Sea breezes, azure seas and sandy shores — there’s no place like home
Long to feel like you’re on holiday every time you come home? Who doesn’t! Turning your backyard into your favourite relaxation destination could be the next best thing to taking a vacation.
While copying international, particularly European, styles is nothing new, focusing on your favourite holiday destination does narrow it down for you. Wherever your preferred exotic escape, with a little imagination you can recreate it in your own space and at least pretend you’re sitting on the beach in the Mediterranean.
Rather be relaxing poolside on the French Riviera? Think soft turquoise blues, natural linen and a striped umbrella to keep you cool poolside. Want to dine under the stars in Tuscany? You’ll need a vine-covered pergola and a wealth of terracotta with wrought iron accents to go with your grappa. Looking to top off your tapas in Barcelona? Go for tailored lines and navy splashes against earthy stone and a drought-tolerant landscape. If the Greek isles are more your thing, think plenty of crisp white — everywhere.
Using photos of your holiday haven is a good way to gain inspiration and give you a blueprint for faking it in your own space. If the idea of overhauling your backyard to create the perfect paradise seems a little overwhelming, think smaller. You don’t have to repave the patio or construct a colosseum to give your alfresco zone a little international flavour, you can easily achieve the look you’re after with some new furniture and a few accents. Scatter some cushions, hang some raffia or plant a cactus and get to dreaming of faraway places.
1 Golden sunlight that washes everything pink, and crisp white linen with weathered timber accents — can you say Italian Riviera? ozdesignfurniture.com.au 2 Nothing says tropical holiday getaway to steamy climes quite like verdant greenery, modern architecture and an abundance of white. luigirosselli.com 3 Sleek and simple in a monochromatic palette with minimalist décor screams modern Greek islands. Christos, my cocktail, if you please. cocorepublic.com.au 4 A little natural cane mixed with crisp textured linen transports you to the sandy beaches of the French Riviera — sans striped umbrella. coshliving.com.au