Adding character and entertaining space with a contemporary style
Our clients contacted us to redesign the back garden of their newly built property. They wanted a space to entertain the family, which would be practical, easy to maintain and have an updated contemporary style. They also requested a planting design, garden lighting and some interesting additional features.
The existing space was mainly covered with turf, with a patio adjoining the house and sliding doors from the kitchen/living room. Overall, the garden was lacking in character, with no designated areas and surrounded, as it was, by decorative panel fencing on top of a retaining wall made from wooden sleepers.
Building upon existing garden space
We decided to keep a generous part of the existing lawn, around which we wanted to position a few different seating areas/patios. We kept the patio next to the sliding doors and added another one opposite, by the fence. We also added another gravelled seating area in the far left-hand corner of the garden. Both seating areas were along the back fence so that clients would benefit from the sun during the day.
For the two patios and paths by the house, we used a soft grey town porcelain paving that was easy to maintain and which gave a modern finish. The rest of the areas we filled with gravel in two colours: white marble and lunar.
Adding warmth and that little bit extra to complete the contemporary look
We included some lighting in the design, as requested, to add interest and warmth. There were stainless steel LED outdoor wall lights installed on the fence panels and some garden spotlights inside the planters, illuminating beautiful Corten steel panels. These elements were the perfect complement to the garden’s look and contemporary style and were also low maintenance.
We have used similar products in our recent projects and each time customers have been delighted with their beautiful appearance and the ‘WOW effect’ they have achieved, often in confined spaces.
The planting design included different types of plants to add additional texture, interest and colour. Apart from elegant-looking Buxus topiary balls and small Photinia trees, we chose a selection of multicoloured perennials and decorative grasses: Rudbeckia, Allium, Lavandula, Nepeta Racemose, with Chinese fountain grass Pennisetum Hamlen and Stipa tenuissima.