ART OF ENTERTAINING

Being outside — it’s a temptation most of us just can’t resist. This is never more so than when we want to share good food and good times with the people we love. Family lunches, dinner parties, movie nights — we now take all of these activities, and more, outdoors. Of course, Australians have always loved to entertain under the sun or stars but these days outdoor entertaining is often a more sophisticated affair, with zones for lounging and dining, and a dedicated cooking area.

“We spend so much of our leisure time outside it’s important to have a space that allows us to relax and entertain exactly how we want to,” says Phil Antcliff, director of Fifth Season Landscapes. “Having a well-designed entertaining area is about considering all the factors, such as space, budget and how you want to use your garden, deck or patio. By thinking all of this through before making any decisions, you can create the perfect outdoor entertaining area for you and your family.”

Isabel Rundle, a landscape architect at Penfold Projects, says that