The Outdoor Room Season 1, Episode 13: Dining Al Fresco

Italy

Jamie started in the eternal city, Rome, and then travelled through Lazio and Umbria. Five ideas • Spillover plants • Water feature • Parterre patterns • Terra cotta • Pizza oven In Italy, outdoor living is part of every day life, after all, that's where we get the term 'al fresco' from and this is exactly what Jamie saw all over bella Italia!

UK

Jamie visited London, Windsor and The Cotswolds. Five ideas • Arbour • The secret garden • Funky flower pots • Plants as screens • Knot garden The English are passionate about their gardening and enjoy making the most of their outdoor areas – with both the shared public parks as well as the private and secret gardens that are typically found in London's boroughs. Tucked away behind the hustle and bustle of Notting Hill is Stanley Crescent Garden, shared by a lucky group of residents who all have a key to this beautiful garden. The garden is enjoyed my all the locals and features some classic English garden traits including a traditional arbour.

Africa

Robyn and Joe Holland from Melbourne love safari style. Their backyard shed is packed with Joe's collection of African animal carvings and he's still on the hunt for a rhino. So it's off on an African safari for Jamie to bag ideas for this garden makeover. Stacked stones, water-wise plants and mud brick walls bring Africa home from the savannah and into this suburban backyard. Victoria's own African chef, Johnson Njuguna barbecues the perfect dish to go with a Friday night beer, Nyama Choma, meat with polenta and salsa.

India

Bali

Japan

France

Egypt

Thailand

Mexico

French Quarter Garden

Samelia and her young son Atlin live in a large inviting house with a not-so-welcoming backyard. Bugs, spiders and overgrown trees discourage guests from stepping foot outdoors and make the space feel downright scary. Samelia wants a place where her son can play worry-free while she relaxes ? a kid and adult friendly garden that reflects her funky, unique style. Jamie visits New Orleans for inspiration and falls in love with everything about the city. From the history to the architecture to a plethora of European-style secret gardens, the Big Easy is a designer's dream. He is invited to a down-home southern tea party at Miss Ruthie's house where he gets an up-close look at a French manor-styled private garden. As he walks the streets, Jamie is inspired by the lines and colors of the old shutters and the lush overflowing French urns that mark the entrance of so many of the spectacular historic homes. At the Soniat House, Jamie vibes on the way traditional things are used in a contemporary way to create a feeling of sanctuary. A mix of tropical and flowering shrubs and an abundance of white crepe myrtle all make their way into Samelia's garden from New Orleans to create a relaxing outdoor lounge room with a funky, soulful style.

A Touch of Thailand