Darling Buds of May

In interior design it's easy to forget that the outdoor space is almost as important as the inside one. Whilst a mid-century modern look is enhanced by 'bringing the outdoors in' in terms of plants and cut flowers, the opposite is also true: patio styling is a key mid-century modern theme too, and 'bringing the indoors out'. 
Even if the garden consists of just the smallest of patios, a stunning look can still be achieved which will both complement and add value to the property itself, effectively creating the illusion of an interior extension.
In the picture below, a forlorn-looking patio we inherited with the house has been given a glamorous makeover. The dingy block walls were scrubbed, then sealed, and painted with outdoor masonry paint in a 'putty' hue; the gaps between the patio slabs have been weeded; a row of slabs have been removed to allow for a small patio-garden: we enriched the soil with ericaceous compost and planted the bed up with an unusual fragrant species of rhododendron, rhododendron  fragrantissimum.  Flowering in May, usually just after the lily of the valley (pictured right ) obligingly pop up, and in time to enjoy their fragrance on what in most years might be the first 'patio days' of the year.   
Tending the garden or patio really does enhance the home, and moreover, the effort pays off  in terms of reciprocal benefits: what could bring more joy than plucking a few sprigs of home-grown flowers or shrubs back into the house, bringing the outdoors back inside again...

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Powder-coated patio table and chairs from IKEA in dark brown have a conveniently mid-century modern flavour. The fire pit is an old fireplace grate mounted on breeze blocks; the removed slabs have made way for a small patio-garden, filled with rhodendron fragrantissimum, which flower in May.