After such a wet ten days it is good to have some respite and be able to go out into the garden for some relaxation. It is difficult to come to terms with the fact that summer is over and that, although it is not yet Winter, now is the time to prepare. Now is a very good time to move plants that have become too large for their surrounds or perhaps they just need dividing. I must admit that I am so pleased to have garden benches around the garden that I can sit on and rest while doing such arduous work in the garden and on the patio.

I am not an advocate of putting every last piece of garden furniture away, but I do feel that items such as the bar tables and bar stools that look so good in the summer, somehow look out of place in the Winter to the extent that they should be put away out of sight.  Items such as Lutyens benches and teak tree benches are an all the year around piece of garden furniture and show themselves well in a Winter Garden.

On a lovely day like today it is a good chance to walk around the garden and patio areas to see if there are any repairs that will need to done before next spring? Will the patio slabs need re-pointing? The garden fence perhaps will need treating with preservative. Now is the time to plan and arrange for these jobs to be done.

I am making it sound as if a garden is place where only hard work takes place. I apologise if this is the case because a garden’s primary function is to provide enjoyment and pleasure and act as an antidote to stresses and strains of everyday life

If you feel incredibly inadequate because you cannot think of what to give a man for a present –don’t!! You must think outside the box and think of things that he would not buy for himself. Most men only think of others, are incredibly selfless and generous. Now is the time to repay the years of this generosity by spoiling him!!
On his patio or terrace he will have bought his wife pool loungers, a garden lounger and even a teak
steamer. She will have had many years of pleasure from these items without even giving a thought to the sacrifice that was made to give her this pleasure.
Will there be bar chairs or bar stools for him? – of course not!! So the first opportunity for that present is to buy him a garden bar together with some bar stools or bar chairs that will match them so well. Think of the pleasure he will have leaning back in very comfortable bar stool and savouring a pint of his favourite beer!
He is probably a very keen gardener but would not dream of buying himself some tree seats or tree benches to go around his favourite trees which have been planted lovingly over many decades. He has devoted so many years to making the garden the blissful haven that it is, surely now is the time to reward his hard work.
Maybe it is a very special occasion that the present is to celebrate. In which case why not consider some teak banana benches or peanut benches that can be embellished with memorial plaques to celebrate the occasion.
If you choose one of these suggestions you can be assured that he will be really pleased to receive them. He probably won’t have them already, but even if he has you can never own too much outdoor furniture. Quality garden furniture will last any one that owns it a lifetime, so don’t hold back, put your hand in your pocket and solve the problem, you will never regret it and will have a avery grateful man!!

Teak Versailles planters originally used in the formal gardens at Versailles Palace are still popular today. Chic Teak has a comprehensive range of planters in all sizes with good chunky sides and a strong support inside for whatever pot or liner is used. Teak planters have been delivered to a number of historical sites including Carisbrooke Castle and The Vyne. They also provide good planting spaces at an easily accessible height so have been used in gardens for older and disabled people. Many private gardens are enhanced with the attractive containers showing off small trees, pretty shrubs or bedding plants.
The wooden Lutyen benches are another example of good style persevering. So named after the famous architect this style is very sought after as an attractive focal point. Many garden designers specify this particular shape which suits a traditional setting.
The Riverbank style is one of the best selling garden benches. Again a very traditional style and seen in many public places – parks, schools & clubs. A good strong wooden bench which will withstand the weather and high usage, it also makes an excellent memorial bench. Several types of memorial plaques can be supplied with personalised wording for a special person.
The once fashionable Lloyd Loom cane furniture has been updated to suit the modern market. Wicker garden furniture has enjoyed a massive revival and the current ranges are now produced in plastic weaves on aluminium frames which is virtually indestructible. This rattan or wicker is equally at home as conservatory furniture or outdoor furniture.

One of the chief benefits of a garden is being able to comfortably enjoy the outdoors with that special someone. Nothing is more suitable for this purpose than a garden bench. Some benches are included when you purchase garden furniture sets, but many people buy them separately. Benches are typically made from either wood, metal or stone:

Wood
Like most wooden garden furniture, wooden benches naturally look like they belong in any garden. Teak garden benches tend to be very popular as the wood will last a long time; Teak is renowned for being weather resistant, and will stand up well to any extremes of rain, hail, ice and heat.

Metal
Metal garden benches can be made of aluminium or iron, and can be painted to blend in more naturally to your garden. Metal benches can be made weather-resistant by applying a coat of anti-rusting agent to the top of the metal surfaces. This is an easy way to ensure that it will always look great, and last a good long time.

Stone
Stone benches are resistant to all weather and will last a long, long time. Although uncommon, it is possible to paint a stone bench if you need it to match the predominant colour scheme of your garden. If you purchase a stone bench from a manufacturer, you can sometimes ask to have something special engraved within the stone, such as family names or dates of special occasions.

Teak garden benches make great additions to almost any outdoor space. They are durable, simple, and highly versatile. With a little thought they can be integrated into the existing design of most gardens to add a special feature that is visually effective and pleasant to use.

Larger teak garden benches and wooden swing seats are best nestled into a leafy space. Underneath a large shady tree is perfect. It will provide much needed shelter from the sun in the warmer months when you will probably get the most use from the bench. Aesthetically, leafy features help blend garden furniture sets into the garden scene and make them appear more natural.

To create a really beautiful and striking feature with a bench, site it under the bough of a sturdy, healthy tree and introduce a climbing plant like wisteria. Train it up the tree and it’ll grow naturally along the branches. After a few years – a fraction of the life of a quality teak garden bench – you’ll have a lightly scented and spectacular flowery seating nook.

If you’re not lucky enough to have a garden with established trees or enough space to grow them, you can create a simple bench feature in any empty space.  Place the bench against a wall or the garden boundary, and put a giant pot or a planter on each side with a tall shrub or a small tree in each.  Topiary plants are ideal, or for something that looks a little softer and produces flowers, choose ornamental cherry or dwarf apple trees.

For a wide range of teak garden furniture, browse our limitless online selection.

After a long, cold winter, spring is finally here. The sun is back and now is a great time to get back out into the great outdoors by hosting your own barbeque lunch with teak garden furniture to last you all-year round. It’s not at all difficult and fun for the whole family. A barbeque also gets the kids playing outside and off the couch, and helps you on the way to an active, healthy summer.

We recommend a nice teak garden furniture set, but whichever garden chairs and tables you go for, make sure there is enough seating for all the guests. Benches can be pressed into service if you don’t have enough garden chairs, especially for the kids.  When it comes to benches, there are many kinds available that range from the comtemporary to the natural, and at Chic Teak we have everything covered – from tree benches to banana benches.

The barbeque is the other major requirement. Charcoal fuelled barbeques are often very cheap, but be aware that they need to burn for half an hour to an hour before you cook on them. Gas barbeques are quicker – you can put the sausages on as soon as the grill is hot – and much less smoky. For something a bit tastier than the usual fare, try marinating the barbeque meat in a favourite sauce overnight before cooking.

A shading umbrella is a good addition to your garden furniture set, especially if you don’t have a patio or a veranda area, and make sure there is a big bottle of sunscreen available to all your friends and family. Then all you need is a sunny day and off you go.

At Chic Teak we don’t just offer exquisite garden furniture sets, but are also proud to offer a variety of other garden accessories, from planters to garden benches. In fact such is the variety of items on offer, you might have difficulty choosing! In particular we offer several kinds of benches, which are perfect for all kinds of gardens, offering only the best in terms of design and functionality. So, what are the options available with garden benches?

Memorial Benches

Memorial benches are a great way to express your love for that special someone, and will give a place always reserved in your garden to enjoy their memory. At Chic Teak we will even offer a bronze or brass plaque already fixed to the bench; the perfect tribute that also serves a practical function.

Tree Benches

Tree Benches are particularly beautific forms of outdoor seating, and are especially suited to natural or “wildlife” gardens as they are built to fit around a tree trunk.

Garden Benches

Of course you don’t have to make an obvious statement with your garden bench and we are proud to offer some traditional benches, which offer subtle elegance combined with practicality, ideal for any kind of garden – from traditional to modern.

With Chic Teak even though we offer a wide variety of teak garden furniture, we never compromise on quality, and always combine the highest ideals of style with great functionality. Our, teak, for example is sourced from sustainable government run Indonesian plantations, ensuring high quality as well as environmental peace of mind.

You will be pleased to know that the partners of  Chic Teak took a mini-break in Bath this week. All work and no play make Jack and Jill less interesting children or even teak garden furniture retailers!!

Bath is such a beautiful City with its mellow stone and Georgian architecture. The proportions of this era are so easy on the eye. It was pleasing to see that an awful sixties shopping developement has been torn down and replaced with another development but using the Georgian style and the local stone – much better and will blend in very quickly.

One development we really loved was a small shopping Mall called Milsom Place. It is off the main street and cleverly uses a lot of back space to create a courtyard on two levels. The construction is of very high quality materials and fittings. Although the developement is not fully let yet, the tenants that have taken space are very high quality and it gives  the developement a buzzy feel. We had lunch in Jamie Oliver’s pasta restaurant –  ”Jamie’s Place”, and dinner in a restaurant called “The Half Moon and Sixpence”. Both were very good experiences. My only cricitcism would be that I felt some soft plantings in Teak Versailles Planters would have improved the experience.

Our Hotel was very comfortable with friendly service and high standards. Although we were not able to use the facilities because of the January weather, there was a well equipped terrace with a good range of Teak Garden Furniture including a Teak Lutyens Bench.

Our mini-break was all to soon over, but although only forty eight hours it seemed like much longer. We will certainly be taking another one!!

Teak wood has been coveted for many centuries for  its beautiful grain and its ability to stand up to the seasons  weather for decades. Teak is the material of choice for the decks of luxury yachts and top quality traditional garden furniture. Many of Britain’s Park Benches were made from recycled teak taken from ships that spent a lifetime at sea. Some of these teak benches that are in our old established Parks are approaching 100 years of age.

Today there are not many ships to recycle, but in Indonesia quite often older buildings are constructed of Teak, very much like buildings were built of Oak in Britain years ago. When one of these buildings is demolished some of the Teak will be used to make quality furniture.

Most Teak furniture today is made directly from the trees grown in the Government plantations of Java. The heart wood which makes up about twenty percent of a tree is chosen. After being sawn into planks it is dried. In the dry season the initial drying is done in the sun. The teak has to be then put in a kiln to remove the last of the moisture whatever the season and in the wet season all of the drying is done this way. This is an expensive process but essential if the teak is to be stabilised for long lasting use.

Top quality teak garden furniture and benches that have been made from dried heartwood,   give decades of low maintenance use and look very attractive in the gardens and Parks of Britain. 

Thank goodness the latest weather forecast is for warmer weather and the thaw of all the snow that has been around with us for over four weeks. I would be the first to admit that when we had our first fall of snow the initial reaction was how beautiful everything looked. I wrote a blog describing a walk through the winter wonderland of our garden. The teak benches, teak tree seats,  and teak garden tables looked like something out of a picturebook. Even the teak Lutyens Bench looked inviting from afar.

This initial reaction passed after a few days as the grind of just coping with everyday life started to be the reality. Orders still came in for garden furniture, but at a much slower pace. This comes as no surprise as thinking of the garden was probably not a priority. Having said that our web searches have gone up in the last few days.

Deliveries of orders has been a particular nightmare having taken the view that I did not want to risk staff and vehicles with the roads so treacherous especially the minor roads off of the trunk roads. This week will be a period of catch up for the delivery staff. I know there is a square teak coffee table, a round teak folding table that are needed for Birthday presents. There is also a set of Woven Wicker Furniture, that consists of an oval table and ten chairs, together with six teak sun loungers and two teak steamers that are going in a container for export to Greece.

So with us now in the second half of January, perhaps we can nearly sight Spring and an easier time.