Ilchester Place

This south-facing garden had been reduced to a small patch of grass due to overgrown shrubs and trees. Clearing those revealed boundaries framing a space much larger than the owners had ever imagined. They entertain frequently (and beautifully) and this mainly dictated the brief. Again we developed the concept of interconnecting indoors and outdoors as well as strong visual lines. We always recommend a professional and creative lighting scheme in order to maximise the garden's potential and this was essential here as the client's busy lives meant that the garden would be used mostly at week ends or in the evening. The existing pavilion structure was incorporated as a focal point in the design and is now used as a pleasant dining venue in the summer. We divided the space into four squares of turf, defined by a cruciform of alleys paved with elegant stone slabs. The delicate pebble mosaic at the centre represents a frangipani flower, reminiscent of the client's property in Mustique. Pleached Hornbeams, interplanted with soft coloured groundcover, provide verticality and privacy on the lateral sides of the garden. A pergola, covered with tumbling roses, offers an inviting sitting area. The garden has undergone a dramatic transformation and now goes from being a spacious and peaceful retreat during the day to a magical scenery at night. The combination of this simple but striking design, perfect detailing and state-of-the-art lighting have put it on a par with the most elegant of London townhouses.