Holiday over, but are you longing to recreate the ambience of dining al fresco on warm summer evenings in your own garden? Unfortunately, British summers just aren't as predictable or accommodating as Mediterranean ones and so often the best made plans to entertain friends outdoors fall flat with spirits dampened by a last minute downpour.



If year round outdoor living is high on your list of priorities, why not invest in a stunning timber summerhouse? Rapidly becoming more and more popular to combat the vagaries of the British summer, there are a multitude of styles to choose from at all price levels. Halls Garden Buildings offers a very affordable range in an impressive variety of designs and colours. You'll be surprised at the number of options available, regardless of the size of your garden area or budget; any of the four models from Halls are all good quality and their price points make them wise long-term investments.

Some summerhouses are little bigger than a large garden shed, but through clever design and the many different ways of positioning windows, a caf? table and chairs can easily be accommodated.

For the smaller garden the Marlow by Halls is well worth considering. Compact at just over 2m wide, its double opening glazed doors can be thrown wide open to create a seamless line between garden and indoor area. Positioned on a patio or decking area, it has a light and spacious interior which is perfect for small gatherings.

The stately Sandringham is just over 3m wide and has a floor to ceiling glass frontage to make the most of all round garden views. Choose one of the striking colour finishes in tuscan red or cape blue and your garden will take on a completely new dimension.

For the ultimate in summerhouse luxury, the largest Halls model, the Buckingham, boasts an impressive bay window designed to draw the outside in and maximize views of your garden and it has the greatest internal space for entertaining, easily seating a large gathering.

Whether it's area or budget which is key in determining your choice of summerhouse, by simply adding stylish accessories, bright cushions and soft lighting, the plainest timber garden building can be transformed into an inviting, versatile, stunning feature room in which to enjoy morning coffee, afternoon tea and twilight suppers. Before you know it, your dining-room will become all but redundant.

What's more, by investing in an outdoor heater, and surrounding your summerhouse with late flowering climbers and hardy palms, your cosy garden nook will entice you outside well into the autumn to enjoy those precious moments in your garden, even as the days shorten.