The Very British Edit: British Gardens Have Always Been Designed to Be Looked At. American Gardens Have Been Made for Living In. This Summer, Everything’s Changed

The Opening Note

As a Brit, it’s impossible to be fully immersed in the holiday weekend the US has just celebrated without making observations. My American friends and colleagues decorate outdoors in a way that simply wouldn’t occur to the British, with porches and yards, front and back, decked out in red, white, and blue – something we’d barely consider, even for a Coronation.

It speaks not just to patriotism, but to the way Americans inhabit their outdoor spaces. You expect to linger on the porch, seat 20 for a backyard dinner, or host pool parties. We expect rain to stop play. Our time in the garden is usually fleeting; our gardens are spaces to be admired through rain-flecked windows rather than treated as another room to be enjoyed and used.

The result? Your outdoor furniture and decor are confident in its starring role – bold stripes, earthy West Coast tones, crisp Hamptons blues, Miami pinks. Ours – pretty florals, subtle stripes, and plenty of teak and woven materials – has traditionally played a supporting role, complementing the one successful constant we could rely on: beautiful British blooms, reliably fed by rain.

Until this year’s unprecedented UK heatwaves. While not quite as intense as yours, they have nonetheless become our new normal, prompting a collective rethink of how we use, furnish, and decorate our outdoor spaces from now on.

All of which means – I predict – that there will be an enthusiastic explosion of new designs in outdoor furniture, upholstery, lighting, and decor in the UK. Some classic British brands you already know and love are already championing the English country garden in the US – think outdoor upholstery and decor in pretty florals from Morris & Co. These scalloped-edge parasols look as though they’ve been brought back from a Grand Tour of Europe, and muted British heritage colors straight from a Little Greene paint card. Dreamy.

My favorites, all with that straight-out-of-an-English-garden feel – and all available now in the US – are below. And you can bet your life there’s more coming your way, because we Brits love nothing more than making it in America.

The Edit: A Very British Summer

In the Queue

Next week on The Very British Edit, I'm diving into coastal decor, but not the cliché version. There won't be anchors, rope, or seashells on every surface. I'm much more interested in the kind of homes that feel coastal without trying too hard – light-filled, relaxed, and connected to the outdoors.

I think that's why this style has always resonated with me. I've lived in California, where 'California Casual' and 'Cali Wabi-Sabi' style homes spill effortlessly onto patios and gardens, and I've also spent time in Lymington on England's south coast. They're completely different places, but they share the same easy way of living. Doors are open whenever the weather allows, natural materials are everywhere, and nothing feels overly precious or overdecorated.

Coastal style has always been about creating a feeling rather than following a theme. Linen instead of anything too polished. Weathered wood over glossy finishes. Soft blues, sandy neutrals, and leafy greens that reflect the landscape rather than obvious beach motifs. It's a look that feels fresh in the middle of summer but is timeless enough to live with year-round.

I'll also be sharing the pieces I'd actually buy to recreate that atmosphere. Beautiful lighting, natural textures, furniture that feels collected over time, and decor that brings warmth without adding clutter. They work just as well in a city apartment as they do in a beach house.

What I love most about coastal interiors is how they force you to slow down – something many of us forget to do when caught up in the rat race. They feel welcoming, comfortable, and easy to live in – it's more about curating a lived-in home that feels calm than decorating around a seaside theme.

Next week's edit is all about coastal decorating that feels timeless rather than themed, with inspiration from both California and the Hampshire coast, plus the pieces I'm genuinely loving for bringing that relaxed, lived-in feeling home.

The Very British Edit is a shoppable guide to beautiful living with a distinctly British twist. From heritage patterns to timeless decor inspirations, each edition blends personal insight, design expertise, and a love of craftsmanship. It is stylish, trustworthy, and endlessly inspiring.