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Writer's pictureNick

Compact, Contemporary Courtyard Garden with Home Office



The family of this small West London terraced house wanted to be able to make the absolute most of their garden. Our brief was to design a garden that in many ways could be used as an outside room, as well as providing space for a home office, a dining area – and, oh yes, a generously-sized storage unit….. and a private place to sit and reflect. We just love a challenge!



Our first priority was to make the boundaries uniform. We did this by using timber batten fencing around the entire boundary. We also clad the façade of the new home office to tie in with the scheme.



The home office is flooded with light, thanks to floor to ceiling sliding doors and the two roof lights. We love the bright blue of the feature wall that contrasts so well with the rest of the décor and furniture. It is always worth spending time making choices on a home office interior. Remember, it can really contribute to a garden’s feel – especially when lit at night.

There is also integrated storage that is accessed externally from the right hand side of the home office.



As in all our gardens, plants are essential in making the design come to life. We like to get plants as near to the home as we can. As you can see in the two images above, we wanted there to be a seamless link between the garden the first part of the terrace, so we placed three large pots of Phormiums in the side return. The image on the right gives you a perspective from the side of the garden looking up to the dining terrace and home office beyond.


As you move out from the kitchen diner, there is a small area that runs the width of the garden. This is where the client likes to spend time before the rest of the family awake to sit and reflect on the day ahead. The ‘floating’ bench (that has ferns and grasses growing beneath it), faces a beautiful Acer in a pot that has mounds of Japanese grass planted at its base. The zen-like atmosphere is completed with the addition of a small wall mounted fountain.



The planting scheme for this garden reflected the need for seasonal interest throughout the year and the different lighting conditions in parts of the garden.


In spring, the large raised bed that divides the first terrace from the dining area is full of spring bulbs and Alliums, while in summer, the bed that runs along the right hand boundary takes on a palette of mostly white and silver.

 

So, if you would like your garden to go from this…..



To maybe something like this…..


Why not get in touch?

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