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Barlow Tyrie Garden Furniture: Models, Materials and Care

Carlo Latronico
5 days ago
5 min read

Updated: 15 hours ago

If you've spent time looking at high-end garden furniture, you've almost certainly come across Barlow Tyrie. The English family firm has been making outdoor furniture for more than a century, and its pieces sit in private gardens, hotels and public spaces around the world.

Quick answer: Barlow Tyrie's two main ranges are Aura, which pairs aluminium frames with solid teak, and Around, a curved, modular powder-coated aluminium range with Sunbrella cushions. Care is simple: wash with mild soapy water, avoid pressure washers and abrasives, and store cushions dry over winter.

As a Barlow Tyrie stockist, we get asked the same questions again and again: which range should I choose, what is it made from, and how do I look after it? This guide answers all three.

A short history of Barlow Tyrie

Barlow Tyrie was founded in east London around 1920 by Victor Tyrie and Frederick Barlow, two ex-servicemen back from the First World War. The company later moved to Essex and is still run by the Tyrie family.

When Indonesia stopped exporting rough-sawn teak, Barlow Tyrie set up its own manufacturing on Java, close to the plantation timber. It was also an early supporter of the EU FLEGT action plan on legal timber, with chain-of-custody tracking on the teak it uses. For buyers, that means traceable wood and a maker that controls its own quality.

The Barlow Tyrie ranges we stock

Barlow Tyrie Aura

Aura pairs a slim, weather-resistant aluminium frame with solid teak tops and details. The look is architectural, with crisp straight edges. It's a modern classic that sits comfortably beside both contemporary glass extensions and older stone houses.

The Aura range includes:

Barlow Tyrie Around

Around launched in 2024, designed by Nathalie de Leval and Andrew Jones. Where Aura is all straight lines, Around has softly curved, profiled edges inspired by steam-bent wooden furniture. Frames are powder-coated aluminium, and deep-seating cushions use weatherproof Sunbrella fabric.

The Around range includes:

Aura or Around? Choose Aura for straight lines and the warmth of teak. Choose Around for soft curves, modular flexibility and very low maintenance.

Materials explained

  • Teak: Barlow Tyrie uses plantation-grown teak, dense and naturally oily, so it resists rot and water. Left untreated, it weathers from honey-gold to silver-grey.

  • Powder-coated aluminium: light, strong and rust-free. Finishes include Arctic White, Champagne, Graphite and Forge Grey, with matching slings.

  • Ceramic table tops: scratch-resistant, heat-resistant and unaffected by UV, so they suit a table that sits next to a barbecue or pizza oven.

  • Sunbrella fabric: solution-dyed acrylic that resists fading, mould and staining, and dries quickly after rain.

For a deeper comparison of the two main materials, read teak vs aluminium garden furniture.

How to care for Barlow Tyrie furniture

Teak

  1. Wash two or three times a year with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush, working along the grain. Rinse well.

  2. Decide on the finish you want. Leave it to weather naturally to silver-grey, or use a teak protector to keep the golden tone.

  3. Avoid pressure washers, which raise the grain and roughen the surface.

  4. Light surface marks can be smoothed with fine sandpaper along the grain.

Aluminium

  1. Wipe down with mild soapy water and a soft cloth, then rinse.

  2. Never use abrasive pads or solvents, which can damage the powder coat.

  3. Check feet and fixings at the start of each season.

Ceramic tops

Wipe with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Clean up spills such as red wine or oil promptly.

Cushions and slings

Brush off loose dirt, sponge with mild soapy water and let them air-dry fully. Store cushions somewhere dry over winter, or use fitted covers. Slings can stay on the frame year-round.

For more seasonal tips, see our garden furniture maintenance tips.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Barlow Tyrie furniture made?

Barlow Tyrie is an English family firm founded in east London around 1920, which later moved to Essex and is still run by the Tyrie family. When Indonesia stopped exporting rough-sawn teak, it set up its own manufacturing on Java, close to the plantation timber, with chain-of-custody tracking on the teak it uses.

What is the difference between Barlow Tyrie Aura and Around?

Barlow Tyrie Aura pairs a slim aluminium frame with solid teak tops and details, giving crisp, straight, architectural lines. Around, launched in 2024, has softly curved edges, powder-coated aluminium frames, Sunbrella cushions and modular lounge seating. Choose Aura for straight lines and the warmth of teak, or Around for soft curves, modular flexibility and very low maintenance.

How do you look after Barlow Tyrie teak furniture?

Wash Barlow Tyrie teak two or three times a year with warm water, mild soap and a soft brush, working along the grain, then rinse well. Leave it to weather naturally to silver-grey or use a teak protector to keep the golden tone. Avoid pressure washers, and smooth light surface marks with fine sandpaper along the grain.

Are Barlow Tyrie cushions weatherproof?

Yes, the deep-seating cushions on Barlow Tyrie's Around range use weatherproof Sunbrella fabric, a solution-dyed acrylic that resists fading, mould and staining and dries quickly after rain. To care for them, brush off loose dirt, sponge with mild soapy water and let them air-dry fully. Store cushions somewhere dry over winter or use fitted covers. Slings can stay on the frame year-round.

Buy Barlow Tyrie from Vico Lifestyle

Vico Lifestyle is a Barlow Tyrie stockist based in Rawtenstall, Lancashire, delivering free across the UK on our garden furniture. Browse the full garden furniture range, or read our round-up of the best luxury garden furniture for UK gardens.

We can also order pieces from the wider Barlow Tyrie collection that aren't listed online. Contact us with what you have in mind.

 
 
 

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