Editor’s Letter

ummer is almost here – and with an extra bank holiday this June to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, there is much to celebrate. To help you make the most of this joyful season, this issue’s Home & Garden of the Year awards (page 15), in which you can win a fabulous cash prize of up to £1,000. Not only is having your home or garden featured a wonderful memento to mark the end of the project, but it is also a great way to thank key tradespeople and craftspeople involved. Elsewhere this issue, we offer inspiration for alfresco living with a look at some of the most beautiful garden furniture and styling ideas for entertaining (page 35) – hopefully there will be plenty of glorious days this summer to make the most of being outside. We also explore the design options for investing in an outdoor building (page 87). Whether you dream of an elegant summerhouse, productive glasshouse, stylish home office, or rustic shepherd’s hut, creating a room outside allows you to enjoy your garden in all weathers and take advantage of views that you might not see from the house. Finally, this month we have a fantastic subscription offer to help you with your creative projects (page 52). When you sign up, you will receive a free Annie Sloan paint set, worth almost £45, featuring Chalk paints, a stencil and paint brush. Enjoy the issue.