastel shades for a beach vibe.
Soft Furnishings – Your soft furnishings are important in this design to get that lounge area vibe. Try to use a variety of materials, with natural looking textures. Use scatter cushions, throws and blankets to make it ultra-comfy and curtain off for more privacy.
Low Level Seating – The key to a relaxed space is to choose low level seating. L-shaped sofas are great allowing you to lie out in complete comfort. Low level wooden benches will work great too. Use a more informal arrangement for a casual, relaxed look.
Planting List
The tropical plants and palms are seen all over Miami. But you’ll need plants that are hardy enough to survive the UK climate. Some potted specimens with bright, tropical blooms will look great and can be moved inside in the winter months.
Cycad – These look like palms but are actually conifer type plants; they’re hardy and perfect for your borders.
Succulents – Are another must, great for dry soil and gravelled areas.
Cannas – Part of the banana family, with exquisite bright red flowers.
Hibiscus flowers – These are a useful in this type of garden as they don’t require full sun. Do your research when looking for plants and choose varieties that like partial shade.
Passiflora – Passion Flower – the exotic blooms will make a great feature. They’re easy to grow and frost hardy.
Accessories
Loungers – a contemporary metal lounger will look fantastic in this space. If you don’t have the room; position in a sunny area of the garden as a continuation of your theme.
Outdoor Rug – will feel great underneath your feet, allowing you to kick your shoes off and relax. Artificial grass style rugs are practical, they’re soft and just wipe clean. These days you can get them in a variety of different colours.
Lanterns –use lanterns and candles in a variety of colours, perfect for relaxing late into the evening.
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