The rising temperatures and longer daylight hours of summer naturally bring with them a tendency to spend more time enjoying the great outdoors. Combine that with, following the last couple of years, individuals and families that have rediscovered a love for their own gardens and outside spaces and you have a dynamic combination – and endless possibilities for alfresco entertainment.

Our recent project, at High Hill Manor, really embodied the theme of luxurious outdoor entertainment, with all bases covered from AV, to lighting, to smart control, to beautiful, bespoke aesthetics and considered design to provide a flexible, relaxing space for the whole family to enjoy for years to come. The ultimate in poolside luxury – and perfect for a sizzling summer.

The Brief

Our clients were looking for their garden to be a space where the family could gather to enjoy sport, movies and more on an outdoor AV system, as well as entertain guests on long summer evenings. With the sun terrace and open-air pool an existing feature in the space, the proposed garden pod would provide a sheltered, shady yet cosy vista from which to enjoy the great outdoors in style without being exposed to unpredictable weather or excessive glare from the sun.

Part of the challenge for the Clarke team was to create a bespoke design for the entertainment pod that would stand out for the right reasons whilst still blending into the existing aesthetics of the garden. The space would be multi-purpose, and so it was key that flexibility and adaptability was considered – come rain or shine, day or night, the pod would need to deliver on relaxation and entertainment, whilst being modern and future-forward to stand the test of time (and hit the client’s requirements and expectations).

The Installation

The completed pod is visually stunning and delivers above and beyond on the key wants and needs of the client – adaptable, modern, luxurious, easy to use, entertaining and dynamic.

Bover Lighting was carefully and strategically placed throughout the pod and surrounding space to create wonderful accents to highlight garden features as well as offer a subtle ambience for summer garden parties; the end result hints at vibes of luxurious Mediterranean living and will continue to make for beautiful visuals, any time of year.

No true outdoor entertainment space is complete without top-quality AV. Visuals for match days and film marathons alike are provided by Samsung’s Terrace QLED TV, the perfect option for friends and family to settle down in front of with its anti-reflection screen for uninterrupted viewing and weather resistance for standing the test of time (as well as unpredictable changes to moisture levels and temperature). Stunning audio can be a challenge in an alfresco setting, but this was no match for the Clarke team. This was achieved with Sonance Outdoor Speakers discreetly positioned around the garden, complete with hidden subwoofers, providing the ideal immersive balance of sound for hot party tunes and blockbuster movies alike.

A Caribbean Blinds pod was installed, featuring retractable panels on the roof and sides, equally adept at providing shelter from the rain as preventing excessive sun glare. Easily and swiftly adaptable via the phone app or central smart control console, the system itself is – in all the best ways – as changeable as the British weather can be, but with a key difference: the client is in full control of configuration.

In fact, almost every aspect of the overall design shares the intuitive control functionality, courtesy of Control4’s Home Automation and Smart Home Control system, expertly programmed by the Clarke Infinity team to allow the client to customise all elements of their entertainment experience from the blinds, to the AV, to lights and more.

Visit our Case Studies page for more information about this project, and other installations we’ve undertaken, and to find photos and full spec of the products and brands used. Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more images and videos of our projects as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes content!

Inspired by what you see? Your dreams for year-round garden entertainment may be more achievable than you think – especially with Clarke Infinity on your side. Give us a ring on 01277 624444 to get started.

Pool by Centurion Leisure / Selected pool lighting by Smart Sparks Electrical Ltd