Designing A Social Garden
A place to entertain This garden in Chattisham near Ipswich is attached to a guest house. The plan was to use the garden when friends came to visit, so the brief was all about entertainment. An external kitchen was not required as the house was open plan with bi-folding doors allowing for a seamless internal/external […]
The Need for a Privacy Garden
A sheltered space This modern farmhouse near Colchester had been built centrally to the plot of land and the ‘garden’ was primarily lawn and a few trees but lacked structure and flow. Surrounding farmland meant the site was extremely windy despite the large conifer hedges on all sides (as a hedge will only reduce the […]
Garden Design – Dealing with Level Changes
Creating flow in an uneven space This large garden (6000m2) has a significant level change with a difference of 3200mm from the house to the rear boundary and the ground was heavy clay. The property is in Roydon, Essex, which is a Green Belt area, meaning the garden proposal had to be submitted with the […]
Garden Design – A Minimalist Space
Creating new focal points This garden in Hockley, Essex, belonged to a young family. The summer house had recently been completed and the clients were looking for ways to reduce its presence. They wanted a minimalist look to complement their home. They didn’t want to have to tend to the garden heavily so a low […]
A Georgian Garden
Combining function with flamboyance This beautiful one acre walled garden near Colchester was an original feature to a Georgian property. Set in 14 acres of land, the client wanted to develop the walled garden into something a little more structured. There was an existing swimming pool at one end and old fruit trees along the […]
Garden Design – The Narrow Garden
This unique space in the heart of Chelmsford, Essex measured an incredible 69m (226′) in length by less than 14m (45′) in width. Furthermore, the husband and wife had quite different tastes. He was looking for the more masculine presence of crisp lines and strong geometric shapes. She was keen on a softer approach with […]
Sub-Dividing a Garden Space
The ‘Wild and Woolly’ garden The layout of this garden was shapeless and tired. The client said that they had, on several occasions, stood in the centre of the garden at a total loss with how to create shape and add different areas into the garden. The way in which this end terrace, with a […]
The Awkward-Shaped Garden Plot
Innovation from necessity Many plots, especially those of new builds, can be an unusual shape which doesn’t seem to flow and this also can create a series of ‘dead’ spaces. This corner plot is no exception. It was originally a gate keeper’s lodge and was later sold off from the main dwelling and the lodge […]
A Family Space
Unique features for all ages This is a fabulously fun garden on Mersea, near Colchester. The client had a young family who were very active in local clubs and loved having friends round for barbecues. The brief was simple: a garden that didn’t look like his friends’ gardens! We explored a host of ideas including […]
Small Urban Garden Space Design
Small Garden Design This small garden in Colchester, Essex had measured just 10m x 10m (33′ x 33′) and was heavily overlooked to the rear. The brief was for a contemporary finish which they could entertain friends and family in. The house was raised above the garden by approximately 1.5m (6′) so the lack of […]