Design Tips

So many gardens are underutilised and undervalued.  If you think about it, most out of City gardens are at least as big as the whole floor space of the house and many are 2-3 times bigger, sometimes larger – it’s absolutely crazy not to use the space!

A well designed garden that has been thought through and accommodates all the things you want to include in a considered way; the terrace, vegetable patch, utility area, lawn, BBQ, play area for the children, and the list goes on…has the ability to change the way you live, it’s an extra room that you really should be making the most of.

Realising that you have a big chunk of space that you could use more effectively, and making the conscious decision to do something about it, is one thing, but how do you get started and how do you change your back yard into a space that you love to spend time in?  Understanding your personal style and what elements you want to include is the first step, but how do you move forward from a blank piece of paper and create a space that feels right and includes all the things you want it to?

The first and most basic garden design principle is to design the void, the open space.  If you’re like me when I first dabbled in designing my own garden, the first thing I thought about when I approached the design was to work out where and what shape I wanted the flowerbeds.  What we actually want to do is design the elements that we want to include.

If you know you want a terrace and a lawn, it’s important to design the shape and size of each – the flowerbeds should be the bit that’s left over as once they’re filled with plants you really won’t notice if they’re a slightly odd shape. What happens when you design the shape of the flowerbeds is that the garden elements you want to use and will actually be sitting and walking in will become the leftover bits and what you’ll find is that the garden never feels right.

Think about designing your garden from the inside out and try to ignore the boundaries. Boundary fences, walls or hedges are simply marking out the shape of the plot, creating a space in which you are able to work.  Think of each garden element as a shape in their own right and you will quickly find that fitting them in that bigger shape, which is your whole garden, is actually quite an easy thing to do.

Later this week I will move you to the next stage…how do you want to move around the space?

Depending on where you live, you’ll either want to maximise a gorgeous view across the landscape or shut out what’s beyond your fence completely.  My garden is certainly in the latter category – we have houses all around us so when I designed the garden it was really important to think about screening.  But what if, rather than a 1970’s semi, one of those houses was an old manor house or an architecturally interesting building that I found really inspiring?…well, I’d probably still want some privacy, but I’d also want to make a feature of that view. Read more

I went to a seminar yesterday and when I mentioned what it is that I do for a living, the lady I was speaking to said “I have a huge garden but I’m just not really interested in gardening!”  This got me thinking about why it is that so many people don’t really maximise the full potential of their gardens. Read more

If you’re a keen gardener I’d expect you to be tuned in to the plants in your garden.  No doubt you’re out there doing something whevener you get the chance, and I’m sure that you love to watch and nuture your plants as they grow, but what about the basic structure of the garden?  Does the thought of planning the layout of the garden ignite the same passion in you? Read more

There are lots of things we can plant in the garden that will provide structure and interest in winter.  Evergreen plants provide the backbone for any planting scheme and in winter they are the only plants with foliage.  Other plants produce berries or flowers that are often scented and coloured brightly, but if you want something that’s really eyecatching there are many species of shrubs and trees that have wonderful stems and bark that really come into their own. Read more

You may remember that the hard landscaping elements were completed for my project in Sutton just before Christmas.  When I first went to see my clients one of the biggest challenges that faced us was the fact that they live in a mid-terrace property and the only access to the garden is through the house.  Of course this is a challenge, and it can impact the build costs, but it certainly doesn’t prevent the possibility of creating a gorgeous garden! Read more

If you are a regular reader of my blog you’ll know that I use colour psychology to enhance my design process.  When I meet new clients to take a full brief I ask them to put together a “mood board” before the meeting so that I can really understand what their personal style is and how this fits in with the colour seasons.  This series of images, textures and objects provides a platform for dicussion which helps to bring out elements of the brief that might otherwise remain unsaid. Read more

Well it’s almost here, Christmas that is.  If you have young children, they are no doubt beside themselves with excitement…I haven’t been a child for a long time, but I still remember not being able to sleep on Christmas Eve! Read more

I’m always talking about English Garden Joinery and there’s a reason for that…they’re brilliant at what they do and they’re great to work with!  The best thing about them is their ability to take a concept idea and work with you to develop the design into something really amazing.  They also love a challenge so they’re very happy if the task in hand involves a bit of head scratching. Read more

Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’ is one of my favourite shrubs.  I love the colour and texture of the leaves, it’s neat domed habit and the fact that it provides interest in the garden all year round.  It’s a great plant to define pathway entrances and can also be used as a low growing hedge. Read more