Every piece we design starts with the same question: what’s the right material for this job? Sometimes the answer’s obvious, but others it means doing some digging. We’re after the sweet spot where good looks, great quality and everyday usefulness meet. Here are some of those choices, and what you’ll find across our ranges.

Olefin

Olefin is an incredible, durable fibre that we've chosen for many of our rope designs. It has a lovely tactile feel but absorbs virtually no water. This means that it dries quickly after rain, and is resistant to mould and mildew. Olefin is resistant to fading in sunlight and stands up well to everyday spills and stains, making it particularly well suited to garden furniture and the demands of life outdoors. 

Dune four seater dining set with olefin rope details 

Optimised Timber

Optimised Timber is a new, performance engineered material that has been designed to combine the natural look of wood with all of the practical qualities needed for outdoor furniture. This isn't wood that's been treated to be weather resistant, it's a premium polymer that's specifically designed for luxury outdoor furniture.  It's completely waterproof, sturdy and durable. It won't splinter, it won't rot, and it never needs varnishing, so there's no seasonal upkeep to plan around. Some designs have a detailed wood grain finish for a traditional, natural look. Others use Optimised Timber planks that are are smooth for a sleek and modern finish. It's designed to stay outside year after year, whatever the weather. And when it does eventually reach the end of its life, it can be recycled too. We've chosen Optimised Timber for many of our tabletops and other furniture details, bringing you the best in both looks and durability.

Fallow four seater dining set with Optimised Timber tabletop 

Wood

As well as Optimised Timber, we've chosen traditional quality wood for some of our pieces too. Wood lends itself especially well to some designs, as it gives us the opportunity offer different painted and treated finishes. This gives us greater scope to explore different styles and details, with the flexibility to create furniture that feels at home in a variety of outdoor spaces. With the right care, quality wood (which we always choose for our designs) is hardwearing and long lasting.

Nightingale lounge set with integrated hardwood side tables 

Aluminium

Aluminium is one of our preferred materials for outdoor furniture, thanks to its excellent combination of strength, durability and practicality. It's naturally resistant to rust and corrosion so it's really well suited to the changing British weather. Despite being strong and sturdy, aluminium is relatively lightweight making furniture is easier to move around the garden when you need to. Its versatility allows it to be shaped into a wide range of designs, from clean, contemporary lines to more decorative details, while still providing you with  a strong and reliable frame. Read more about why we love it here.

Lily terracotta aluminium bistro set

Teslin

Teslin is a strong, flexible synthetic mesh fabric that we use in some of our outdoor seating designs. Its open weave allows air and water to pass through easily, so it dries quickly after rain and feels breathable when you're sitting down. The tightly woven fibres give it strength and support, while retaining enough flexibility to follow the shape of the seat and provide a comfortable place to sit. It's also resistant to stretching, fading and everyday wear, making it a practical, low maintenance choice for outdoor furniture.

Weatherproof rattan

Our weatherproof rattan is a versatile woven material that's both strong and lightweight. Unlike traditional wicker or rattan, it's highly resistant to water. In natural tones, it looks just like traditional wooden wicker, but it can also be made in a range of colours, giving us the freedom to create all kinds of designs. Its lightweight strength and flexibility allow it to be woven into intricate patterns, curved shapes and detailed finishes.

Sintered stone

Sintered stone is a high performance material that's made by compressing natural minerals under intense heat and pressure to create an exceptionally hard, dense finish. We've chosen it for some of our designs because of it's refined appearance, it brings a sophisticated feel to outdoor dining with the look and subtle variations of natural stone. The fact that it's highly resistant to scratches, stains, heat and moisture make it really well suited to the demands of everyday use, from hot dishes to spilt drinks. Its non porous surface is easy to clean and maintain