Outdoor Ease

A convivial, contemporary outdoor lounging area is essential, not least because both family members and visiting friends always seem to gravitate naturally towards them. Here are 10 enviable al fresco lounges from which to take some inspiration

- ROBYN ALEXANDER

Tip

The seat pads and scatter cushions were upholstered in Tibi Soft linen from Yutes (yutes.com), while the vintage wooden chair and table were both purchased by the homeowners at flea markets on the island.

Classic Chic 

Pergola-covered and with a river-stone floor, this enviable patio is part of a holiday property on the Balearic island of Mallorca. The pergola itself is supported by plastered masonry pillars, with a forged iron top frame and cross wires covered with bamboo and a salvaged mature grapevine. The builtin seating was added during the home's recent renovation: 'Small spaces always feel bigger with in-built seating arrangements,' says designer Oro del Negro of More Design (moredesign.es).

Keep It Country

Asked about the charming mix of vintage and reclaimed pieces that characterise their contemporary home in the Cape Winelands - including this romantic veranda - the homeowners say: 'We don't find them; they find us. They are mostly passed-on heirlooms and junk-shop or reclamation-yard finds. The collection of blue and white plates that hang on the wall here, for example, belonged to one of the owners' mothers.

Tip

This is a look that can't be forced, and takes some skill to put together in order to create a similarly dreamy and effortless feel. Start with key pieces - an eyecatching vintage rattan chair, or a collection of vintage china - and build the rest of the look around them.

Stone Cool