Stylish verandah living

Archana Jahagirdar checks out the latest in outdoors furniture and accessories that you can equip your home with

Winter is finally turning into spring. With the trees flowering, the sunlight still gentle enough to encourage most to sit out during the day and the evenings warm enough to be enjoyed, the time is right to change that old and slightly tatty furniture that finds its place in most outdoor spaces in Indian homes.

Says designer Mike Knowles, known for his avant-garde furniture, "Indians are now enjoying the outdoors more. They are willing to let the outdoors into their indoors. Technology has also helped with things like the mist fan. It has made it possible to be outside for a longer time than just during the winter months."

This shift in attitude has lead to interiors and furniture designers now taking note and introducing al fresco furniture in their collections.

Designer Raseel Gujral and her husband and partner Navin Ansal have introduced a range of furniture and accessories, aptly titled Sorbet, as an ode to verandah living. In lush colours borrowed from fruits like kiwi, strawberry, grape, cherry, the furniture "" made primarily from Burma teak "" is meant for both the indoors and the outdoors.

Says Gujral, "This line is about mood. You can place this furniture indoors or outdoors depending on whether you want to take the al fresco mood into the home."

Also, people with holiday homes near the sea or the hills can do well with such furniture. Adds Knowles, "People are now happy to cook outside as well."

Though the wood of choice for Gujral's collection is Burma teak, Knowles, whose look for the outdoors is more woodsy with some stainless steel detail, says that sal works well too since "it loves water".

Other materials that he favours are sheesham and jamun woods. Pointing out another trend, Knowles says, "Arbor beds are also big right now in the Far East."

But be it the bright colours of Sorbet or the straight lines of garden furniture designed by Knowles, another trend that has caught the fancy of the swish set comprises tents and garden umberallas.

Sorbet tries to cater to this sudden interest by giving the humble garden umbrella a touch of posh with brocade detail on the inside and making it water proof. Apart from homes, tents are also finding favour with restaurateurs like Ramola Bachchan whose soon-to-be-opened restaurant in Delhi has a tented area designed by Knowles.

He says, "Right now, we are doing four terraces and people are now willing to spend money on this area even though I have to add, it need not be expensive."

Benches, arbor beds, a full sofa set, quirky chairs, tents, garden umbrellas "" there is a lot you can choose from if you want a happy-looking terrace or garden and want to use the space to entertain too.