As I'm heading off to Lewes to visit a friend tomorrow, it felt right to mention a local French garden furniture company called Parterre. Forget the wrought iron whitewashed look, they stock an incredible range of vibrant, colourful and creative furniture. Take this Rendez Vous laser cut set of chairs for £380 from the Designer Pascal Mourgue. It's rice grain perforations play with the light on the chairs and 70cm Dia. low table. The range also includes a 110cm Dia Round table and a 160cm x 90cm Rectangular table, both with plain tops. Buy this and get your friends talking.

Posted by Carole

The Cyan brochure has fallen out every magazine I've picked up recently, so felt obliged to feature them. Plus they have a sale on, so this teak bench would normally cost £259 but could be yours for £159.99 -plus will be delivered fully assembled. There's a lot of competition in this field - but the wood is sustainably sourced and the crafmanship quality is pretty high. Put it this way it won't fall apart after 5 minutes or collapse under the burden of a heavy relative.

Posted by Carole

Purves online is a more enjoyable experience for me than being in the shop. This £60 Magis Air chair is an affordable designer chair that as well as being stylish and functional is also lightweight and stackable. Designed for Magis by Jasper Morrison, it looks quite simple but involves the latest technology of vacuum moulding combined with durable polypropylene and glass fibre. The Air Chair can be used indoors or out and is a very comfy sit.

Posted by Carole

If you want lust after some stunning interior and garden products then log onto Atomic Interiors based in Nottingham. These picnic deck chairs are designed by Jose. A. Gandia and don't have a fixed price. You need to email them to enquire - how exclusive (pricey) is that. If you want to know why flick through their list of who's who in the design world and you'll know why they only stock and champion the best.

Posted by Carole

If you can think beyond your credit card damage and fuzzy post New Year head- then take a look at the Garden Furniture 4u website. This unattractively named Bogor garden set is reduced from £199 to £149. It's made from acacia hardwood and includes the table, 2 benches and 2 chairs. At this price I doubt it can have too ethical a background.

Posted by Carole

John Lewis has got a lot of items reduced by over 50%, which is great if you've got a long shopping list. These outdoor Relay garden chairs are crisp, white and foldable and reduced from £15 to £7.50. Lots of other bargains to be had and for once I will buying none of them. Somehow news of the need of new plumbing and leccy has dampened my urge to spend.

Posted by Carole

If I had a tree which could accomodate this elegant circular bench then this would be the one for me. The Cotswold Company has a 20% discount on all purchases made by December 20th and while you're there, you can preview their New Year sale.

Posted by Carole

Aren't these Moreton stacking chairs gorgeous? Not quite so lovely a price of £260 from £279.96 at the Garden Furniture Centre. But then you are getting a golden teak or dark cappucino seat made from 'weatherproof HULARO synthetic fibre, which is extremely durable and colourfast, highly resistant to UV high and low temperatures and easy to clean.' Take a look at this high-end site, if only to see what some people will be purchasing this summer. I quite fancy one of their triangular sail shades, if anyone is listening?

Posted by Carole

I think there is something quite reflective and romantic about garden benches, maybe because they signify sitting still for 5 minutes. This elegant Billyoh is made from FSC approved eucalyptus and is reduced from £199 to £119.99 at Simply Furniture, which is exactly that. If the Winter is as mild as they predict then you could consider their table and chair sets -lots and lots of styles and prices.

If you've enjoyed this entry, then please vote for Housebible in the 'Homes' section of the Bt Online Awards. by this Sunday. Make us bloggers happy this Christmas.

Posted by Carole

The summer can't be over, surely not as the central heating splutters away having been switched on for the first time in months. Brighter spells are forecast, so grab your 70% off and head to Ilva for a spot of bargain hunting and to avoid the rain. This elegant reclining polyrattan sun chair was £127.09 and is now £78, which is a far easier number on the eye. Pray for sunshine and if not lounge near your nearest radiator.

Posted by Carole

If you want some contemporary and well made garden furniture then try M & S or John Lewis . This funky outdoor sofa, is upholstered in a kiwi green-coloured weatherproof polyester fabric and costs £75. You can keep it outdoors but if the rain's heavy pop it indoors, the steel legs can be folded down for easy storage. While you're there take a peep at their kiwi hanging chair and lounger, very stylish and affordable.

Posted by Carole

I'm not sure how happy I would be to relax on this tube map chair if I've just had the journey from hell. Then again this £59 chair from The Urban Garden company would make a great gift for the current hordes trying to escape the city. They also have a fantastic range of garden furniture sets from the chic and cheap bistro to the downright opulent.

Posted by Carole

If you're looking for a unique and often personalised gift, then head for the Not on the High Street site. Tons of inspired ideas and well crafted, individual products. This luxurious sandy alpaca throw is Peruvian cashmere at it's finest. It costs £59.50 and is sourced from Las Mantas who donate one per cent of all sales to environmental charities via 1% For The Planet. So now you own a picnic rug for the summer and a cosy blanket for the colder months, ideal given the current weather mayhem.

Posted by Carole

Ok, so this current downpour doesn't exactly inspire you think of the great outdoors. But take a look at this Amalfi furniture from those ever so elegant people at Indian Ocean. It cost £470 and is manufactured in a synthetic, natural looking weave with an aluminium frame and is available in various modular shapes . The Amalfi is available in two colours, sand with sand cushions and anthracite with ecru cushions. Let's just pray now for a little bit of sunshine as I'm off on my first family caravanning adventure.

Posted by Carole

Well if you want a good one-stop outdoor shop, then Crocus is a pretty good all-rounder. Lots of planting advice, gadgets, gizmos and furniture like this Warwick garden set. For some reason this is not to everyone's taste as it's reduced by a whopping £400 to £399.99, plus you get a parasol and base worth over £80 thrown in. I don't know about you but I rather like it -maybe I'm just a bit square.

Posted by Carole

Well I really shouldn't be telling you about Tesco's online as they're taking over the world. But this £19 hardwood deckchair in this fetching green butterfly fabric can-not be ignored. Looking at this miserable weather I'll be using mine to watch the tv today.

Posted by Carole

Bored of looking at lots of garden sites, which all have taken on a familiar feel? Then log onto Beth Stevens for some classy and hot coloured furniture and some quirky watering cans. This fuscia pink Louisiane bench comes in 2 lengths and just about every colour you can imagine. Costs from £260 and will guarantee a splash of colour whatever the weather.

Posted by Carole

Having only completed one speed-dash around Ilva, I feel I may need to return soon. So will drop by and look at this seductive little black number. The Mambo sun chair begs come and recline and relax. Costs £140 for some heavenly summer moments.

Posted by Carole

The weather-resistant fabric for this jolie Dune chair is made by Toiles du Soleil, a former espadrille factory in rural French Catalonia, who also produce gorgeous hardwearing deckchair-type canvas. The steel-framed chair itself, designed by Pascal Mourgue is available from the Conran shop for £130. There's a tasty matching lounger (£550) too.

Posted by Ros

You're not going to miss this two tone garden loom stool from John Lewis. It costs £30 and comes with a matching mushroom shaped table for £50. You could complete your acid yellow and green garden set with an equally vibrant hammock. Perfect for this Spring sunshine.

Posted by Carole

Urban Garden has to be my current top garden choice. It has a great range of stylish outdoor products, all well presented with clarity and easy navigation. Their furniture sets start at £135, this is their top end Tomas oval shaped table with 4 curved benches for £1199.00. It's made from terrazzo, a mix of reconstituted marbel & granite, cement, sand and water, then hand polished to give it a smooth and silky surface. It's too good to be left sulking outdoors.

Posted by Carole

If you fancy 25% off Garden Furniture at the Danish superstore Ilva, then all you have to do is to register on their site at Ilva E-Voucher. But hurry, because it's only valid before 4th March 2007. We'd also recommend signing up for their newsletter as well as Ilva have been very generous on the e-vouchers this year.

Their garden furniture range is dominated by modern, clean wood and metal designs, but we were particularly impressed by this Amari Sofa for the garden, made out of plastic weave for easy, wipe down care. Normally priced at £320, with this e-voucher you could pick up an £80 saving, making it a very palatable £240.

Posted by Ross

Now's the time to start thinking of spring things, so why not do it sat on this Firwood bench. It's easily assembled, can be stained to your taste and seats up to 3 people. It's reduced from £39.99 to £29.99 from hunterpole - while you're at it check out their weed wand too.

Posted by Carole

Indoors or outdoors, this new Fishing chair from those creative people at Eco Homestore is very striking. They've taken some reclaimed steel tubing and made it into a chair frame, the decorative seat pattern has been created by using two colours of fishing line. It costs £110 and is made in Senegal on a Fair Trade Basis - can't say fairer than that.

Posted by Carole

I was going to tell you about about some nifty bay trees for under £20 at B & Q but then found this simple and elegant Monoca Dining Set reduced from £199.90 to £93.94. As I can't resist a bargain I felt you should know about it right away. Ok so it's white, made of aluminium and glass, temporarily out of stock and the summer is practically over. Not put off? Then place an order right now.

Posted by Carole

This Calyptus table is great in or outdoors, as it's a combination of eucalyptus wood (rot-proof) with a galvanised table top. It costs £295 and comes in a choice of 2 finishes: natural oiled or white polyurethane lacquer. It's from the am.pm section at la redoute, which has a very chic and naturally French styled clothing and furniture range. Vive la difference.

Posted by Carole

Well if the weather forecasters have got it right, then it's still worth buying that long-intended garden furniture. This pvc sun lounger was £19.99 and is now £9.99 from Cargo Home Shop . It comes in graphite, blue or red and can be co-ordinated with this Hawain inspired parasol.

This was £39.99 and is now £19.99, Cargo really do have some great summer reductions that will turn your garden from a wilderness in to a sanctuary.

Posted by Carole

If this summer is the shape of things to come, then maybe it is worth investing in some really stylish outdoor furniture. So ditch your tin of linseed oil and order this vibrant ploof two seater, designed by Phillippe Stark. The sofa could be yours for £417 or the armchair for 244, all from that lovely Nottingham shop Atomic Interiors . Plus it comes in lots of gorgeous colours, is made of polyethylene and has anodised aluminium legs.

Or how about these beautiful Soft Eggs chairs, also designed by Philippe Starke. Stackable and suitable for in or outdoor use, cost £76 and are available in ivory, yellow, orange or dark grey. Out with the wood and in with the longer lasting plastic fantastic.

Posted by Carole

Good old Marks & Spencers are on the up again and this time it's not just their 'boy shorts' which are sending the figures soaring according to the Evening Standard today. Furniture like this wrought iron Victorian Garden set for £349 have sent their summer figures up, up, up. The current best garden seller is the Sonoma oak garden table which I couldn't find online. Well at least we can all breathe a sigh of relief that our childhood friend is still with us - for now.

Posted by Carole

Not sure if these are outdoor chairs, hope so as they've been temptingly reduced from £630 to £315 at the SCP Summer sale, which is on now. This one is available at their Shoreditch branch and can be found here. I know this is not the weather to even contemplate sofas - but - they do have some dramatic savings in this area too. Great design to enjoy looking at, even if you're not in the mood for buying.

Posted by Carole

Roots and Shoots is a great place to drop by if you're in Lambeth. It's a charity which was founded in 1982 and is devoted to training disadvantaged young people, environmental education and urban conservation.

A lot of love, care, training and learning has gone into their plant, vegetable and herb offerings. They also make and sell funiture on site like this Rose arch seat which costs £150. To finish your visit, you can stroll through their half acre wild life garden and feel good about where you've shopped, while smelling the flowers and tasting their home-made honey.

Posted by Carole

The Modern Garden Company really are just that. Their products ooze design, sculpture and clean lines. It's the frst time they've launched an online Summer catologue, so take a peek at these vibrant lacquered aluminium chairs, from £109 - £229.

Or treat yourself to this stunning bench designed by Robin Day. It's made of polypropylene and steel, is available in green or white and costs £577. This bench is way too beautiful to leave outdoors.

Posted by Carole

Russell Pinch has a great eye for detail, beauty and the creation of pieces which will be collectors items in the future. This twig bench and cube made from copiced hazel can be found at the elegant and simple Pinch design website. It was originally designed for Neals Yard remedies head office in Dorset. Now you and I can have this organic bench for £1050 or cube for £550. Never have twigs looked so good.

Posted by Carole

Having a bar in your garden has got to be the next best thing to a swimming pool. And the best thing next to a swimming pool, for that matter. When the new Danish ILVA stores open this summer in Thurrock and Manchester, I'd like a couple of these Mambo bar stools with woven plastic seats to perch on sipping piña colada while the kids splash in the (paddling) pool. They'll cost around £90.

Posted by Ros

The first UK ILVA store opens in Thurrock, Essex in July – exact date yet to be announced. The Danish answer to IKEA aims to offer speedy delivery of stylish stuff you don't have to spend all weekend assembling. A peek at their Danish site (they've been going strong there since 1974) shows a lot of very ordinary, if solid, furniture alongside some lovely things like these Mambo sun loungers. The Danes have a great tradition of top class furniture design and CEO Martin Toogood, formerly of Habitat aims to bring it to us at a reasonable price. Can't wait.

Posted by Ros

If you have a conservatory then this could look pretty swish and stylish. It's a 4-piece set in an antiqued brown and copper finish and surprisingly sturdy, as it's made from tubular metal with polished cane tops. You can cheerfully chuck out your rattan as it's reduced from £299 to £129.95, carriage costs £30.

The Garden Factory have got some great reductions right now, with 50% off quite a lot of products, plus if you spend £100 you get a free multi-tool kit. I know it's a bit premature to mention this right now, but they also have a large range of furniture covers - for those of you who are very organised.

Posted by Carole

Don't complain about the neighbour's tree casting shade on your garden. Take advantage of one of his overhanging branches to hang a chair. Habitat have two varieties. The Chair Hammock costs just £40 and comes in black, purple or red. There's a kids' version too for £25. Then there's the altogether more classy Rattan hanging chair (£90). Have a swinging time.

Posted by Ros

These Penguin Book Deckchairs are perfect for summer days in the garden, lounging and listening to the cricket. They cost £59.95 each and are available in 4 designs, (I could do with Raymond Chandlers 'The Big Sleep' right now). The Arts Meets Matter site has a number of quirky objects which would make great gifts. Worth noting are their folding Factum range of furniture, wild but pricey rugs and of course some classic Penguin mugs and pencils.

Posted by Carole

If your space is small, folding furniture is the way to go. I love this weathered and French looking folding bench from Plantstuff. It's £189. Or buy the whole set – bench, table and two chairs for £499 pour le petit dejeuner.

Posted by Ros

These vibrant beanbags are just the thing to lounge on this summer. If you forget to bring them in and we have some much needed rain, then don't fret. They have zipped covers which are tough and weather resistant.

They cost £99 from The Cotswold Company who are having a big spring clean with up to £200 off selected goods until May 31st. Bad news is the bean bags are not reduced, the good news is their fake trees are, they provide instant greenery and frankly don't care if they never see a drop of rain.

Posted by Carole

Ok so it's another patio set, but I just have to remind you about the Greenfingers site as it's aim is to provide you with 'inspiration for your garden' and it does just that in a very practical and earthy way. This powder coated wrought iron
Beauchamp Patio set is surely a bit of a bargain at £99.00.

Green fingers also has a very practical and helpful advice. section, which is easy to access and understand. Meanwhile for all of you like me out there who fail the basic test of producing and maintaining a hanging basket, then quickly order your Hanging Basket Care Kit from them for £4.50 and pray for some rain.

Posted by Carole

What a fantastic, novel and affordable idea from Purves & Purves. Assemble 14 pieces of corrugated cardboard, weight the structure down with gravel, pour in 240 litres of soil, spread a nice even layer of seeds and hey presto you have your very own living grass armchair.

At £65 they are currently out of stock, but still worth placing a back order. Just one word of wording having created a telly tubby grass mound in our back garden, I forgot that I would also need to develop some topiary skills.

Anyhow, for more eco friendly, weird and wonderful stuff then take a peek at my current favourite browse. The hippy shopper site has a fantastic range of well selected and thought provoking products.

(If you're a Londoner, I'd also suggest that you get down to Tottenham Court Road where Purves and Purves are having a Massive Relocations Sale and shutting their store on May 29th. Bye-bye for now dear Purves).
Posted by Carole

I like the look of these cool blue bistro chairs , surely you can't go that wrong when two chairs cost £19.96 from B & Q. This set can be extended to include a table, reclining chairs and even a foot stool. If blue is not your colour then you could select their Morocco Oak Framed chair which is made from American Oak hardwood with cream vinyl coated polyester seat. 2 for £56.

Posted by Carole

Who needs to get away if you have an outdoor lounging area like this? La Redoute's AM.PM has lots of exotic stuff like this Paco divan base (£239) made of hand woven water hyacinth (how exotic is that?) which would work just as well indoors.

Posted by Ros

I would choose this minimal aluminium Groove outdoor furniture by artist Jennifer Newman to provide a stark contrast to my unruly wilderness of a garden. Apart from the groove, the best thing about it is that Jennifer will have it powder coated in any colour you choose. From £800 for a table.

Posted by Ros

Carry this prettily striped grand-pêre folding mattress from La Redoute's French furniture line AM.PM outside in the summer and loll on it with a chilled drink. It is just as useful as a mini futon in the kids' bedroom. Just £55.

If you've had enough of looking at wooden garden furniture sets, then why not try something different from Heals. This dark and sexy Kira Zinc set is a hardwood construction covered in sealed zinc metal sheets. The bench costs £150 and the stools are £95, rather worryingly there is no price for the table. They also have some fantastic acid coloured parasols and a great chair range.

Finally, these pine Bambisitter chairs are quite unusual and cute and cost from £195. Heals has a somewhat unfair reputation for being expensive and quite aloof, which you shouldn't allow to get in the way of you taking in some well priced and well crafted stuff for your home.