THE GARDEN SOCIETY

Nestled in a quiet country lane in West End, Southampton- you'll find an absolute treasure trove- The Garden Society.

As one of my favourite coffee stops and major source of interior inspiration, come and take a look inside one of Southampton's favourite interiors, garden and dining hero hotspots.

Originally open in 2009 as only a tea room, the space expanded both in the minds of the founders and in reality. The 2017 expansion led to the opening of The Garden Society (TGS) and how we experience it now.

So what exactly is it, you ask..? Let's set the scene. Imagine an interior accessories and textile dream store, add a beautifully curated garden centre and a tea room with grandeur - that is 'The Garden Society'. Basically, it's a utopia for interior and garden lovers who like a spot of lunch.

As you enter the store, you are greeted by a selection of beautiful displays. These displays change regularly with the season, annual events and celebrations. They are cleverly put together by colour. This is a store design trick that we also use at IKEA. Shopping by colour, helps you to navigate your way to what you are looking for. It also really helps if you are unsure what to coordinate something with- giving us, the customer, bursts of inspiration to help in our own homes!

Designers at TGS have opened with displays referencing the Pantone colour of the year - classic blue. Whoever said blue and green should never be seen? Get ouutttaaa here!

Looking toward the length of the shop there are super cute displays, as far as your beady little eyes can see. Something for everyone in a spectrum of different colour combinations and design styles- be it modern, or traditional.

The designers in TGS have this sneaky little way of making you want to buy EVERYTHING. Their meticulous coordinations and gorgeous styling is an absolute treat for any visitor. Whether you are a fan of interior design, or not.

Coming from someone who works in interior design and styling, I love to take a trip to places that inspire me for my work. I love how the designers use each section of space to really showcase their products- plus, it's super bloomin' instagrammable guys!

Okay, let's be honest, anyone who knows me will know that the only way to get me out of bed on a Saturday morning is when there is coffee involved. She works hard in the week. Just sayin'. LUCKILY... at the back of TGS they have gorgeous tea rooms and the absolute icing on top of the cake... The Palm Room.

I won't lie to you, the visit is worth going just to have a sarny, or a coffee in this space. TGS also provide dining and afternoon tea experiences. I haven't posted a zillion pictures of The Palm Room because it is extremely popular and everyone was eating. No one wants to be unwillingly papped with a sarny in their mouth! But here are some sneak preview shots- you'll just have to visit to see ;)

Gimme dem floor tiles please. And the ceiling. And the lighting. And lord knows i'm a sucker for a pastel pink sofa. The prices are also super reasonable. With Mothers day coming up and all that... ya welcome ;)

Here are some more shots of plant babies that I would happily re-home (if the cats didn't fixate on eat them all)...

With the spring emerging, TGS also has a large outdoor area for both dining and buying plants. If you are a green-fingered enthusiast- I highly recommend it.

That's all from me today. If you want to know more, check out The Garden Society website (click me).

Have you been? Are you going to go? Let me know what you think!

Fay Tryphena :)