A checkerboard patio or deck can be an excellent backdrop for garden parties and alfresco dining. Pair it with solid-coloured outdoor furniture to let the pattern stand out as the focal point.

When reflecting on checkerboard, Meghan thinks of it as “country chic,” while Daniel is reminded of the harlequin print that has been around since the Middle Ages—he mentions how the pattern ...

"The classic checkerboard pattern of white squares interspersed with black or gray squares is ancient and traverses multiple cultures," says architect and designer Nicholas Potts.