Our client had lived in their new build home for 10 years and the garden was a mature version of what the developer had implemented; central lawn with fences, shrub borders to the perimeter and a small patio which was not fit for purpose.
The garden was not fulfilling its full potential. Aesthetically the client’s felt underwhelmed, and it did not provide for their functional aspirations and requirements. As a result, they were not utilising or enjoying their outdoor space.
Our client’s wish list; a garden room to exercise in, a dining terrace with outdoor grill, a pergola for shade, a hot tub and a firepit area. They expressed a desire for contemporary design softened with natural materials and planting which should have colour and interest year-round.
Our design approach was to draw on the idea that ‘Gardens are for People’ and design a garden that included as many of our client’s functional requirements as possible. It was important to give our clients reasons to use and enjoy their garden once again.
We located the functions around the garden according to aspect and the positioning of the Gym building allowed us to address an awkward level change in the far corner.
Boardwalk decks, allow good access to the various spaces in the garden and the lawn was replaced with gravel style planting and multi stemmed Rhus for structure. The idea being that wherever you are in the home or garden you will be looking out onto plants.
The central planted area is accessed via steppingstones and gravel paths with a water feature for atmosphere and sliced boulders around the garden as places to perch. Existing hard landscaping materials were broken up and incorporated into subbases. We designed in permeable surfaces and the previously homogenous planting was replaced with diverse planting much of which is beneficial to pollinators.
Our client said, “Matt has truly crafted a destination-style garden that exceeded our expectations. From the moment you step into the space, you are greeted by a vibrant array of colours, with lush, thoughtfully chosen plants and flowers that create a visually stunning and harmonious environment. Our garden is a feast for the senses, where every corner offers something new to discover and every area has a purpose”