As the heat and humidity climb steadily higher, it would be miserably tempting to think that your garden or terrace is now off-limits. But why give up your outdoor living space when you don't have to? Clever shade solutions will extend its life into - and beyond - any long summer of discontent. From large pergolas and awnings to DIY shade alternatives and canopied furniture, there are many ways to both keep your deck cooler and screen out sunlight. Fixed canopy awnings can be great, while retractable awnings offer the most versatility, allowing you to create shade as you need it.
Of course, a simple way to quickly but effectively create shade is to choose pieces of furniture that include an umbrella or their own awning, and there are many attractive pieces that go beyond the old swing-seat: among them, B&B Italia's Canasta sofas have an optional sun canopy, and Dedon's quirkily elegant Summer Cloud is more like a swooping canopy with a languid sofa attached than the other way around. Dedon's Daydream bed is indeed dreamy - an outdoor cocoon that is comfortable as well as chic and would look equally good in pairs or displayed on its own.
At Pottery Barn the umbrellas are a far cry from the boring parasols of old: made from durable, fade-resistant Sunbrella fabrics (awarded a Seal of Recommendation by the Skin Cancer Foundation), they're rectangular or round and come in vivid stripes. Gandia Blasco's Ensombra parasol and Dedon's Parasol line both boast simple umbrellas that are oversized enough to shade more than just a table. The simple use of large pieces of fabric or cloth to provide shade dates back to ancient Egypt and it's still one of the easiest and most stylish ways to create a respite from the heat. Always go for pale shades, which deflect the heat.
Going a step further you could create a romantic pavilion or vintage-style gazebo to offer not just shade but a comfortable place in which to dine, relax and entertain. The old marquee or portable tent as gazebo finds a fresh new look in Karma Deco's beautiful Edwardian colonial-style canopy. It's perfectly simple - a swathe of sheer but tough undyed ecru canvas anchored by four branch-style poles, high enough and wide enough to cover even the biggest outdoor dining table, or to shelter a play area or a lounging area strewn with large cushions. In Karma's store they've hung shells around the edge to pretty effect; you could also try hanging coral from the beach on string or ribbon clipped to wooden clothespegs.
Or plant your own shade. Do as they do at Ladera resort in St Lucia, West Indies, or at any number of hotels in the Greek islands - use nature's own canopy to create a dappled, cool shade using trees, plants and all kinds of greenery, and conduct everything you do outdoors beneath it. In many ways, trees and plants are the best shade system of all, at once shading large areas, providing privacy and giving your garden or a terrace a leafy edge. Bougainvillea and jasmine are the prettiest options among the plants that are tolerant of the UAE climate, although anything floral will never provide as much opaque cover as foliage. If you don't want to dig, provide movable shade and an enticing element of greenery with trees or palms in large planters. Or set planters along the edge of the deck to serve as a screen. Aim for a layered effect by grouping planters of different sizes, either in two parallel lines or in clusters.
Choose terracotta, ceramic, wooden, fibreglass or concrete pots to protect roots from the heat of the sun - and avoid black plastic pots because they cause the roots to overheat. And remember to repot every year or two (but only in cooler weather) to allow room for growing roots.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: Dh146,999
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20Profile
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Retail gloom
Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.
It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.
The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.
Company%20Profile
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5