Episode #24
Episode 24 | Why Are We Only Using Our Gardens in Summer? With Danny Bowers from Open Space Concepts
“If they only want to use it a couple of months of the year to keep some cushions dry, go to your local garden centre. If it's something that you want to entertain in all day, night, all year round, then that's the kind of structure that we offer.” — Danny Bowers We spend a lot of time thinking about what our gardens look like. But how much do we actually use them? In this episode of Paving the Way, Andy sits down with Danny Bowers from Open Space Concepts for the first of four conversations exploring outdoor living, quality, installation and what it really takes to create a garden that works as an extension of your home. This first episode is really about getting to know Open Space Concepts, what they do and why they do it — but it also gets into a much bigger conversation about the way we use our outdoor spaces. Because if your garden only really works when it’s sunny, are you getting as much out of it as you could? Danny talks about how outdoor living has changed, why the UK has traditionally been behind parts of Europe when it comes to making better use of gardens, and why more homeowners are now looking at their outdoor space very differently. They also get into something that applies well beyond pergolas and outdoor structures: how do you know what you’re actually paying for? Two products can look almost identical online, but the quality, installation, lifespan and way they perform can be completely different. And that’s where this conversation gets interesting. You’ll hear why Danny believes seeing products in person matters, why proper installation can’t be treated as an afterthought, and why sometimes the most useful thing a company can tell you is: “we’re probably not the right fit for you.” In this episode: - Who Open Space Concepts are and where they fit within the outdoor living industry - Why year-round outdoor living is becoming more popular - The difference between a seasonal garden structure and a space designed to be used properly throughout the year - Why what looks good online doesn’t always tell you the full story - Why installation, groundwork and landscaping all need to work together - How to think about what you actually want from your garden before spending money - Why honesty around budget and expectations matters - The importance of getting the right people involved in a project from the start This is the first of four episodes recorded with Open Space Concepts, so consider this the introduction. Over the next few conversations, we’ll be getting further into the detail around outdoor living, how these spaces are designed and installed, and what homeowners and trade professionals should really be thinking about before starting a project. If you’re planning to improve your garden, thinking about an outdoor kitchen or covered entertaining space, or you simply want to get more use out of the space you already have, this is a good place to start. Follow Paving the Way so you don’t miss the rest of the Open Space Concepts series, and share this episode with someone who only seems to remember they have a garden when the sun comes out.
