Garden Design
To avoid being limited by the use of lighting in your space, you could install pendants on retractable cords. This will enable them to be used for different situations. They could be lowered over the table for intimate dinners, say, or lifted up high to clear the space for a party. Install them with dimmer switches so you can play around with the ambience to suit any mood.
The oldest terraces are supported by dry-stone walls, which reflect ancestral knowledge and tradition. The method is repeated today in contemporary gardens, where the walls are strengthened by a binder. The stone wall creates a balance between stone and vegetation, and is therefore important for the harmony of the garden.
Why not also create a ‘bug house’ (as seen in this garden), which will encourage the predators you want. This doesn’t have to be elaborate, five-star accommodation; for example, just suspend bundles of tied bamboo canes under the branch of a tree and watch the insects move in. You can also use an old terracotta pot upturned and placed over dead leaves. As long as the bug boxes don’t get wet and keep dry and warm, many new visitors will enjoy their new homes, and they will get rid of the nasty pests you don’t want around.
Why not have a go at making a lovely outdoor potting bench while the weather is good. It could double up as a flower-cutting station, or even be part of an outdoor kitchen. Get hold of an old sink and cut a hole in a potting bench from the garden centre – or make one yourself from bits of salvaged wood. There are masses of lovely wood stains and great colours for outdoor furniture now – you can create a lovely outdoor piece that’s both practical and good to look at. Add pots of herbs to enhance the look.
Large trees up to 5m away from any part of the property you are looking to develop can be a problem. Their root system can destabilise the ground, and you would have to lay special foundations for any extension stretching near the tree. ‘Remember, even if it’s a neighbour’s tree, it can be a problem. It might not even be that large, but in 10 years’ time it could be massive,’ says James. If the house is in a conservation area, you may not be permitted to chop it down, either.
Big up the underside I love how this staircase not only has black treads and risers, but has a coal-black coating on the underside of the stairs, too. This draws attention to them and makes them feel like an elegant, floating feature. The pared-back banisters and sash window frames coordinate in the same rich black.
Focus on the view Why fight with the view when it’s like this? Lots of gardens have a great view beyond their boundaries, so if you’re lucky enough to have something easy on the eye, make sure you make full use of it, whether that’s about choosing transparent fencing or varying the height of your garden wall or even creating space for a window. After all, it might be the cheapest way to create that wow factor.
Bring in the wild Instead of sea views or rolling hills beyond your garden fence, you might find that nature encroaches on your garden. If so, embrace it and bring the wild beyond your boundaries into the space. This garden welcomes in those huge rocks, but adds a human stamp with a peaceful sculpture. The planting is ornamental, but somehow embraces the wild, with hakonechloa and miscanthus grasses planted alongside ornamental pines and cedars.
Install a hot tub Nothing says luxury and party like a hot tub. This one sits comfortably in its surroundings, and I love the way the old tree was incorporated to give some shade across the space. There are lots of different hot tubs available, from modern to more rustic designs like this one, and you don’t need a lot of space. Some of the lighter ‘soft tubs’ can be stored away in a shed or garage in the winter, while a fixed tub only needs to take up a small, 3m sq corner of the garden. Could be used as a water feature for plants instead
Consider a natural swimming pool As the climate gets milder, more garden owners than ever are considering installing a swimming pool. If you’re in a position to go for this level of luxury, and really want to impress, then get a natural swimming pool. You will need a large garden, because it requires some space for both the pool and the ‘treatment zone’, which is where plants are used to treat the water naturally rather than with chemicals.
In this show garden, Kate Gould used corrugated iron panels for an urban city feel. Old mattress springs were refurbished to provide an industrial trellis and a bath was cut in half for some unique seating.
lanterns hanging from canopy
Potting shed
The bench seating forms part of the wall
Idea for Meadowcroft Drive - fence off lawn from driveway
Picture rails should be set 30-50cm below the cornice, depending on the overall height of the room. A useful piece of advice is that mouldings should be alternately convex and concave when read top to bottom – easy to plan once you get your eye in.
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