There's nothing like a stretch of summer sun to really make you fall back in love with your garden. Suddenly, that familiar holiday vibe doesn't seem so far out of reach, and with the right materials and thoughtful design, that relaxed villa-like feel can be surprisingly achievable a little closer to home.
For Faye of @fayes.home, that feeling became the inspiration behind transforming the garden of her family home into a space that feels more like a peaceful holiday villa than a typical British back garden.
"My home is surrounded by countryside and fields, so my interiors have always leaned towards a traditional style. For the garden though, we wanted it to feel like a retreat, like you've left Hertfordshire and arrived somewhere like Ibiza or Santorini."
Set around their 1930s home in the Hertfordshire countryside, the garden has been thoughtfully designed as somewhere the whole family can enjoy together. With a young family to consider, practicality was just as important as appearance, but Faye was determined not to compromise on style.
From the outset, Faye knew exactly how she wanted the space to feel. Rather than following trends, she looked to the effortless simplicity of holiday destinations, where natural materials, warm neutral tones and crisp white stone create spaces that feel calm and inviting.
"I was mainly inspired by Spanish and Greek villas, with the white stone flooring and everything being made from natural materials, giving quite a rustic yet modern look."
The pool quickly became the heart of the design, so choosing the right paving was one of the most important decisions in the project.
After ordering samples from a number of suppliers, Faye put every option through a real-life test.
"We chose Flint Bianco porcelain because I had quite a specific look I was going for. I wanted white and cream tones rather than anything grey, and the tiles had to be very slip resistant."
"We got all the samples wet and tested how slippery they felt. Flint Bianco ticked every box."
The soft ivory tones of our Flint Bianco porcelain paving complement the natural surroundings beautifully while helping to reflect sunlight around the pool, creating the bright, airy look Faye had envisioned. More importantly, the high slip resistance means the space works just as well for everyday family life as it does for relaxing in the sunshine.
Now more than a year after installation, the paving is still looking as good as the day it was laid.
"We were really happy with the service. Ordering and delivery was an easy process and we're super happy with the tiles themselves. We're a year in now and they're holding up really well and doing exactly what we wanted."
And after seasons of family afternoons by the pool and warm summer evening outdoors, Faye has created a garden that feels like a holiday destination without ever leaving home.
Follow Faye's beautiful home and garden renovation journey over on Instagram at @fayes.home, where she shares timeless interiors, outdoor inspiration, and busy family life.
