After design of garden

BACK GARDEN BEFORE: This client wished to landscape the garden around their newly extended contemporary coastal property. The plot, just under a quarter of an acre, included an aged orchard, overgrown shrubberies, tall red brick dividing walls and a Purbeck stone rockery. Along the east facing border ivy, Wisteria and other climbers had been allowed to grow unchecked for years over the old wooden trellis.

FRONT GARDEN BEFORE: The large front garden had been dug up during the works to the house. The narrow drive entrance and exit were difficult for cars to negotiate. A rockery that was difficult to maintain dominated the area and conflicted with the clean lines of the renovated property.

CONCEPT PLAN: After taking a brief from the client to understand their ideas, a working concept plan is produced. Sketches, including elevations, are prepared alongside the flat plan so that it is easier for the client to visualise the project. These are then used as the basis for a brain-storming meeting with the client. Once the design has been agreed, detailed scaled plans can be prepared.

The concept plan for Friars Cliff included a new extensive contemporary terrace whilst the original structure of the garden was retained.

PLANTING PLANS: Once the concept plans for the front and back gardens had been agreed with the client we produced 4 separate planting plans for each of the areas: terrace bed, east-facing border, rose garden and the front garden. The overall colour scheme for the garden was blue, white and pink but the raised beds on the terrace also included burnt orange to reflect the interior furnishings of the living area. Grasses, Iris germanica ‘Jane Philips’ and spiky Kniphofia ‘Little Maid’ were added for a more contemporary feel.

In the east-facing border the goal was for a low-maintenance shrubbery but while the shrubs establish they have been interplanted with Gauria, Agapanthus and Nepeta.

AFTER: Where ever possible the existing hard landscape materials were adapted and reused. To open up the vistas in the rose garden the brick work was reduced to form pillars and existing walls clad with painted trellis. New raised beds built from reclaimed Purbeck stone edge the terrace.

BACK GARDEN AFTER: The brief for an ‘English Country Garden’ with a contemporary twist to link with the new modern living area was met by creating an extensive sandstone terrace at the same level as the kitchen and careful plant selection.

FRONT GARDEN AFTER: To make the drive easier to negotiate it was realigned and both the entrance and exit were widened. Locally sourced gravel was retained with sandstone setts. Griselinia littoralis and Camellia sasanqua ‘Plantation Pink’ were planted along the boundaries.