Garden Design - Leytonstone, London E11
The Brief
The plot is a long urban garden and is almost completely bare, with little clearing or levelling required. Two established trees in the space are to be kept, but the wire fences to the right of the garden are in a state of disrepair and the majority would need replacing. The client is constructing a pond in the near right corner using green slate boulders as decoration and this should be included in the design. The only specific requirement that the client has stipulated is that the design includes a decked area. The interior of the house has a modern, contemporary feel fused with Victorian architecture. As the patio doors lead directly from the kitchen/diner into the garden, the garden becomes very much an extension of the house - as such the style of the interior should be carefully considered when designing the exterior space.
The Solution
The final design creates a low maintenance garden with a simple and contemporary feel. The area directly behind the house will be laid with decking, which will run half way down the left side of the space. New fences will be erected down the right of the garden, onto which a selection of clematis and everlasting sweet peas will be trained. The main area of the garden will consist of an oval shaped lawn, which will be encircled by a raised bed following the same shape as the lawn. This shape will give a bold and dynamic line to the garden while retaining an air of simplicity. More importantly, a smaller oval raised bed in the middle of the lawn will slightly mask the bottom of the garden, breaking up the space and helping to create a sense of intrigue.
The simplicity of the borders will be echoed in the planting, which will consist of white flowers and green foliage. Cool, crisp and elegant, a white planting scheme provides an air of harmony and tranquillity, and is well suited to the style of the garden and the interior of the house. An area devoted to graceful architectural ferns will help to accentuate the simplicity of the space and will provide a stunning and effective display throughout the year.