ROPING US IN
It’s not difficult to be strung along and roped in by this new trend. The advantages are obvious. All-weather outdoor furniture is the aim after all. We’re talking rope-woven outdoor furniture. The gorgeous natural fibre look nestles so well with the current organic trend. Weave this natural-looking fibre onto a powder-coated aluminium frame, and you have a winner. Woven rope has countless advantages and is easy to keep. Being UV resistant with stain guard treatments, and an ability to dry quickly, rope has become a logical choice. The Gianni dining armchair and barstools highlight the beauty and lightness created when using rope.
The Como dining armchair will do well in smaller spaces as it gives the illusion of a larger space. The transparent weave allows light to pass through unimpeded, making the area feel open and less cluttered. Although polypropylene is a manufactured fibre, the look and feel are akin to natural materials but without any of their disadvantages. Thinking of changing to the rope revolution, then here are various tasty tips for styling and keeping this trendy look.
Don’t be hesitant to mix and match. Rope is available in an array of colours that lean into your design. Mix natural fibres like wicker, wool and wood with it. If you keep your rope colours to the natural and neutral it will allow brighter accent colours to shine. Layer your space with rugs, woollen throws, mirrors, scatters and well-positioned lighting and you will create a space that leaves an enduring impact on your guests.
IT’S TRUE LOVE
Working at Plaisir du Jardin we are exposed to a myriad of designs, colours, textures and shapes. We love to highlight our favourites and although we might not all agree on the same items, we completely agree that they are all great products worthy of attention.
But what makes these products great?
We are all individuals and look for different qualities in the products we love. So is there a universal thought process that goes into finding a high-quality product, or common elements that resonate with most people when confronted with a new product?
Apparently, there is!
On the left are our great products for the month. We will reveal what criteria we used to categorise these quality finds.
The science behind our choices:
This was a fun and interesting exercise, letting us explore conscientiously what we look for in a prime product and what appeals most to our different situations and lifestyles.
- Luxembourg – A best seller, aesthetically pleasing, practical and hard-wearing. It’s an elegant solution to a seating problem.
- Hammock – It improves your life; it sparks emotions and puts a smile on the face. It’s a great addition to building a healthy lifestyle and balancing work and play.
- Bollekie Lamp – It provides substantial value and makes you depend on it in your day-to-day life. It makes sense and it looks good.
- Attackle Bench – It evokes emotions, I bet you didn’t even know you wanted a giant poodle as a bench in your garden. Now you’ve seen it, how are you supposed to live without it.
- Synergy Lamps – It effortlessly provides a need. It combines form and function. It sparks people’s interest. It exceeds expectations and performs well.
- Bebop & Colour Mix – They both improve your life and make things easier. These products cause you to love them, want to buy them and tell all your friends about them.
So next time you meet an item that conjures up any of these emotions in you, know that you have just stumbled across an excellent product.
FRENCH CHARM
With the Olympics currently playing out in Paris, we thought we would highlight a scattering of the most iconic furniture designs to come out of France. Those lucky enough to be in Paris now will glimpse these iconic designs around the city, in restaurants, parks and street-side cafés.
French design is synonymous with an elegance that embraces classic and historical elements, modern sensibility, and effortless comfort. With a background palette of whites, greys and creams that create a calm and sophisticated feel, French design lends itself to the addition of rich colours, and luxurious fabrics.
And when we talk of French gardens, we think of borders, walkways, topiary trees in gorgeous pots, wicker chairs, colourful bistro sets and benches tucked away in the foliage.
At Plaisir du Jardin we love our French-Belgian Heritage and pride ourselves on keeping a choice of the world's most beloved French icons. French effortless charm has never been so easy to achieve. Modern elements mixed with old, wood with mirrors and steel and all the while drawing you in to the warmth of relaxed design.
Here is a sample of our most iconic products to help you create your own slice of “French Charm.” Up-cycle that Teak Table, make new cushions for your dining chairs or paint that garden bench. Tuck a Bistro set into a secluded corner, trim those beds back and plant a handful of borders.
Vivre la vie.
Anduze Handmade Pottery
Anduze Handmade pottery needs no introduction and is a product Plaisir du Jardin have been promoting for decades. The pottery workshop is in the south of France, in Anduze Occitanie. The craftsmen produce vases with the greatest respect for traditions. They perpetuate the tradition of the Anduze vase, which is over 400 years old, and promote French know-how throughout the world.
Bistro Sets
This Iconic Chair has been gracing French cafes and bistros since the 1800’s. The Bistro Set is traditionally a small table with 2 chairs, it’s purpose - to create an intimate setting for a quick morning coffee or sundowners and canapés.
Macau Dining Armchair
Wicker goes so well with a French style and has oodles of charm. The only drawback is that natural wicker doesn’t fare too well in the harsh sun and rain. That is where our Macau Armchair comes into its own. Made of manufactured fibre and quite happy to spend its time outdoors, Macau will last for years. Pair it with a reclaimed Teak table and your “French Charm” theme is sure to work.
GET RID OF THE RULES
Earlier this year we introduced some colour trends for 2024, and the overriding message was clear, colour, colour and more colour. Decorators suggest we shrug off the grey and start to have fun with colour palettes again.
"Colour is a language and as such plays an elemental role in personal self-expression," says Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Colour Institute “Some will be turning to bold colours, but others will be looking to softer neutrals and calming pastels. There are no rules, it is really about how one feels on any given day and what resonates at the moment."
As we are not all design experts, and sometimes find it hard to imagine using all these wonderful colours together in a harmonious way, we have turned to nature for help.
For example, a gorgeous cluster of Yarrow plants shows an array of 2024 most popular bright colours. Nature embraces these shades of pink, orange, peach, yellow and green. These colours can be fun or sophisticated and lean to the warm side of the colour spectrum, without being dark or gloomy. They will work perfectly both indoors and out.
If you are not too sure about trying this palette on a grand scale, why not start with a smaller space first? Get hold of the home office and personalise it in these stimulating colours first. You can make an enormous impact in a small area, and what a wonderful backdrop for a conference call.
If you lean more to the daring side, then take 2024 favourite colours and ramp them up.
Add shades of blue to the mix and suddenly these bright colours take on a richness and sophistication. Shades of orange and pink will play off particularly well on a background of blue.
And remember
We are no longer bound by rules!
We would love to hear from you, so if you have any queries or projects we can assist you with please contact us.
BRYANSTON: 30 Kildoon Rd, Johannesberg. Tel: 011-706 6655 bryanston@plaisirdujardin.co.za
CONSTANTIA: 1 Spaanschemat River Rd, Cape Town. Tel: 021-794 4449 capetown@plaisirdujardin.co.za