From Quality Coats to Garden Spaces: Investing Beyond One Season
When we invest in furnishing our homes, we often think carefully about quality. A well-made sofa, solid wood furniture, or decor that stands out as a statement piece can feel worth the investment because we expect to live with it for years. We often think the same way about clothing too. A quality coat may cost more initially, but if it lasts well and continues to feel good every time we wear it, the value becomes easier to justify over time.
The same thinking is not always applied outdoors. Perhaps this is because we often think of our gardens in terms of seasons rather than as a long-term investment. Each year we plan for the seasons ahead. Once winter arrives, we wrap our garden up for a few months until it's time to unwrap it again for spring. It can feel temporary.
Perhaps because of this sense of familiar transition, it can be tempting to choose decorative pieces based mainly on price or whether they'll 'do' - even if they're only likely to last a season or two before fading, deteriorating, or needing to be replaced.
When starting Frame and Foliage, I wanted to ensure the artworks I created would last - not just for one season, but for years to come. I tested various substrates before putting my artworks on the market - to ensure the quality would be worth someone's investment.
That meant thinking carefully about both finish and durability. Before launching the collections, I tested different substrates to find a material that would hold up well outdoors whilst still allowing the artworks to retain a strong visual presence. I eventually chose Dibond aluminium because it already had a proven reputation within outdoor environments and provided the rigidity and durability I was looking for.
I also wanted my artworks to have a clean finish and not just end at the edge of the facing panel. Having a wrapped finish allows the imagery to continue around the edges of the artwork. Combined with a gallery satin finish, the result feels more substantial within the garden environment and creates an instant ‘wow’ factor.
Following our recommended care guidance, our artworks are designed to last between three to five years. For me, that longevity matters because it allows the pieces to contribute to a garden across multiple seasons and years, becoming part of how the space is experienced over time - rather than acting as a short-term addition.
Some aspects of a garden are designed for a season, whilst others are intended to stand the test of time. I believe outdoor artworks can sit within that longer-term thinking — not simply as decorative additions, but as lasting visual elements within the spaces we continue to shape and return to year after year.