Planting around bench (Fermob)

[MiniMidiMaxi]

DH and I are discussing getting a Fermob Louisiane bench here as a milestone anniversary present to ourselves - we currently have a path going to the end of the garden with nothing at the end of it. I quite fancy getting one in poppy red, as in the link above - all the planting in our garden is pink, purple, red or white. I was thinking we could also install a metal arch (square rather than curved) over it, and then have climbers.

What do you think about the bench colour? The arch idea? And what climbers might work, bearing in mind our colour scheme? Garden is clay, this spot is in partial shade in what is generally a SW facing garden.

The path up to the would-be bench has lavender up each side, we also have a couple of cherry trees, pink and purple lilac, hydrangeas and phlox as the bigger plants.

Forgot to add - also keen on any feedback on the Fermob brand metal furniture (which was why I put it in the thread title!) - we’d be leaving it out all year, though they suggest bringing it under cover in the winter.

Akebia’s make wonderful full arches. They are a vine so happy to grow on wire. They have white or brown tiny flowers and smell like chocolate. I have one over my bench and love it! I grow clematis through it too, for extra flowers. My bench is metal and I leave it out all year.

Thank you! Hadn’t heard of akebia but approve of the idea of the area smelling of chocolate!

If you’re on clay, a climbing rose is a solid choice. They love clay soils, and you can get a repeat flowering rose that flowers all summer long. Check out David Austin roses. I’ve always wanted a climbing rose over an arch. Wisteria or star jasmine also come to mind, though wisteria needs to be kept in check and only flowers once or twice, and star jasmine also has one spectacular flowering period. Smells amazing though. Clematis is another option.

Thanks! I like the idea of climbing roses, will take a look.

i think we’re changing our mind on the bench colour, might go a little less bright.

The good news is that the "slats" are galvanised which means they will not rust (strange use of the word "slats" as it is clear from the photo that they are not traditional flat slats but instead box section with plugged ends).
Powder coating looks great until it gets damaged (i.e. chipped or scratched) and then it can start to flake off. That said, if it did eventually suffer damage and the base metal is still in good condition you can have it repainted.
A lot of companies suggest keeping this type of item under cover during winter, probably a standard T&C.

Although the Fermob bench resembles the benches of old, it is not constructed in the same way, will not be as sturdy and would probably not last anything like as long as the originals (my grandparents had a similar one which my parents then had in their garden making it 50-60yrs old and still going strong).

Just throwing another suggestion out there.
We were at a local reclamation yard last week (looking for a v.large stone garden pot for a statement piece but I digress...) and they had several original ornate cast iron park bench frames (the type that have wooden slats to sit on), probably 100yrs old but when cleaned up still in perfect condition.
You could buy something similar, have them refurbished with new slats (either wood or to be maintenance free/weatherproof you could use composite) and have a real "forever" bench.
Needless to say, we discussed this very option ourselves.😁

You could under plant the climbing rose with catmint (nepeta), verbena, alliums (including chives), flowering sage, lavender…it would all smell amazing and look stunning

That all sounds great, will come back to these suggestions once we’re closer to planning. Appreciate it!