Design Tips

Back at the beginning of November you may recall that I wrote a blog post about my new-found knowledge of colour psychology and how it has changed the way that I approach my design work.  Over the course of the next week or so I would like to share with you some more about the colour personalities and how these relate to the design world and I hope that you find it as fascinating as I do!

So, what are the colour personalities and why are they referred to as Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter?  For the answer to this question, we need to look at nature.  If we observe what happens through the seasons we see clearly that the colours at any one given time harmonise with each other.  I have tried to illustrate what I mean below…

Spring time is warm and light, nature is busy and there is a real sense of happiness and fun in the air.  The birds are noisy, everything is full of water, sparkling, coming back to life after the long dark winter months.  Leaves, new shoots and flowers are vibrant and bright, everything around us is energetic and lively.

As the year progresses, the earth begins to dry out and the colours around us become cooler and softer.  The leaves lose their brightness as they tone down to harmonise with the cool pastels of the summer flowers.  Elegance, scent, romance, relaxation and calm sophistication.

When Autumn comes there is a completely different atmosphere and although it marks the period between summer and winter, there is real sense of rich warmth in the air.  Flamboyance and drama come to the fore as leaves turn gold, orange, red and purple.

Then suddenly the drama is over and we see the breath-taking splendour of the winter landscape.  In winter most things retreat under the surface to hibernate and gather strength.  The mood is cool and quiet, unless a storm ensues when we run for cover.  The landscape provides a minimalistic, contrasting and innately dramatic scene.

I had a meeting at Wisley this morning so decided to get there a little early so that I was able to have a quick walk round.  What stood out amongst the crowd was the witch hazel (hamamelis) which has just started to come into flower. Read more

1.  Acer griseum (Paper Bark Maple) – gorgeous peeling bronze bark glows a warm cinnamon-red in winter and has rich scarlet leaves in autumn.  It’s a great specimen for a small garden as it is slow growing and has a very attractive habit. Read more

When I am designing gardens, my first thoughts are about creating balance and harmony within the space.The proportions must be right and the general feel of the garden really has to fit in with the house and surrounding area otherwise it will never feel as if it truly belongs there. One integral element of visualising the new garden is to establish where the focal points are located within the new design, as it is these spaces that will create and encourage movement through the garden. Read more

You might remember that I posted a blog in December about the areas around your house in which I used the recent commission I have in Ockley to illustrate my thoughts.  On Monday I presented the Concept Design for this project to my clients so I thought I would share this with you. Read more

Front gardens are often overlooked, probably because you’re not very likely to want to sit out there, as you would in a back garden.  The reality is that front gardens are seen, walked through and used every day of the year, rain or shine, night or day, winter or summer.  A well designed space can make your day-to-day living easier and add value to your property, after all curb appeal is a huge selling point to any potential buyer. Read more

My most recent commission is to produce a concept design for a couple who live in a gorgeous cottage near Ockley.  Initially, they called me in because they wanted to discuss the terrace area at the back of the house, so you might be wondering why I have now been commissioned to look at the whole garden? Read more

On Sunday evening I decided to take another quick trip to Wisley so that I could see how the ice installation looked one week on.  Amazingly, the ice blocks were still standing, I guess because of the cold temperatures we’ve been having and, although the ice had changed slightly, the light was still shining through in quite a magical way… Read more

Now that the autumn leaves have almost gone, and the snow has arrived somewhat early, I don’t feel quite so bad talking about the winter, which now feels very much upon us! Read more

I spent a glorious sunny afternoon at RHS Garden Wisley on Friday.  The light was fantastic with the low sun and it really highlighted how some plants come into their own at this time of year. Read more