We loved the challenge of designing this basement courtyard garden in Hammersmith, W6. The young owners wanted us to create a more secluded space where they could relax and entertain their friends and family. They also wanted lots of wildlife-friendly planting and an area where they could grow vegetables.
They also wanted a mellow, relaxed feel, which is partly why we decided to use natural materials. We paired yellow limestone paving with brick pavers to give a slightly rustic look. In the image above, the pavers form a central rectangle on which the large dining table sits and there are also pavers that edge the whole of the terrace.
The garden is accessed via a set of steps that rise up the centre of the garden from the basement to the main terrace. Each side of the steps are two areas enclosed by railings. On the left hand side we created a flowerbed with a large ironstone planter at its centre, planted with a beautiful Davidia involucrate tree.
To the right of the steps is the veg area, with a veg trug and pots containing herbs, peas, beans , plus a larger pot featuring a standard fig tree.
Around the base of the large planter (above), there is a tapestry of shade loving plants, including Hardy Geraniums, Astrantias, Ferns and Ligularias.
As all the apartments in this converted 4 storey London town house overlook the garden, we needed to create a sense of privacy. The solution was to plant semi-mature ornamental trees and shrubs in pots, which were placed near to chairs and benches to give a sense of enclosure.
The beautiful Acer (above) is a great focal point for the garden with smaller pots lying at its base, while the egg BBQ is perfectly positioned in the corner.
The rear bed (above) runs the entire width of the garden and acts as a backdrop to the garden. We planted three evergreen Ilex trees for year-round structure and also used mature Hydrangea ‘Limelight’ to give structure at the lower level.
The under planting for this bed had to ensure that there would be colour throughout the year, so we used wonderful flower and foliage favourites, including Helenium, Rudbekia, Nepeta, Heuchera and Anemones, all of which are perfect for attracting the bees and birds to the garden.
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