Brief 

The clients have lived in the house for a few years. The garden has not changed since they moved in and has a poorly designed layout which does not make use of all the available space. It also has several trip hazards, making it unsuitable for their small children. The brief is to provide as much usable floor area as possible for their two young children to play, while retaining an area in which adults can relax and entertain. It is important that the garden retains a ‘garden’ feel, so the clients have requested lots of greenery. The garden is overlooked from the houses along the rear boundary, so the inclusion of a tree would be an asset. The clients prefer stone paving as a surface.

Solution 

The garden will be paved throughout with a series of contrasting Indian sandstone circles. A large ‘Autumn Brown’ paved circle in the centre of the garden will create the illusion of space and optically push the edges of the garden outward. Fixed, curved seating, planted behind with scented lavender, will be installed in the back right hand corner around the edge of the sandstone circle. Statuesque standard bay trees will grace the entrance to the space, which will feature a fixed bench seat and table for dining. The flooring directly adjoining the back door will be a ‘Mint Fossil’ Sandstone paving circle. 

The area outside the conservatory doors along the side return, which is rarely used, will feature an ‘Autumn Brown’ sandstone paved circle, with a central stainless steel sphere water feature to act as a focal point for this ‘dead’ space. 

The height of the low boundary wall running down the right hand side of the space will be raised with the addition of trellis and climbers, whilst a silver birch tree will be planted in the bottom left of the garden to screen the garden from the neighbours beyond. Repetition of box balls along the arc of the large paved circle will add rhythm  to the design and will help give the garden structure and form.

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