AWNING GLORY

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Aug 13, 2006

RATHER than fly all the way to Spain for her hen weekend, Lynda Watts turned her dreary North London back garden into a colourful Moorish veranda. "So many of my friends seemed to fly abroad for their hen weekends," says Lynda, 37. "But it seemed like too much hassle to me. Instead, I decided to spend the time I would have wasted hanging around at airports transforming my muchneglected garden into my own slice of Spain. Then I invited all my girlfriends over for a day - and night - of sangria and tapas."

BEFORE

Colourless and dominated by a wall... unrecognisable as the party setting below

WALLS

To liven up the walls, Lynda draped small striped rugs and a flamenco dress over the screens.

Rugs from a selection at Ikea (0845 355 1141)

TOP TABLE

Lynda placed a mosaic tabletop on two upturned large terracotta pots.

Mosaic tabletop, pounds 195, Talisman Trading (020 8896 1717).

STEPS

Lynda transformed the steps up to the patio with mosaic tiles. A vivid runner leading from the mosaic steps to the veranda further enhances the Mediterranean holiday atmosphere. Hot pink bougainvillaea in terracotta pots completes the look. Mosaic tiles, pounds 5 for a mixed bag, Mosaic Workshop (020 7272 2446). Pots from a selection, Classic Terracotta (020 8505 9503).

DECOR

A flamenco dress adds a touch of fun, from El Mundo Flamenco (020 7493 0033).

SEATING

In the cool shade of the gazebo, Lynda disguised plain garden benches with colourful fabrics, boldly patterned cushions and small embroidered cushions for easy lounging. A kilim rug was laid on the floor with additional cushions to make the area even more welcoming. Provence bench and table set, pounds 198.73, B&Q (0845 222 1000). Fabrics on benches and cushions from Malabar (020 7501 0094). Small embroidered cushions, and kilim, Ikea (0845 355 1141).

FINISHING TOUCHES

Fans at the top of each gazebo post add a flirtatious touch, contrasting with a religious tile and rosaries.

Fans, El Mundo Flamenco (020 7493 0033). Lantern, pounds 75, Talisman Trading (020 8896 1717)

SCREENING

To get the fiesta started, Lynda fitted a traditional garden gazebo over the patio and concealed the existing walls with bamboo and reed screens. She fixed a canopy made from lengths of striped voile sewn together over the top.

For similar gazebo and screening, try B&Q (0845 222 1000.) Striped voile as canopy, from pounds 19.90 per metre, Malabar (020 7501 0094).

PARTY PIECES

To really liven up the party atmosphere, Lynda added a guitar, Cordoba hat and castanets All El Mundo Flamenco (020 7493 0033