During the winter we get tired of the cramped and stuffy rooms and, going to the country, we strive to spend as much time as possible in the air. Sunbathe and swim, drink tea in the garden under the Apple trees, arrange friendly gatherings by the fire with kebabs or just take a NAP in a hammock — try not to miss a single bright summer day. Of course, all this can be done just like that, on the grass.
But modern man used to use furniture: it is more convenient for him to sit on special stands-chairs or benches, work or lunch — at the table. And in nature, he strives to surround himself with familiar and comfortable objects.
But furniture usually has many problems: the rain her often not to leave, in the winter need to be stored somewhere. Therefore, stationary garden furniture made of natural materials — turf, stone or concrete — will be an excellent solution: and its function will perform, and decorative addition to the design of the site will be.
Monumental furniture
Stone is a traditional material for garden compositions. Objects made of stone or concrete, used utilitarian — not ordinary furniture, which is easy to change if out of fashion, or just put in the attic and forget.
Stone bench can not be easily moved from place to place without the use of special equipment or at least the efforts of several people. Starting a monumental garden furniture, it is better to think in advance of the overall composition, so that it fits into the design of the site.
Benches and table made of stone can be made in the style of the fence or the house itself, complemented by elements of metal or wood. It is good when utilitarian objects are effectively combined with plants. Most importantly, garden furniture should support a single style of design of the site.
For the manufacture of benches or tables made of stone is not necessary to contact the masters-stone cutters or buy expensive and rare varieties of granite or marble. The natural beauty of the stone lies in a simple cobblestone, a block of limestone or Sandstone. And proposed as an example, options are available for self-realization.
Interesting varieties of garden furniture using natural stone and opens another fashionable trend in landscape design-gabions.
Metal mesh can be filled with any available stones and used as a seat support bench or podstole.
Concrete furniture
Concrete is perceived by many solely as a building material for the Foundation or blind area. But sculptors have long “laid eyes” on this material — plastic as clay, and strong as stone.
Now this material drew attention and designers: more and more fashionable direction is the manufacture of furniture made of concrete. And the garden furniture is just made for him. Do not have to worry that the table or bench will turn over a gust of wind. A special additives that increase the number of cycles of frost resistance of the material, make concrete products resistant to weather loads.
For those who are not too fond of straight lines and chopped silhouettes, the same set can take a slightly different shape, as in the photo below. And if you do not want to mess with the solution, you can take advantage of the proposals of manufacturers that produce semi — finished products in the style of “just add water” – concrete canvas.
The concrete surface can be polished to a mirror state or made textured, painted or left in its original laconic gray color: this material is diverse, it is truly a godsend for designers. And besides: although concrete and artificial material, it is quite suitable for the definition of “eco”, because cement (one of the main components of concrete, in addition to sand) is produced from gypsum, limestone and clay.
Turf – not only the lawn
For the manufacture of garden furniture can be used and materials, at first glance, not intended for furniture business. But this is only at first glance. Furniture made of turf-a piece of furniture under the motto ” No piece of land without greenery!”Just what you need for giving.
Turf benches appeared, probably, at the same time, when the gardens themselves. They were especially popular in the era of regular (formal) gardens.
To arrange a green bench or a sofa, you first need to create a Foundation. Depending on the chosen design and shape, bricks or blocks, boards or poles can serve as a basis.
You can even buy a ready-made frame of corrugated cardboard. Do not worry that over time such a fragile base will get wet and rot. Its task is to give the necessary form. Because in fact turf bench – is an earthen hill with grass, having the form of a sofa or chair.
Then you need to fill the base with soil, pour it well, so that the soil is compacted and tightly filled the frame. Most likely, you will have to add a few more times to the ground.
Once the soil is sufficiently compacted (you make sure that nothing else settles and fails), you can do “upholstery”. Sow the seeds of lawn herbs, pre-mixing them with the ground. Or use the ready-rolled lawn.
Once the grass rises or the lawn is ready to take root and grow together at the seams, you will only have to regularly trim the “pile” on the “upholstery” of your green sofa.
By the way, if you still prefer to sit on something more solid than an earthen mound, inserts of lawn grass can only be used as a decoration. For example, as in these photos — for the decoration of landscape objects of the same stone or concrete.
Tinkering with unusual garden furniture is an exciting and not too financially costly activity. You can bring family and friends to work, and the materials are often right under your feet.
Try your hand at making unique pieces of garden furniture that will decorate your site and become a favorite vacation spot-it’s not difficult!
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