Case Study: The Great Outdoors

With summer finally in full swing, we’ve found ourselves obsessing over all of the fabulous client projects we’ve seen that feature our tiles in outdoor settings. If you’re planning an alfresco revamp and need some inspiration, here are two of our recent favourites, and the design stories behind them…

Full name: Cali Rand

Occupation: Garden Designer and Mum

Style and location of property/garden: Bohemian, eclectic and natural 

Who lives there: Private clients

What was the brief for this project?

The brief was very much to create a wild, beautiful and unique garden to suit the family’s style and the way they like to live. The clients love the colour blue which has been used throughout the house, so it felt natural to carry that through to the garden terrace – the decisions I make are always very much instinctive; I listen to what the clients want and not what I want.

Which Bert & May products did you use and why?
We used the blue and white Alalpardos, arranged in a zig-zag formation. They stood out instantly and just felt ‘right’.

What do you think they add to the space?
The colour and size of them really suited the design and the feel of the surface, which is so natural. I like the fact they are handmade, bold, unique, and I knew that they would age beautifully. 

What led you to use Bert & May?

I have loved Bert & May for its bold use of colour and pattern for a long time. Coming from a textile design background, I appreciate the idea of using reclaimed finds and also creating new modern versions which are accessible so that everyone can use them. These are tiles that make you feel happy when you walk into a room, and they really make a statement. For me, to see a floor covered in Bert & May tiles creates a feeling of calm and joy. 

Check out Cali’s Instagram or website to find out more

Full name: Tom Howard

Occupation: Garden Designer

Style and location of property/garden: An Edwardian terraced property in Queen’s Park, London

Who lives there: A young couple and their newborn baby

What was the brief for this project?

The clients wanted something original and different. One of the occupants is an artist and a lot of her paintings are of European countries, so we wanted to create a Mediterranean feel and connect the outdoor space to her work.

Which Bert & May products did you use and why?

We used the Formentera tiles in Azure. We knew we wanted a patterned tile that was a bit of a showstopper, and these really hit the brief!

What do you think they add to the space?

The couple have used blue in their kitchen, so the outside now really feels like a continuation of their inside space. The feeling of the Med comes through already, and there are citrus trees still to come which will emphasise it even further.

What led you to use Bert & May?

This is the first time I’ve used Bert & May, but I’m already thinking of a few more projects! I’d noticed the brand on Instagram and was really impressed with the colours and designs – they’re all just that bit different.

For more information, and to see more of Tom’s garden designs, head to his  Instagram or website

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