Garden Transformation - Small Town Garden

When I first viewed this garden, it was a mess of poor DIY paving, dangerous steps and had a rather ugly concrete garage. The owner had a clear vision of what she wanted her garden to be like and how she would use her outdoor living space. The key requirements for the space were to screen the unsightly garage, create a seaside inspired upper terrace, design a calming patio area for yoga practice on the lower terrace and to revamp the existing raised sleeper beds and decking. The property has far reaching views of the countryside beyond which the client was keen to use as borrowed landscape. However, neighbouring proprieties interrupted this view so privacy screening needed to be worked into the garden design plan.

With a modest budget, some of the existing elements were combined into the new design allowing the client to make the most effective use of her funds. The lawn was removed and the existing patio relaid with contemporary Indian sandstone paving in grey and inset paved pathways where created within a gravel seaside style area on the upper level...

The client was keen to add soft naturalistic planting into the gravel area and have screening trees and grasses to hide the neighboring buildings.  To the left boundary more lush planting was required which could tumble over the corten steel edging on to the gravel to soften the look of the space.

​The dangerous steps need to be replaced and incorporated into the new layout. The solution - move the site of the steps and create a generous flight of steps which descend into the decking and to the lower seating area. The steps are constructed of sandstone treads and timber sleeper risers with gravel edgings and have been designed to link in with the style of the raised beds on either side.

Privacy screening was a key desire for the client which I addressed with suitable planting and a bespoke arbour with additional timber privacy screening. Beneath, the inset sandstone pavers allow room for a bench and table for entertaining amongst a sea of budget friendly gravel.  Climbers will add greenery and scent to this calming space as the garden develops.  

Landscaped and planted in April-May 2019, this gardens much loved by the client who loves the lush paradise I created for her for calming contemplation. Find out more about the Garden Design Process.