The brief was to create a loose, naturalistic garden design, with the main function being to entertain and relax.
The client also wanted to incorporate informal seating and a dining area for 4-6 people, and use planting to create a pleasing, immersive view into the garden from the bedroom.
This east-facing garden is a fairly flat, rectangular, and small-medium-sized courtyard, which loses the evening sun around 5-6pm in midsummer.
The garden is very overlooked by neighbours, and while this wasn't a particular concern, anything that could be done to provide screening would be welcome.
There was direct pedestrian access into the back of the garage with rather tired looking windows and door - access needed to be retained, but windows and door could potentially be moved.
The garden design involved organic shapes and materials, with lots of texture and atmosphere provided by the planting - mature shrubs and staggered planting beds would break up the direct view into the garden.
Different placements for seating space were discussed, but the main objective was to enjoy the morning sun, and create an attractive, usable space to entertain and relax.
We discussed using plants to create a pleasing, immersive view into the garden from the bedroom, and trees would be introduced for height and screening.
Prunus Serrula (Tibetan Cherry) and Cornus Kousa ‘Milky Way’ (Chinese dogwood) trees were used to create both height and a touch of privacy from the overlooking neighbouring houses.
Acanthus Mollis (Bear's breeches), Rose ‘Penny Lane’, Luzula Nivea (snow-white wood-rush), Hydrangea Querifolia ‘Munchkin’, Digitalis Grandiflora (yellow foxglove) were also used, to give colour and movement.
The London stone Bexhill clay pavers paired with Mandarin stone Limestone paving create a wonderful texture, and powder-coated steel water tanks were also installed.
The result is an inviting garden with a cosy feel - the use of warm tones and naturalistic, familiar planting really makes this a space the client really wants to spend time in.
