"Nick and Doug designed our dream garden – colourful, whimsical and forever changing with the seasons. It brings us a great deal of joy, both to look at and to sit in. They listened carefully to what we wanted from a garden and worked very flexibly to ensure that the landscaping was able to slot in with our house build. Their landscaping team were very efficient and friendly and their work was of excellent quality.
Nick and Doug were flexible about delaying the planting until the rest of our build project was ready and it was certainly worth the wait. They hand-picked all of our plants, from the mature trees and shrubbery that make it look so established, to the smaller, colourful herbs and flowers that draw the eye. The result was a garden we will use all year round and admire constantly. We would recommend the Distinctive Gardener to anyone looking to change their outdoor space." - Rebecca & Matthias, Kew TW9
When we first met the clients of this wonderful project near Kew Gardens in West London, it was clear that what was needed was a garden that would feel like a continuation of their stunning home. Mind you, at that first meeting, there wasn’t much of a home to be seen, as a basement was being excavated and the entire house was being reconfigured! But for us, this is quite a usual scenario and one that makes the designing of the new garden even more exciting!
Although it was of a reasonable size for a London garden, we needed to create separate dining and seating areas, as well as space for storage and a BBQ. Not having a lawn gave us more flexibility, not only in terms of maximising the amount of space, but also in allowing us to introduce more planting.
The garden is on two levels, with the limestone paved seating area leading off from the kitchen diner, which then leads down to the lower brick paved dining terrace. To create further landscaping interest, there is an eco-decking ‘bridge’ one side of the large central bed and a stepping stone path to the other that’s interplanted with fragrant creeping Thyme.
On the lower terrace, we took full advantage of the shadier conditions by using a largely foliage-based planting palette with seasonal pops of colour. In summer, colour is provided by the Hydrangeas and Astrantias, and in winter by fragrant evergreen Daphne. The corten steel planter and edging, that are also to be found on the upper terrace, give added texture and are a great foil for the planting.
Our clients wanted to feel that they were close to nature no matter where they were in the garden, and to that end, we used grasses and perennials that, whilst requiring little maintenance, would attract the wildlife and provide colour and interest throughout the seasons.
These images of the seating area during the day and at night, show how impactful the planting palette can be within an overall design, and also the impact of the addition of lighting at night.
The central bed (below), as well as dividing the space between the path and the seating area, can also be viewed from every angle. The evergreen ornamental grass, Sesleria autumnalis, provides fabulous movement to the bed.
The garden also has several hidden features, including a floating bench behind the BBQ that is under planted with ferns and lit at night, and a remote-controlled awning fitted above the kitchen diner doors that provides much-needed shade during the hotter summer days. (see below)
The importance of good garden design can never be underestimated, especially when the view from a kitchen diner or reception room is so integral to the success of the interior of the home itself.
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